With over twenty years in Government service, Ms Hawkins is an experienced national security professional. In the Department of Defence she has held positions within Strategy, Policy and Industry Group, the Defence Strategic Review Taskforce, the Defence Intelligence Organisation (DIO), the Australian Geospatial Intelligence Organisation (AGO), and the Ministerial Executive Communication and Coordination Division.

Ms Hawkins is currently the First Assistant Secretary National Defence Strategy Division in Strategy, Policy and Industry Group and was responsible for delivering the 2026 National Defence Strategy.

Ms Hawkins has served as Assistant Secretary South-East Asia and the Pacific in DIO, where she was responsible for independent all-source assessments. As Assistant Secretary, Media and Communication, she provided media and communication support for Defence Ministerial offices and the Department of Defence. In AGO, she was the Executive Director of Geospatial Intelligence Policy and Programs. Overseas, 
she served as the First Secretary Defence at the Australian Embassy in Tokyo, Japan and as First Secretary Defence at the Australian Embassy in Seoul, South Korea.

Ms Hawkins studied at the Australian National University and was awarded a Masters of Strategic Affairs. She also holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Asian Studies from the Australian National University.