Advanced Navigation has appointed Michelle Toscan as the new Head of APAC to lead the delivery of resilient Position, Navigation, and Timing (PNT) innovations across the region.
The appointment follows a year of doubled growth for the company and comes at a time when GPS interference is escalating as a threat to both commercial activity and national security. Toscan is tasked with accelerating the deployment of dual-use, sovereign solutions capable of operating in extreme environments ranging from the deep sea to space. These technologies are increasingly viewed as a baseline requirement for critical infrastructure, moving beyond their previous status as a mere strategic advantage.
Toscan joins the company with nearly two decades of experience supporting the Australian Defence Department, Federal Government, and various industrial sectors. Her professional background includes serving as Director of Strategy and Commercial at Anduril Industries, an Account Executive at Google, and Head of Sourcing and Commercial Management at Leidos. She also served as a Legal Officer in the Royal Australian Navy for over twenty years and continues to serve the Department of Defence.
Advanced Navigation Chief Revenue Officer Christopher McNamara, said, “Toscan’s deep understanding of the Defence and Federal Government landscapes, coupled with her extensive commercial experience, makes her uniquely qualified to lead our APAC expansion.
“Defense platforms, such as radar, tactical, and autonomous systems, rely on uncompromisable navigation precision. Maritime platforms, including autonomous surface vessels and underwater vehicles, require GPS-independent positioning. Mining operations also increasingly depend on GPS‑denied solutions for underground positioning and autonomous fleet management.”
The strategic landscape in the APAC region is shifting toward navigation resilience. In Australia, the government has signaled its commitment to this sector by establishing the Joint Positioning, Navigation and Timing (PNT) Directorate, which has recently reached initial operating capability.
The Hon. Malcolm Turnbull, Chairman of Advanced Navigation, emphasized the importance of this regional focus, saying, “Across APAC, we are witnessing an urgency to rethink navigation resilience from the ground up. Escalating GPS interference and mounting supply-chain vulnerabilities demand sovereign solutions that can withstand extreme environments. Advanced Navigation continues to take charge and demonstrate what it means to be a visionary sovereign innovator. Michelle’s appointment is a signal of Advanced Navigation’s commitment to staying at the forefront of national and commercial interests across the region.“
Toscan will immediately oversee the company’s participation in the Australian Defence Department’s Global Supply Chain Program (GSC). Advanced Navigation already acts as a key supplier for major defense primes, including providing strategic-grade inertial navigation systems (INS) for Rheinmetall’s Boxer Combat Reconnaissance Vehicles, and supporting partners such as Boeing, Leidos, BAE Systems, L3Harris, Lockheed Martin, and Raytheon.
Toscan said, “As APAC’s strategic landscape evolves, Australia has a critical role to play in safeguarding our allied nations. Advanced Navigation exemplifies the ingenuity, precision, and innovation Australian technology brings to complex systems on land, at sea, and in the air, where knowing your position is critical. I’m proud to join a company that leads through technological excellence with both defense and commercial partners.”
Toscan holds a master’s degree in international law and international relations, alongside bachelor’s degrees in law and arts from the University of New South Wales. She also holds graduate diplomas in military law and legal practice.
