Ajay Sharma PSM, Richard Jukes and Mark Dreyfus KC MP. Photos: ACT Audit Office, LinkedIn, supplied.
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
Lauren Power has been promoted to branch manager in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Edwina Lewis is the new general manager of the Policy and Stakeholders Group at IP Australia.
Band 2
Penelope Spies is the new Assistant Commissioner of Operational Capability with the Department of Home Affairs.
Richard Juckes has been appointed executive director of corporate strategy and performance at the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW).
Also at the AIHW, Alistair Beasley has been appointed as an executive director of the Community and First Nations Insights Division.
Other federal appointments
Victoria Anderson has been appointed as the new Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, for a five-year term starting 8 December.
Ms Anderson has an extensive career in the Australian Public Service, most recently as Deputy Secretary of the Small Business, Corporate and Law Group at the Department of the Treasury.
Previously, she held senior roles in the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said Ms Anderson brought a depth of expertise in public policy to the role, particularly in the agriculture domain, where she began as a graduate.
“Ms Anderson led the delivery of the Federal Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit in 2022, and worked with the states and territories on national schools reform and management of COVID-19 in schools,” he said.
Mr Albanese also thanked Justine Saunders APM for acting as the department’s secretary since September following the sudden termination and departure of Adam Fennessy.
Mark Dreyfus KC MP has been chosen as the nation’s new Special Envoy for International Human Rights.
The government said Mr Dreyfus would take a special advocacy role for the abolition of the death penalty and would advocate for the rights and protection of children, older persons and those living with disability, as well as LGBT+ individuals.
Mr Dreyfus holds a distinguished career in Federal Parliament and has served as Attorney-General and Cabinet Secretary in two governments. As Attorney-General, he led the establishment of the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme and presented the legislation to create a national anti-corruption commission.
Before his parliamentary career, he was a barrister for 20 years.
The Federal Government has reappointed Tom Mosby and appointed Michael Lynch AO CBE as members of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia board, both for three-year terms.
Mr Mosby is an author, art conservator, and lawyer with more than 20 years’ experience providing leadership and knowledge in the arts and not-for-profit sectors.
Mr Lynch is an accomplished leader of the arts in Australia, with more than 50 years’ industry experience. Throughout his career, Mr Lynch has led the Australia Council, the Sydney Opera House, the South Bank Centre in London and the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority in Hong Kong. Most recently, he was the executive director of Culture Media and Entertainment at NEOM in Saudi Arabia.
States and territories
ACT
Ajay Sharma PSM starts in the new year as the Australian Capital Territory’s new Auditor-General, replacing Michael Harris.
Mr Sharma has worked in a variety of roles at the ACT Audit Office for more than 20 years, including as Assistant Auditor-General since 2017. He was Acting ACT Auditor-General for seven months, from August 2018 to February 2019.
Catherine Townsend‘s appointment as the ACT Government Architect has been further extended, until August 2026.
NSW
Inner West Mayor Darcy Byrne is the new president of Local Government NSW.
SA
Hannah Wandel takes up the role of South Australian Fire and Emergency Services Commission CEO in January.
NT
Charles Darwin University has appointed Jodie Duignan-George to the role of associate vice-chancellor United Kingdom as the first applications for the university’s London-based degrees roll in.
Beginning in March 2026, Ms Duignan-George will be responsible for leading the strategic development, growth, and operations of the UK campus, with a focus on building CDU’s presence and partnerships, identifying unique business opportunities, and building a connection between the UK base and campuses across Australia.
CDU has also renewed the contract of vice-chancellor Scott Bowman for five more years.
