Five AFP members have been recognised in today's Australia Day 2026 Honours List for their exceptional dedication, leadership and commitment to protecting the community.
Detective Acting Superintendent Patrick Gordon, Assistant Commissioner David McLean and Commander Caroline Taylor will each receive an Australian Police Medal (APM) for their service to policing and excellence in delivering their duties.
Chief Operating Officer Katherine Van Gurp will receive the Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding public service, and exceptional support to the Australian and New Zealand law enforcement communities throughout her career.
Sergeant Joel Wiseman will receive the Emergency Services Medal (ESM) in recognition of his volunteering as a member of Surf Life Saving NSW, delivering distinguished service across lifesaving, rescue services, education, and member services that have led to capability and resilience statewide.
Congratulating the recipients on their awards, AFP Commissioner Krissy Barrett APM paid tribute to their decades spent in service of the Australian community.
"I'm delighted to see Patrick, David and Caroline recognised as leaders who embody core AFP values such as integrity, respect, innovation and collaboration," Commissioner Barrett said.
"Through their significant work at home and across our global network, they continue to play a leading role in positioning and equipping the agency for the work we have to do now and looking to the future.
"I have the great privilege of working closely with Katherine as a core member of the AFP's executive leadership team, whose strategic vision and leadership has driven a climate of excellence, innovation and collaboration.
"Joel's award shows that even out of uniform, our members strive to make an impact in their community day in and out - he embodies the value of what it means to be an AFP officer.
"You can see from the breadth, depth and complexity of the roles each recipient has held, that their work will have a lasting impact not only for the community but for their colleagues."
Detective Acting Superintendent Patrick Gordon has dedicated 39 years to the AFP. Beginning his career at Sydney Airport as a uniformed constable, Detective a/Superintendent Gordon now serves as the senior officer for the AFP in Central America, based in Mexico City, leading responses to transnational crime, terrorism, human exploitation, cybercrime, kidnapping, missing persons, and homicide. His career has further encompassed leadership of numerous undercover operations that infiltrated and dismantled serious organised crime syndicates, and deployment to Hong Kong as a police liaison officer.
Assistant Commissioner David McLean joined the AFP in 1991 and leads the AFP International Command. Across a career spanning 35 years, Assistant Commissioner McLean has worked extensively on international law enforcement and policing issues and remains instrumental in development of the AFP's strategic direction, priorities, and key stakeholder relationships in the international domain. His career has included deployments to Washington DC in 2004 and the Australian High Commission in London in 2022, as well as leadership roles in investigations targeting complex fraud, narcotics, organised and environmental crime.
Commander Caroline Taylor joined the AFP in 2000 and has spent most of her career in national security, specialising in counter terrorism and protection related fields. Commander Taylor has worked extensively across law enforcement. Her career includes deployments to East Timor in 2006 and to London in 2011 as the AFP Counter Terrorism Liaison Officer. She has contributed significantly to Australia's counter terrorism governance, as well as counter terrorism resilience across the region. She has also held leadership roles in Protection, Counter Terrorism, Covert and Technical Operations and Investigations Review.
Katherine Van Gurp, the AFP's Chief Operating Officer, is responsible for the AFP's core strategic and financial mechanisms at the enterprise level. With more than 25 years' experience in law enforcement and justice, Ms Van Gurp has held executive and policy roles in multiple state and federal departments. She has previously been awarded the Australian Public Service Commission's Dr Margot McCarthy Scholarship for significant leadership and contribution to the public service and the AFP Commissioner's Citation for Conspicuous Conduct for her policy work.
Sergeant Joel Wiseman serves with the AFP as a Sergeant in ACT Policing but receives the ESM for his contribution to Surf Life Saving NSW (SLSNSW). A member since 2003, Sergeant Wiseman has held various frontline and strategic roles, including Deputy President. Across lifesaving, rescue services, surf sports, education and member services, he has led initiatives to strengthen safety, capability and resilience and played an integral role in incidents including the 2019 mass rescue at North Cronulla. His commitment, exceeding 12,000 volunteer hours, shows his commitment not only to the community but also to the values of SLSNSW and AFP.
