Former Alexandra woman Colonel Lisa Kelliher is the New Zealand Defence Force’s defence adviser to Australia, based in Canberra. Colonel Lisa Kelliher is as Central Otago as they come. Born in Clyde, she grew up on the family farm and attended St Gerard’s, then Dunstan High School, in Alexandra. Today she is serving as the New Zealand Defence Force’s Defence adviser to Australia, based in Canberra. As a girl growing up on the family farm she could not have imaged where her career would take her.

Source: Otago Daily Times February 24, 2026 15:34 UTC