People-first Defence consulting

Darren is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of K39C, bringing more than 25 years of experience across Defence, government, and industry. A highly regarded program manager and commercial professional, he has built a reputation for delivering successful outcomes in complex, high-risk environments where strong leadership, strategic thinking and commercial acumen are essential.

Having served in both the British and Australian military, Darren possesses a deep understanding of Defence capability, acquisition and sustainment. Darren founded K39C with a vision to provide practical, trusted advice that helps Defence and industry navigate complexity with confidence.

Under his leadership, K39C has grown into a respected consultancy known for its technical credibility, commercial expertise, and people-first culture. Recognised for his ability to lead teams, manage diverse stakeholder groups, and deliver under pressure, Darren remains passionate about building lasting partnerships, developing people, and supporting outcomes that strengthen Defence capability and sovereign industry.

Sarah is an accomplished business leader and project controls specialist with more than 20 years of experience delivering complex programs across Defence, mining, oil and gas, and infrastructure sectors. As Managing Director for Australia, she leads K39C's Australian operations, driving strategic growth, operational performance and organisational capability.

With extensive expertise in project management, project controls, and complex scheduling, Sarah has supported the successful delivery of multi-billion-dollar projects and programs, helping organisations improve governance, planning, reporting, and decision-making. Her experience spans business operations, workforce management, commercial support, and organisational transformation within highly regulated and complex environments.

Known for her practical and people-focused leadership style, Sarah is passionate about building high-performing teams and creating systems that enable sustainable growth while maintaining agility. She plays a key role in shaping K39C’s culture and ensuring the company continues to deliver trusted advice, quality outcomes, and exceptional service to Defence and industry clients.

Anthony is an experienced Human Resources leader with deep expertise in delivering end-to-end HR solutions within the Defence sector. As a veteran of the Australian Army, he brings a practical understanding of Defence industry requirements, workforce challenges, and the importance of building high-performing teams.

With a strong background in talent acquisition, employee relations, and strategic business partnering, Anthony plays a key role in attracting and retaining exceptional talent across K39C. He is passionate about creating an environment where people can thrive, supporting both individual career development and organisational success.

Anthony’s people-first approach helps strengthen K39C’s culture, ensuring our values are reflected in how we support our employees, engage with our clients, and continue to grow as a trusted Defence industry partner.

Ruwandi is an experienced communications professional with more than 20 years of experience, including 14 years supporting organisations within the Australian Defence industry. With a background in graphic design, she brings a unique combination of strategic communications expertise and creative capability to every project.

Her strength lies in transforming complex information into clear, engaging communications that resonate with diverse audiences. By combining industry insight, strategic thinking and creative execution, Ruwandi develops communication strategies, campaigns and content that support business objectives and strengthen stakeholder engagement.

Working closely with clients, leaders and project teams, she delivers impactful communications through both visual storytelling and compelling written content, helping build credibility, drive engagement and achieve successful outcomes.