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

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has appointed Phillip Bergensen as the branch manager of ICT integrity transformation.

Carly Sierota is the new branch manager for service guidance at Services Australia.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) has made Rachel Moore its new assistant secretary.

Band 2

Jenny Telford is now general manager of the data sourcing division at the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).

Band 3

The Department of Health and Aged Care has appointed Mary Wood as deputy secretary.

Other federal

Natalie Siegel-Brown made Inspector-General of Aged Care

The Federal Government has announced Natalie Siegel-Brown as the new Inspector-General of Aged Care, who will provide independent and impartial oversight of its administration, governance and regulation of the sector.

Her work includes ongoing monitoring and intelligence-gathering activities to address systemic issues and make recommendations for change.

With the new Aged Care Act set to come into effect on 1 July, 2025, pending parliamentary passage, Ms Siegel-Brown will bring extensive experience, having most recently served as a commissioner with the Productivity Commission and a board director at Aged and Disability Advocacy Australia (ADA Australia).

She has previously held roles across the Queensland, NSW, Western Australian and Victorian governments leading public policy and service delivery in domestic and family violence, statutory child protection, ageing and disability.

First day of Administrative Review Tribunal

The Administrative Review Tribunal (ART) has finally replaced the Administrative Appeals Tribunal (AAT) this week – a massive shift in the administrative review space that Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said hadn’t been seen in decades.

“The new ART will be efficient, accessible, independent and fair for the tens of thousands of people every year who seek independent review of government decisions, such as whether they qualify for an age pension, are compensated for an injury they suffered while serving their nation or receive NDIS funding for essential support,” Mr Dreyfus said at the opening ceremony.

“A central feature of the new ART is a transparent and merit-based selection process for the appointment of non-judicial members.”

Justice Emilios Kyrou AO is the inaugural president and Michael Hawkins AM its first chief executive officer and principal registrar.

All ongoing and non-ongoing APS employees who were employed at the AAT have now transitioned to the ART, along with the matters that were sitting before the former.

People who have applied to the AAT for review of a decision do not need to submit a new application to the ART. It has the same jurisdiction as the former, and people can apply to the ART for review of a decision.

The last nine members appointed to the inaugural ART on the previous Monday are:

• Dr Jennifer Beard
• Jodie Camden
• Deborah Dinnen
• Maritsa Eftimiou
• Tigiilagi Eteuati
• Richard Hooker
• Craig Mulvey
• Jack Nalpantidis
• Deborah Ziegler.

New faces on ASIC leadership team

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) has made a raft of appointments to its senior executive leadership team.

ASIC chair Joe Longo has announced the appointment of Peter Soros as executive director of regulation and supervision.

Mr Soros will join in November from the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), this country’s financial intelligence and anti-money-laundering and counter-terrorism financing regulator.

He is currently the deputy CEO of regulation, a position he has held for six years. Last year, he was also the acting CEO for eight months.

Mr Longo also announced the appointment of Chris Savundra to the role of executive director of enforcement and compliance, effective 28 October.

He will bring significant litigation experience to the role from his time with ASIC, including some of ASIC’s most important and complex matters, such as the Bank Bill Swap Rate litigation. Recruitment for Mr Savundra’s current position as ASIC general counsel and executive director of legal services is underway.

Mr Longo said the executive changes continued ASIC’s transformation following the agency’s largest organisational redesign in 15 years.

This included the appointment of three new commissioners in 2023, and the appointments this year of new executives including Diana Steicke as executive director of registry and intelligence, Joanne Harper as executive director of data, digital and technology, and Annie Reeves as chief people and culture transformation officer.

Mr Longo said following Warren Day’s secondment to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions in April, a global search for a new permanent CEO would also begin shortly.

New Australian Border Force Commissioner named

The Australian Defence Force’s inaugural Chief of Defence Intelligence will be the next Australian Border Force (ABF) Commissioner.

The Federal Government has announced the appointment of Gavan Reynolds AO as the new commissioner, to be sworn in on Sunday, 10 November.

Mr Reynolds’ career has included serving with distinction in several strategic and operational posts, including as Australian military representative to NATO and the European Union, heading military strategic commitments in the Department of Defence and deployment to Afghanistan as part of the International Security Assistance Force.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs and Immigration Minister Tony Burke issued a statement on 14 October describing Mr Reynolds as “well equipped to lead ABF through the current complex operating environment” and to meet the challenges of the future.

“Mr Reynolds brings a wealth of experience from his over 40 years of service to the nation, most recently as the Australian Defence Force’s inaugural Chief of Defence Intelligence,” they said.

ATSE elects new cohort of innovators to its illustrious ranks

The Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) has elected another group of fellows to join its prestigious ranks, granting them the illustrious title of FTSE.

Among the 32 recipients are a world farming authority, a trailblazing Indigenous genomics expert, a naval defence engineer, and one of the most influential climate scientists in the world.

The cohort joins more than 900 of Australia’s leading engineers and applied scientists elected by their peers to the academy for their outstanding contributions across the country’s innovation ecosystem.

Applications open for commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People

Applications are now open for the role of the inaugural National Commissioner for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People.

The Federal Government recently announced that an independent National Commission for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children and Young People would begin operations on 13 January, 2025.

The National Commissioner will work with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, communities, commissioners, guardians, advocates and other stakeholders to provide culturally safe and holistic advice on the development and delivery of policies, programs and services to ensure they meet the needs of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

Indigenous Minister and NT Senator Malarndirri McCarthy said the commission and commissioner would be an important part of the Commonwealth’s strategy for Closing the Gap on outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people.

SNAICC CEO Catherine Liddle said similar independent and empowered roles must be present in every jurisdiction, providing a national system of oversight to uphold the rights and interests of our children.

“This significant commitment to our children should have bi-partisan support nationally and in all states and territories,” she said. “Our children deserve this.”

States and Territories

NSW appoints Building Commissioner

Minister for Building Anoulack Chanthivong has welcomed the appointment of the new NSW Building Commissioner.

Department of Customer Service Secretary Graeme Head has appointed James Sherrard to the role.

His previous role was Head of Commercial, Performance and Strategy at Transport NSW, where he led a team responsible for contract frameworks, the acquisition of property for major infrastructure projects, procurement including several multibillion-dollar projects, and an analytics team.

Victoria’s Court welcomes four new magistrates

The Victorian Government has appointed four new magistrates to help people have their matters heard sooner.

Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes congratulated Nicole Spicer, James FitzGerald, Matthew Page and William Parker on their appointments.

Ms Spicer was a senior legal adviser at the Victorian Government Solicitor’s Office (VGSO) since 2020, acting as lead counsel of royal commissions and inquiries from 2022.

Mr FitzGerald has been a barrister since 2005, including seven years as a senior public defender at Victoria Legal Aid from 2014 to 2021. He has previously been a solicitor at the Office of Public Prosecutions.

Working for more than 10 years in various jurisdictions, Mr Page has specialised in criminal law and has been a solicitor at Leanne Warren and Associates. Before that, Mr Page was a solicitor at Christmas and Sheehan in London and a paralegal at Slaughter and May in London.

Mr Parker was at Tony Hargreaves & Partners Lawyers, regularly appearing in the Magistrates’ Court and County Court jurisdictions. Before that, he was a solicitor at James Dowsley and Associates.

Victoria CFA names Greg Leach as CEO

The Victorian Government has appointed Greg Leach as CEO for its Country Fire Authority (CFA).

Mr Leach brings extensive emergency management expertise to the role, with a career spanning more than three decades working across senior leadership positions in four emergency services agencies in Victoria and Queensland (Ambulance Victoria, Melbourne Metropolitan Fire Brigade, Queensland Fire and Emergency Services and Victoria State Emergency Service).

He is a current member of the board of the Australasian Fire and Emergency Services Council (AFAC), and since October last year has been serving as CEO of VICSES.

WA appoints three new directors-general

The Western Australian Government has appointed three new directors-general to its state public service.

Alistair Jones has been confirmed as director-general at the Department of Water and Environmental Regulation (DWER).

Mr Jones joined DWER as acting director-general in January 2024, having previously served as assistant under-treasurer of the Economic Business Unit and assistant under-treasurer of strategic policy and evaluation at the Department of Treasury.

Jodie Wallace is stepping up as director-general of the Department of Training and Workforce Development.

Ms Wallace has worked in the public sector for more than two decades and has held executive director positions at the Department of Training and Workforce Development for the past six years.

Jay Peckitt will be the director-general of the Education Department, where he’s served for the past nine years.

Mr Peckitt is currently the deputy director-general of education business services for the Department of Education, where he delivers services and solutions for schools through finance, infrastructure and information and communications technology.

Olympian to lead Santos Tour Down Under Family Ride in SA

After leading the Australian Olympic team as Chef de Mission, Anna Meares OAM will return to Adelaide as the ambassador for the Santos Tour Down Under Health Partners Family Ride in 2025.

The Santos Tour Down Under broadcast panellist and former Olympic cycling gold medallist will hit the track with her two children when the Health Partners Family Ride takes place in Adelaide’s East End ahead of the Men’s Classic on Saturday, 18 January.

The ride forms part of the Santos Tour Down Under festival, with the full lineup featuring street parties, live music and family fun as Australia’s greatest cycling race gears up to celebrate 25 years in 2025.

Tasmanian Government refreshes ministry following recent exits

Two new ministers have joined the Tasmanian Liberal Government Ministry, with Deputy Premier Guy Barnett replacing Nic Street as Treasurer for the island state.

He will not only retain the positions of Attorney-General and Minister for Justice, which he assumed from the resignation of Michael Ferguson, but will also stand in for the former Treasurer after he recently stood down to focus on his health.

Meanwhile, Jacquie Petrusma will become the Minister for Health, Aboriginal Affairs and Veterans’ Affairs, with Kerry Vincent taking on the ministries of Infrastructure and Local Government.

A former registered nurse, Ms Petrusma also brings ministerial experience, having been at the helm of various portfolios including human services, police, parks and environment. As the former Mayor of Sorell, Ms Vincent played an instrumental role in the town’s infrastructural transformation.

Premier Jeremy Rockliff will retain the portfolios of Tourism, Trade and Major Investment. Minister Nick Duigan will keep Energy & Renewables and Parks and assume the role of Sports and Events Minister.

Other changes include:

• Minister Felix Ellis will take on Consumer Affairs, but remain as Parliamentary Secretary for Housing and Planning
• Minister Jane Howlett will take on the portfolios of Hospitality and Small Business
• Minister Roger Jaensch will take on Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Finance
• Minister Madeleine Ogilvie will take on Environment, and the portfolio of Science and Technology will be incorporated into a new portfolio of Innovation, Science and the Digital Economy
• Minister Jo Palmer will take on the role of Minister for Women and the Prevention of Family Violence
• Simon Wood will remain as Parliamentary Secretary for Health, Mental Health and Wellbeing, and Government Whip, but is also taking on the Premier’s portfolio as Parliamentary Secretary
• Rob Fairs will become Parliamentary Secretary for Youth Engagement.

Interim Commissioner for Children and Young People appointed in Tasmania

The Tasmanian Government has appointed Isabelle Crompton as Interim Commissioner for Children and Young People in the leadup to the state’s first standalone commission next year.

The island’s State Government is developing legislation to establish a new statutory Commission for Children and Young People as part of its response to the commission of inquiry recommendations.

Ms Crompton has worked in the Office of the Commissioner for Children and Young People since 2011, initially in a policy role and then as director.