Full Name
Sandra Booth
Position
Assistant Commissioner, Cyber and Special Investigations
Organisation
Australian Federal Police
Speaker Bio
Assistant Commissioner Sandra Booth began her AFP career in 2000 and has extensive experience across complex criminal investigations. Her early career included serving as Senior Liaison Officer in Jakarta, working closely with the Indonesian National Police on terrorism, narcotics, people smuggling and child protection matters. She has also deployed to Timor-Leste and the Solomon Islands.
Throughout her career, Sandra has held strategic roles within Whole-of-Government frameworks, delivering AFP capabilities to address persistent national security threats. She was promoted to the AFP Executive in 2019 as Commander Counter Terrorism, overseeing Joint Counter Terrorism Teams across Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia, and managing operational oversight of highly sensitive investigations and partner-agency relationships.
In 2023, Sandra transitioned to Commander Foundational Development and Learning, leading the development of new AFP members and future leaders, including major renewal initiatives in learning, organisational resilience and intergenerational leadership.
Promoted to Assistant Commissioner in 2024, she led the newly established AFP AUKUS Command, directing the AFP’s security overlay supporting the AUKUS initiative and overseeing protective security services for Defence establishments, with a focus on building a future-ready Protective Service Officer workforce.
Following an AFP-wide restructure, in March 2026 Sandra assumed leadership of the Cyber and Special Investigations Command. She now drives national efforts to strengthen the AFP’s response to complex cybercrime, technology-enabled threats, and matters within the Special Investigations remit. This includes war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, information secrecy, harming Australians offshore, Electoral Integrity, Counter Proliferation, Kidnap for ransom and politically sensitive investigations. Sandra also represents the AFP as the senior executive lead for the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce, overseeing investigations into espionage, foreign interference and sabotage. Her leadership prioritises agile operations, advanced investigative technology and enhanced domestic and international partnerships.
Sandra is also a strong advocate for women in leadership and previously served as the Australian Chair for the Women in National Security program, supporting initiatives to improve recruitment, retention and development of women across the national security sector.
Throughout her career, Sandra has held strategic roles within Whole-of-Government frameworks, delivering AFP capabilities to address persistent national security threats. She was promoted to the AFP Executive in 2019 as Commander Counter Terrorism, overseeing Joint Counter Terrorism Teams across Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and Western Australia, and managing operational oversight of highly sensitive investigations and partner-agency relationships.
In 2023, Sandra transitioned to Commander Foundational Development and Learning, leading the development of new AFP members and future leaders, including major renewal initiatives in learning, organisational resilience and intergenerational leadership.
Promoted to Assistant Commissioner in 2024, she led the newly established AFP AUKUS Command, directing the AFP’s security overlay supporting the AUKUS initiative and overseeing protective security services for Defence establishments, with a focus on building a future-ready Protective Service Officer workforce.
Following an AFP-wide restructure, in March 2026 Sandra assumed leadership of the Cyber and Special Investigations Command. She now drives national efforts to strengthen the AFP’s response to complex cybercrime, technology-enabled threats, and matters within the Special Investigations remit. This includes war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide, information secrecy, harming Australians offshore, Electoral Integrity, Counter Proliferation, Kidnap for ransom and politically sensitive investigations. Sandra also represents the AFP as the senior executive lead for the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce, overseeing investigations into espionage, foreign interference and sabotage. Her leadership prioritises agile operations, advanced investigative technology and enhanced domestic and international partnerships.
Sandra is also a strong advocate for women in leadership and previously served as the Australian Chair for the Women in National Security program, supporting initiatives to improve recruitment, retention and development of women across the national security sector.
Speaking At
