Joseph Hardwicke has been promoted to general manager, Corporate in the Climate Change Authority. Cristie Romero-Ferre has been promoted to general manager at Services Australia. Photos: 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
Band 1
Joseph Hardwicke has been promoted to general manager, Corporate in the Climate Change Authority.
Bridie Andriske has been appointed as general manager, Organisational Resilience and General Counsel in the Bureau of Meteorology.
Band 2
Cristie Romero-Ferre has been promoted to general manager at Services Australia.
Band 3
Rachel Balmanno has been appointed as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
New National Children’s Commissioner appointed
The Federal Government has announced the appointment of Deborah Tsorbaris as the next National Children’s Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) for a five-year term.
The position of National Children’s Commissioner was established in 2013 and is tasked with standing up for the human rights of children and young people in Australia. Ms Tsorbaris will succeed Anne Hollonds in the role from 17 November.
Ms Tsorbaris is currently serving as CEO of the Victorian Centre for Excellence in Child and Family Welfare. She also holds several key advisory roles, including membership of the Victorian Children’s Council and the Victorian Women’s Ministerial Correctional Services Committee, and as co-chair of the National Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Child Sexual Abuse Advisory Group.
Ms Tsorbaris holds a Master of Social Science and a Graduate Diploma of Human Services Research from RMIT University, and in 2022 was honoured with the prestigious Robin Clark Leadership Award in recognition of her work with children.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland congratulated Ms Tsorbaris on her appointment.
“The National Children’s Commissioner acts as a strong voice for the human rights of children and young people — helping them get the best start in life while ensuring their ongoing needs are put front and centre in the development of Commonwealth policies and programs,” Ms Rowland said.
AHRC president Hugh de Kretser acknowledged Ms Hollonds’ term, and said Ms Tsorbaris’s deep experience in child and family welfare and human services made her ideally placed to champion children’s rights in Australia.
“I acknowledge the significant contribution of Anne Hollonds as Australia’s second National Children’s Commissioner, particularly through her important work on the Help Way Earlier! report on child justice,” he said.
“Ms Tsorbaris’s deep expertise across a range of critical areas will be a great asset for the commission and the children and young people of Australia.”
Other federal appointments
Major General Wade Stothart (Retd) has been appointed as director of the Office of Australian War Graves (OAWG) from 11 October for a three-year term, succeeding Timothy Bayliss.
Screen Australia has appointed Mark Reid as its new chief financial officer.
Adjunct Professor Adriana Platona has been appointed as the new chief executive of the National Blood Authority for a four-year term.
Deborah Tsorbaris (left) has been appointed as the new National Children’s Commissioner at the Australian Human Rights Commission. Bridie Andriske has been appointed as general manager, Organisational Resilience and General Counsel in the Bureau of Meteorology. Photos: AHRC and LinkedIn.
States and territories
The WA Government has appointed Lindsay Fox as a judge of the District Court of Western Australia, effective 3 November. Mr Fox fills the vacancy left by the appointment of former District Court judge Troy Denise Sweeney to the WA Supreme Court.
