Steven Skala (left) has been reappointed as a part‑time member of the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB). Otto Menzel has been promoted to chief financial officer and corporate services in the DCCEEW. Photos: Wikimedia Commons and LinkedIn.
A breakdown of the latest appointments and moves in the Australian Public Service, the wider public sector and across the public services of the states and territories.
APS Senior Executive Service
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Scott Rumbold has been appointed as an Executive Director – Regulatory Operations Division in the Department of Health’s Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Sarah Kelly has been appointed as an Executive Director – Regulatory Operations Division in the Department of Health’s Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Kirsty Johnson has been promoted to branch manager in the Department of Social Services.
Kirsten Flynn has been appointed as branch manager of Home and Living Supports in the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA).
Otto Menzel has been promoted to chief financial officer and Corporate Services in the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
Peter Donohoe has been appointed as branch head, Uluru Kata-Tjuta & Booderee National Park in the DCCEEW.
The DCCEEW’s Sam Hush has been promoted to branch head, Environmental Permitting and Compliance.
Daniel McQuillen has been appointed as the DCCEEW’s branch head of Compliance and Enforcement.
Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price (left) has been dumped from the Opposition’s Shadow frontbench. Senator Claire Chandler has been promoted to Shadow Minister for Cyber Security and Science. Photos: CLP and Claire Chandler.
Other federal appointments
The Federal Government has reappointed Steven Skala as a part‑time member of the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) for one year from 18 September.
Mr Skala has been chair of the Clean Energy Finance Corporation Board since 2017, and was vice-chairman Australia and Head of Investment Banking Coverage of Deutsche Bank AG between 2004 and 2024. He is also a former chairman of Wilson Group and Film Australia, and a former acting chairman and director of the ABC.
Federal shadow ministry
Federal Opposition Leader Sussan Ley has been forced to reshuffle the Shadow ministry in the wake of her sacking of Senator Jacinta Nampijinpa Price.
Senator Price was dumped from the Shadow Ministry on 11 September in the wake of her controversial comments about Indian migrants and for failing to support Ms Ley’s leadership.
Tasmanian Senator Claire Chandler has been promoted to Shadow Minister for Cyber Security and Science.
Melissa Price has moved to the role of Shadow Minister for Defence Industry and Shadow Minister for Defence Personnel, positions she has previously held.
Simon Kennedy has been promoted to the newly created role of Shadow Assistant Minister for Artificial Intelligence, Shadow Assistant Minister for the Digital Economy and Shadow Assistant Minister for Scrutiny of Government Waste.
Shadow Finance Minister James Paterson has been promoted to the Opposition’s formal leadership group.
States and territories
The NSW Government has removed Steve Kinmond from his position as Children’s Guardian by the Lieutenant-Governor for misbehaviour in accordance with Section 122 of the Children’s Guardian Act 2019.
An inquiry found Mr Kinmond failed to disclose a significant conflict of interest by overruling staff at the Office of the Children’s Guardian (OCG) and acting against internal legal advice to grant a Working with Children Check (WWCC) clearance to a person.
Simon Chan has been appointed as the new chair of the Multicultural NSW Advisory Board, of which he has been a member since 2018.
The Victorian Government has appointed Katrina McKenzie as the new Commissioner of Economic Growth Victoria and Better Regulation Victoria.
Dr Kylie Heneker has been appointed as South Australia’s Commissioner for Children and Young People for a three-year term.
Dr Samantha Hamilton has been announced as the new director of the South Australian Museum.
Dr Hamilton has spent more than two decades in strategic leadership of cultural institutions, with extensive experience in materials science and working alongside First Nations communities. She is the CEO of Rock Art Australia and the president of the Australian Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Materials (AICCM).
The Queensland Government has appointed Jane McNamara as the chair of the Queensland Reconstruction Authority board, with Brigadier Cris Anstey (Retd), Gail Godwin-Smith and Dr Kaylee Boccalatte as members.
Bronwyn Blagoev has been appointed as Director-General of Queensland’s Department of Local Government, Water and Volunteers, effective from 29 September. She replaces Acting Director-General Joshua Hannan.
Queensland Small Business Commissioner Dominique Lamb has resigned and will leave the role on 3 October after a three-year tenure.
