The Water Cooler: Comings and goings in the APS

A breakdown of the latest appointments in the Australian Public Service and across the public services of the states and territories.

APS Senior Executive Service

Band 1

Ksharmra Brandon is the new branch manager for early support and children’s practice at the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).

The Australian Taxation Office (ATO) has promoted Eloise Moore to assistant commissioner for multi-risk assurance.

Rachel Jolly has been made an assistant secretary at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT).

Band 3

Austrade has promoted Dara Williams to deputy chief executive officer (CEO) for policy and programs.

Other federal

ASA head Enrico Palermo named VP of International Astronautical Federation

The International Astronautical Federation, a global space advocacy organisation based in Paris, has appointed Australian Space Agency head Enrico Palermo as its new vice-president.

After studying physics and mechanical engineering at the University of Western Australia and working for Woodside Energy, Mr Palermo began applying for space industry roles. Despite the rejections, in 2005, Mr Palermo and his wife Nadia quit their jobs and moved to London, where he eventually worked his way into the Virgin Galactic team and stayed for 14 years.

Following his move from chief operating officer at Virgin Galactic to head of the ASA in 2021, Mr Palermo managed to arrange an Australian moon rover with NASA, issue the first launch permits and facility licences, and oversee the first commercial spaceflights.

Australian Defence Force awards King Charles III with Honorary Ranks

Before their interesting trip to Canberra, King Charles III and Queen Camilla spent their Monday (21 October) in the coastal capital of Australia – Sydney.

While there, King Charles was appointed the honorary ranks of Admiral of the Fleet of the Royal Australian Navy, Field Marshal of the Australian Army, and Marshal of the Royal Australian Air Force, by the Governor-General of Australia.

The Governor-General and Commander-in-Chief of the Australian Defence Force, Sam Mostyn AC, said His Majesty’s appointments were an important symbol of connection, stability and strength.

“Australians share His Majesty’s pride in the ADF, its sailors, soldiers and aviators and the loved ones who support them,” she said.

Chief of the Defence Force Admiral David Johnston AC RAN said His Majesty’s honorary ranks reflected Australia’s close relationship with reigning monarchs.

“The Sovereign serves as an example of service, and His Majesty’s appointments are symbolic of the Royal Family’s longstanding dedication and relationship with the nation,” he said.

King Charles III was appointed in 1977 with the title of Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Armoured Corps.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong appoints high commissioners and ambassadors

Foreign Minister Penny Wong has made five appointments to lead Australian posts across the Pacific, North America and Europe. They are:

Olivia Phongkham will be High Commissioner to Niue, with which Australia has had a relationship for more than 50 years. The DFAT career officer was most recently posted as an adviser to the PACER Plus Implementation Unit in Samoa, but will now replace the incumbent Katy Stuart, who has served since last year. She will be based in the capital Alofi, where the only other nation holding formal relations with the country is New Zealand. East of Tonga, the self-governing island nation of Niue is actually in free association with our Kiwi neighbours.

David Charlton is the next High Commissioner to Tuvalu, another Pacific island nation with longstanding ties to Australia. In August under incumbent Brenton Garlick, the two countries signed the Falepili Union Treaty, demonstrating their elevated partnership. Mr Charlton is already working in the region as executive director of the Australia-Pacific Partnerships for Aviation Program (P4A). However, at DFAT he was director of the Pacific Aviation Section after serving as acting Head of Mission in Kiribati early last year.

Kate Logan is the next High Commissioner to Canada, replacing the incumbent Scott Ryan, who has served in the maple leaf nation since 2021. Ms Logan is a DFAT senior career officer and most recently the First Assistant Secretary to the Pacific Strategy Division. She also served as Australia’s Ambassador to Greece, along with postings to missions in Paris and Colombo, Sri Lanka. Much of her new work will be focused on increasing Canada’s already growing engagement in the Indo-Pacific Strategy.

Lynette Wood is heading to Paris as the next Ambassador to France, replacing the incumbent Gillian Bird PSM, who has served there since 2020. Ms Wood’s new role’s accreditations extend to Algeria, Mauritania and Monaco, but her focus will be on furthering the Australia-France Roadmap and its three pillars (defence, climate action and education). Most recently, the DFAT senior career officer was First Assistant Secretary in the Strategic Planning and Coordination Group. Before this, Ms Wood served as Ambassador to Germany and Acting High Commissioner to the UK.

Julianne Cowley is Australia’s next Ambassador to Italy, but her accreditations will also extend to Albania, Libya and San Marino. Replacing the incumbent Margaret Twomey AM, who has served in the role since 2020, Ms Cowley will be focusing on growing ties in trade and investment with Italian companies.

Ms Cowley will also be Australia’s Permanent Representative to the UN World Food Programme (WFP) and the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO). In this role, she will be expected to grow domestic engagement in these international organisations to demonstrate Australia’s commitment to the multilateral system.

However, she is currently a DFAT senior career officer and most recently worked as an Assistant Secretary for the Pacific Development Branch. Before this, she served as Consul-General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.

Nerida O’Loughlin reappointed at ACCC

The Federal Government has reappointed Nerida O’Loughlin PSM as a part-time associate member of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) until 13 October, 2027.

However, she will remain chair of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), a cross-appointment between the agencies that began in 2007 to help ensure a consistent approach is taken when competition and communications matters intersect.

Review of BetStop launched

Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland has appointed Richard Eccles to lead the first statutory review of BetStop – the National Self-Exclusion Register.

Since its launch in August 2023, more than 30,000 Australians have registered. Notably, 79 per cent of registrants are aged 40 and under and 39 per cent have signed up for a lifetime ban. Some 23,000 people have active exclusions.

Based on BetStop registrations so far, and evidence from similar programs, lifetime registrations for BetStop could have achieved a total cost saving of between $80 million and $135 million in the first year.

The review will consider the effectiveness of BetStop’s underpinning regulatory framework and whether regulatory arrangements under the Interactive Gambling (National Self-Exclusion Register) Register Rules 2022 and the National Self-exclusion Register (Cost Recovery Levy) Act 2019 are fit for purpose.

A consultation process will open later this year, following which Mr Eccles is expected to deliver his final review report and findings to the Minister for Communications within 18 months.

ACFID appoints Matthew Maury as interim CEO

The Australian Council for International Development (ACFID) has appointed Matthew Maury as its new interim CEO. He has been CEO at Tearfund for more than 15 years and a vice-president of ACFID, and is the founding chair of the Emergency Action Alliance.

This interim leadership will guide ACFID over the coming months while the organisation undertakes an executive search for a permanent CEO.

States and Territories

Katy Haire announces retirement as ACT Director-General of Education

As the last ballots were being counted from the ACT’s recent election, Katy Haire announced that she will exit her role as Education Directorate Director-General on 22 November.

Before her appointment to the position in late 2019, Ms Haire was deputy secretary at the Victorian Departments of Education and Training and Human Services.

Earlier this year, it was revealed that Ms Haire filed Supreme Court proceedings against ACT Integrity Commissioner Michael Adams (as well as the commission itself), with the first court hearing held on 7 September, 2023.

It was in regard to the commission’s investigation into the Campbell Primary School modernisation project, dubbed Operation Kingfisher.

NSW Government establishes LGBTIQ+ Advisory Council

The NSW Government has established the state’s inaugural LGBTIQ+ Advisory Council.

Council members will work closely with the government to provide insights and recommendations on issues affecting LGBTIQ+ communities. However, their first focus will be to work with the government to develop its first LGBTIQ+ Inclusion Strategy.

The 16 members appointed are:

• Robyn Kennedy
• Dr Justin Koonin
• Anna Brown OAM
• Dr Morgan Carpenter
• Danny Dalton
• Brad Farrugia
• Will Lawrence
• Veronica Mason
• Benjamin Oh
• Dr Chris Pepin-Neff
• Dr Victoria Rawlings
• Ian Roberts
• Nicholas Stewart
• Dr Cris Townley
• Kelly Young
• Charlie Zada.

Respected Indigenous elder completes term on WA committee

Merle Carter, a respected elder of the Kimberley region, has completed her service on the Aboriginal Cultural Heritage Committee (ACHC) as of 30 September.

She began her journey with the Aboriginal Cultural Material Committee (ACMC) in 2016, serving until 2023 when it was replaced by the ACHC.

New medical expert research group welcomed

WA Medical Research Minister Stephen Dawson has welcomed the appointment of seven members to the state’s new Research Expert Committee and its important role to support the Department of Health and the Future Health Research and Innovation (FHRI) Fund Advisory Council.

The committee members are:

• Professor Asha Bowen (Perth Children’s Hospital and The Kids Research Institute Australia)
• Associate Professor Dale Edgar (Armadale Kalamunda Group)
• Professor Sue Fletcher (Murdoch University)
• Ben Horgan (Royal Perth Bentley Group)
• Professor David Mackey (Lions Eye Institute)
• Professor Britta Regli-von Ungern-Sternberg (The University of WA and Perth Children’s Hospital)
• Professor Bep Uink (HealthInfoNet and Edith Cowan University).

This new group follows the establishment of an Aboriginal health expert committee and will soon be complemented by an innovation expert committee.

Together, the three expert committees will provide essential advice and guidance to the WA Government, the Department of Health and the FHRI Fund Advisory Council on how to achieve the best outcomes for health and medical research and innovation in WA.

Former Chief of Australian Army joins Defence SA Advisory Board

The former Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr (Retired) AO DSC MVO, has joined the Defence South Australia Advisory Board.

The Defence SA Advisory Board provides high-level strategic advice to promote the growth of the defence industry in South Australia and plays a key role in guiding the state’s defence strategy.

Mr Burr has held a range of leadership positions throughout his extensive military career, including as Chief of the Australian Army from 2018-2022.

Esteemed Vice Admiral Russ Crane (Retired) AO CSM RAN has officially been appointed as chair of the Defence SA Advisory Board, having acted in the position for two years.

Mr Crane served as Chief of Navy from 2008 to 2011 during his distinguished career spanning 40 years with the Royal Australian Navy. He was responsible for the fundamental reform of navy leadership, training and culture, through the New Generation Navy initiative, bringing a wealth of experience to the role of chair.

New Tasmanian Naval Research Centre

A new Naval Research Centre will be established at the Australian Maritime College, and is expected to begin operations in the Defence and Maritime precinct at Newnham next year.

Navantia Australia – a design contractor to the Royal Australian Navy – will establish the Naval Research Centre, enhancing support for the defence industry by fostering collaboration between academics and students to undertake research and design projects.

Preferred tenderer announced for new Devonport stadium

Tasmanian firm Fairbrother has been announced as the preferred tenderer for the new jointly funded $60 million Devonport multi-purpose sports precinct.

The Tasmanian Government is investing $25 million towards the new sports complex, enabling the project to proceed.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff acknowledged the Federal Government for its $25 million commitment to the project, and thanked Devonport Council, which has worked closely with the community and local sporting clubs to develop a shared vision.

Northern Territory Coordinator established to support region’s economy

The NT’s new Country Liberal Party Government has established a Territory Coordinator to help it guide the region’s economic development.

The role is expected to:

• Fast-track major investments, making it easier for investors to bring big ideas to life;
• Streamline approvals across government, removing roadblocks to economic progress;
• Boost the Territory’s competitiveness, attracting large-scale investments to fuel growth and development.