Blake served in the Royal Australian Air Force for over 28 years as an engineering officer and senior non-commissioned officer. Blake lead project engineering with Unmanned Aerial Targets, F-111, Wedgetail AEW&C, Minor Projects, Technical Airworthiness; and Air Command units in Joint Electronic Warfare Operational Support Unit, and F-111 operational and maintenance units. Post military service, Blake has held roles as a RPDE consultant, Queensland Rail PM, The Smith Family volunteer PM, Parsons Brinkerhoff regional civil engineering team lead, QinetiQ engineering executive, Turner & Townsend Thinc Senior PM & commercial contract manager, and past Queensland Chair of Centre for Engineering Leadership and Management. Blake has professional qualifications in business, engineering and project management, with a GAICD, MBA, MSc, CPPM, BEng, CPEng, Engineering Executive, and honours including a Conspicuous Service Cross