Australia’s spy agency, the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS), is making an unusually public push to attract new employees, including a partnership with Vogue magazine.
Both MI6 and the CIA have both launched recruitment drives in recent years. The former has been using social media to target women in STEM, while the latter launched a campaign to give their secret agency a human face, and received a harsh reception as a result.
It appears the ASIS is no different as it has launched a redesigned website and new social media accounts. Furthermore, its Director-General, Kerri Hartland, who almost never speaks publicly, has made a string of media appearances including podcast Seize the Yay and Vogue Australia events.
Hartland has appeared at Vogue Codes the last two years
In 2025, Hartland spoke at Vogue Codes, an annual summit hosted by Vogue Australia, aimed at women in STEM and technology. In 2026, the ASIS returned as an official partner of the event.
Hartland, speaking to Australian media outlet ABC, revealed her recent media appearances are aimed at recruiting young people. “We aren’t just looking for qualifications, we are looking for qualities,” she said. “Strong interpersonal skills, the ability to read a room and engage effectively with others.”
“We are focused on attracting a diverse workforce whose perspectives and strengths directly enhance the impact we deliver for government,” said Hartland.
Chris Taylor of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute told the media outlet he was unsurprised by the unorthodox recruitment drive.
“There’s a really tight market for really capable, innovative young people,” he said. “And there’s the challenge of being able to advertise opportunities for employment in organisations that are otherwise having to be quite circumspect about what particularly they do.”
Taylor also spoke of the anonymity required for a job in the ASIS as a barrier to recruitment. Practically all employees of spy agencies are forbidden from publicly disclosing the nature of their work, even after they leave the service. That means Australians can’t even celebrate simple career milestones publicly.
For more on spies, check out our coverage of the “spy turtles” and “spy fish” that the Chinese security minister has warned against, or our review of the new James Bond game, 007 First Light.
