Leigh Johns has been appointed as a judge of the Melbourne Registry of the FCFCOA (Division 2), while Ming Long has been named as the new chair of the CSIRO. Photos: LinkedIn.
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
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Sally Stokes has been promoted to assistant secretary for media and information disclosure and strategic communication in the Department of Defence.
Kristin Sykes has been appointed assistant secretary of animal and biological imports at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF).
Diplomatic appointments
Chantelle Taylor has been appointed as Australia’s new Ambassador to Ireland.
Mark Foxe has been named as Australia’s new High Commissioner to the Republic of Kiribati.
Leo Zheng is Australia’s next Ambassador to Mongolia.
Gillian Bird has been appointed as Australia’s new Ambassador to Vietnam.
Mark Cleary has been appointed as a judge of the Parramatta Registry of the FCFCOA (Division 2). Jane Marquard has been appointed as a judge of the FCFCOA’s Sydney Registry (Division 2). Photos: LinkedIn.
Other government appointments
Sia Lagos has been reappointed as Chief Executive Officer & Principal Registrar of the Federal Court of the Australia for a period of two years, commencing from 15 May 2025.
Judge Anna Parker and Judge Joanne Stewart have been appointed to the Adelaide Registry of the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia FCFCOA (Division 1), effective 2 June.
Judge Parker was admitted as a legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2006 and signed the Victorian Bar Roll in 2016. She practised in family law and related jurisdictions, and was appointed as a judge of the FCFCOA (Division 2) in 2021.
Judge Stewart was admitted as legal practitioner in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1990 and signed the Victorian Bar Roll in 1992. She practised in family law and related jurisdictions, and was appointed as a judge of the then Federal Circuit Court of Australia in 2013. She has served as a judge of the FCFCOA (Division 2) since 2021.
Mark Cleary has been appointed as a judge of the Parramatta Registry of the FCFCOA (Division 2), effective 1 April.
He was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1996 and signed the Bar Roll in NSW in 2001, practising in all areas related to migration law.
Peter Fary and Leigh Johns have been appointed as judges of the Melbourne Registry of the FCFCOA (Division 2), effective 1 April.
Mr Fary was admitted as a legal practitioner to the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1994 and signed the Victorian Bar Roll in 2001. In 2008, he became a Nationally Accredited Advanced Mediator through the Victorian Bar, and in 2020 was appointed Senior Counsel.
Mr Johns was admitted as a barrister and solicitor in the Supreme Court of Victoria in 1994, and became a Nationally Accredited Mediator in 2005. Since 2013, he has served at the Fair Work Commission as a Commissioner, and was the national practice leader for unfair dismissals and general protections.
Jane Marquard has been appointed as a judge of the Sydney Registry of the FCFCOA (Division 2), effective 1 April.
Ms Marquard was admitted as a solicitor in the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1989, and in 2006 was appointed as a member of the then Migration Review Tribunal and the then Refugee Review Tribunal. In 2016, she was appointed as a member of the then Administrative Appeals Tribunal, and in 2024 was appointed to the Administrative Review Tribunal as a senior member and list leader.
Graeme Hill has been appointed as a judge of the Federal Court, effective 2 April.
Mr Hill was admitted as a barrister and solicitor to the Supreme Court of the ACT in 1993, and in 2007 signed the Victorian Bar Roll. He was appointed Senior Counsel in 2021. At the Bar, Mr Hill specialised in complex administrative and public law issues, including constitutional law, migration law and native title.
Marianna O’Gorman has been reappointed to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) board and will become the new deputy chair.
Ms O’Gorman was initially appointed to the ARENA board in 2023, and has experience in roles at the World Bank, the Australian Government, the Clean Energy Finance Corporation, and public policy think tanks. She currently serves on the boards of Stanwell Corporation and the McKell Institute Queensland.
Angela Karl has been appointed to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) board. Peter Fary has been appointed as a judge of the Melbourne Registry of the FCFCOA (Division 2). Photos: LinkedIn.
Angela Karl has been appointed, and Stephen McIntosh reappointed, to the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) board.
Ms Karl is the managing director and head of energy transition at HMC Capital. She has also held key directorships at Tilt Renewables, Lochard Energy, Epic Energy, Pacific Energy, and PowerCo, and previously led the Power & Utilities division for Australasia at UBS.
Mr McIntosh has served on the ARENA board since 2021 and is currently chair of Datarock Holdings. He worked with the Rio Tinto Group for 33 years, culminating in his role as group executive, growth and innovation.
Since its establishment in 2012, ARENA has provided more than $2.9 billion in grant funding to 763 projects promoting renewable energy and electrification projects across Australia. In addition, it has helped deliver nearly $13.3bn in investment in Australia’s renewable energy sector.
Professor Ian Frazer has advised he will step down from his role as the inaugural chair of the Australian Medical Research Advisory Board (AMRAB).
Kellie Benda has been appointed to the board of the National Reconstruction Fund Corporation (NRFC) for a three-year term. She will be based in Perth after the government’s commitment to expand the NRFC’s footprint in Western Australia.
Ms Benda has held senior executive roles such as executive general manager, chief operating officer and chief risk officer. The government says she brings an understanding of significant sectors of the West Australian economy, including the mining, resources and agricultural sectors.
Ming Long has been named as the new chair of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), succeeding Kathryn Fagg, who recently announced her resignation.
Ms Long has served as deputy chair since May 2024 and has broad governance experience across financial services, real estate, infrastructure and telecommunications, and significant executive experience in financial stewardship. She currently has roles on the Climate Governance Initiative at the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and ASIC’s Corporate Governance Consultative Panel.
Vanessa Sullivan has been appointed to the CSIRO board.
States and Territories
Northern Territory Police Commissioner Michael Murphy has been immediately stood down from his position and Chief Minister Lia Finocchiaro has begun the process of terminating his appointment following a loss of confidence in his position.
The NT Government has appointed Martin Dole as Acting Police Commissioner.
