Raised on his family’s beef cattle farm on the north coast of New South Wales, Senator Ayres completed high school in Glen Innes before studying industrial relations at the University of Sydney.

His upbringing and education shaped a deep commitment to regional Australia and emphasised the importance of empowering regional communities with future-focused industries.Before entering Parliament, Senator Ayres held several senior elected positions in the Australian Manufacturing Workers’ Union, where he championed the rights of workers across key sectors including manufacturing, defence, food processing, aviation and metals.

Elected as a Senator for New South Wales in 2019, Senator Ayres held the roles of Assistant Minister for Trade, Assistant Minister for Manufacturing and Assistant Minister for a Future Made in Australia.

Senator Ayres has consistently advocated for strong, sovereign manufacturing capability and secure, well-paid jobs.

In 2025, Senator Ayres was named as the Minister for Industry and Innovation and Minister for Science in the Albanese Labor Government.

Through his ministerial portfolio, Senator Ayres will continue to collaborate with industry, workers, and communities to harness the transformative power of new technologies and drive investment in science, innovation, and advanced manufacturing.

Senator Ayres is focused on seizing emerging opportunities to ensure the jobs and industries of the future are created and sustained right here in Australia, as part of the Future Made in Australia agenda.

Lee Goddard CSC has significant leadership experience as a Board Director, Committee Chair, Naval Officer and Chief Executive Officer, in senior policy and complex management roles - across the private sector, national security domains, impact philanthropy, and a range of Government agencies.

He continues to serve as a Royal Australian Navy active reserve officer following 34 years full time service up until 2021. He has Commanded warships and joint-agency Taskforce's at every senior Navy rank from Commander to Rear Admiral. In 2023 he led the Chief of Defence Force Leadership Review and served in Prime Minister & Cabinet during 2017-2019.

Currently he is a Non-Executive Director of the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation, AUSTAL, Southern Launch, Pymble Ladies College and the Leeuwin Ocean Adventure Foundation (Minderoo). Additionally, he is an Advisor to Saronic Technologies, Salus Ventures, NIOA Group, ALDUS and Famille Capital, and the Chairman (Race Director) of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race. He was previously a Board Director of Ocius Technologies, The Whiskey Project Group and the Australian Missile Corporation.