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
Christopher Davis is the next chief financial officer at the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Kristie Bullock will head the ICT business and governance branch at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
Tori Harrington is assistant director of public prosecutions.
Meanwhile, at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO), Kelly Norwood has been named assistant commissioner in the debt-assist role for frontline services.
Band 2
Belinda Darling has been promoted to deputy commissioner for frontline resource management at the ATO.
Other federal
Chris Evans named Australia’s first Anti-Slavery Commissioner
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus has announced the appointment of Chris Evans as the inaugural Australian Anti-Slavery Commissioner, a five-year role in which he’ll serve from 2 December.
The Anti-Slavery Commissioner is expected to prevent and respond to modern slavery by supporting victims and survivors, raising community awareness and helping business address the risk of modern slavery practices in their operations and supply chains.
Mr Evans has served as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Global Freedom Network of Walk Free, which works with faith leaders to end human trafficking and modern slavery. The organisation played a significant role in the campaign for introducing the Modern Slavery Bill 2018.
Before this, he was a senator for Western Australia between 1993 and 2013. He also served as Leader of the Government in the Senate (2007-13), Minister for Immigration and Citizenship (2007-10), Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Jobs and Workplace Relations (2010-11), and Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research (2011-13).
From 2016 to 2020, Chris Evans also held the role of strategic engagement lead at Walk Free. Photo: Minderoo Foundation.
Stela Solar exits National AI Centre
The National AI Centre (NAIC) director Stela Solar has announced she will leave the role on 15 November, after being its inaugural head since the beginning of 2022.
Before her current role and ongoing service as co-chair of the Commonwealth AI Consortium, Ms Solar was Microsoft’s global director of AI solution sales and strategy. During her time at NAIC, it moved from the CSIRO to the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR) in July.
Industry and Science Minister Ed Husic thanked Stela Solar for her work, including developing the nation’s first set of AI safety standards. Photo: LinkedIn.
Annette Wah to head up National Film and Sound Archive
The Federal Government has named Annette Shun Wah as the next chair of the National Film and Sound Archive of Australia (NFSA) Board, along with the reappointment of Lucinda Brogden AM as one of its members.
Ms Wah is currently the programming adviser for the Adelaide Festival Centre’s OzAsia Festival, where she was artistic director from 2020 to 2023, but also serves as director of the Sydney Theatre Company Board.
Mrs Brogden has been a member of the NFSA Board since December 2021 and currently serves on several others, including as chair of the Diabetes Australia Research Trust, director of the Corporate Mental Health Alliance, director at Australian Unity, and a director of Be Kind Sydney.
Annette Wah was appointed as deputy chair of the NFSA Board in October last year, but will begin as chair in December. Photo: Adelaide Festival Centre.
New member joins National Cultural Heritage Committee
The Federal Government has appointed Tina Baum as a member of the National Cultural Heritage Committee for a three-year term, along with the reappointments of Tim Sullivan, Simon Elliott, Jane Stewart and Louise Tegart.
The committee advises the government on matters of importance to Australia’s cultural heritage, and provides guidance on the export of items of cultural significance.
Ms Baum currently works as the senior curator of First Nations art at the National Gallery of Australia.
Tina Baum is a saltwater woman from the Gulumirrgin (Larrakia)/Wardaman/Karajarri peoples of the Northern Territory and Western Australia. Photo: NGA.
Sam Meers to be next chair of National Portrait Gallery
The Federal Government has announced Sam Meers AO as a member and future chair of the National Portrait Gallery of Australia Board, with Penny Fowler serving as interim chair and Elizabeth Dibbs as a member for a three-year term.
Ms Fowler will serve as chair for the remainder of her final term, until March 2025, and will be succeeded by Ms Meers for a two-and-a-half-year term.
The latter is co-founder and chair of the Nelson Meers Foundation, a not-for-profit philanthropic group. Her board appointments have included chairman of Belvoir St Theatre, chairman of Documentary Australia, deputy chairman of the Federal Government Creative Partnerships Australia, a trustee of the Arts Gallery of NSW, and a director of the State Library of NSW Foundation.
As a board member, Ms Dibbs has managed the role of chair of the Audit and Risk Committee for three years. She is deputy chancellor of Western Sydney University and chair of its Audit and Risk Committee. Ms Dibbs is also deputy chair of the ACT City Renewal Authority and chair of United Way Australia. She has previously served as the Western City District Commissioner for the Greater Cities Commission, as a council member of Chief Executive Women, chair of its Scholarship Committee and as chair of YWCA NSW.
Sam Meers also serves as chairman of the Brett Whiteley Foundation and as director of Environmental Leadership Australia. Photo: Mannifera.
ASEAN-Australia Centre inaugural Advisory Board appointments
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has announced the inaugural Advisory Board of the ASEAN-Australia Centre, which began operations earlier this year.
The centre replaces the Australia-ASEAN Council and will increase ties with national cultural institutions, support emerging leaders, drive business engagement, and deepen Australia’s trade and investment links under Invested: Australia’s Southeast Asia Economic Strategy to 2040.
The following people have been appointed:
- Louise Adams, chief operating officer, Aurecon
- Professor Nicholas Farrelly, pro vice-chancellor, University of Tasmania
- Professor Sango Mahanty, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australia National University
- Audra Morrice, chef, author, television presenter and sustainability tourism champion in Southeast Asia and the Pacific
- Tarun Nagesh, curatorial manager, Asian and Pacific Art, Queensland Art Gallery, Gallery of Modern Art
- Su-Lin Ong, managing director and chief economist, RBC Capital Markets
- Professor Sharon Pickering, vice-chancellor and president, Monash University
- Kate Russell, chief executive officer, Supply Nation
- Hayley Winchcombe, engagement manager, Mandala
- John Hopkins, (ex officio) managing director and CEO, Export Finance Australia
- Michelle Chan, (ex officio) deputy secretary and head of the Office of Southeast Asia, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Minister Wong said the Advisory Board’s chair would be announced early next year. The Senator also thanked outgoing chair Glenn Keys AO and board member Caroline Chan for their contributions in advancing the Australia-ASEAN Council’s work.
States and Territories
Barr cedes Treasury to Steel as new Cabinet roles point to public service shake-up and budget discipline
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr has finally relinquished the Treasury portfolio to Chris Steel, and Rachel Stephen-Smith will take up a new portfolio for the public service, as Labor’s new Cabinet pointed to tight budget management and a shake-up of an underperforming bureaucracy over the next four years.
As flagged on Wednesday (6 November), only the two new Labor members, Caitlin Tough and Taimus Werner-Gibbings, will not be ministers in Mr Barr’s government.
However, the emphasis is clearly on keeping the budget under control as the government manages its $10 billion infrastructure program and expects more efficiency from the public service.
Mr Barr, who retains economic development, Mr Steel, Ms Stephen-Smith (who will also be Finance Minister) and Deputy Chief Minister Yvette Berry will be at the centre of power as members of a new economic team and the expenditure review committee.
Labor’s new Cabinet: Tara Cheyne, Suzanne Orr, Chris Steel, Rachel Stephen-Smith, Andrew Barr, Yvette Berry, Dr Marisa Paterson and Michael Pettersson. Photo: Ian Bushnell.
Dr Gary Nicholls appointed NSW Executive Medical Director
Justice Health and Forensic Mental Health Network NSW has announced the permanent appointment of Dr Gary Nicholls to the role of Executive Medical Director.
He has been with Justice Health NSW since 2011, as part of the primary care team, starting as a staff specialist in medicine before progressing to the role of clinical director of primary care.
Dr Gary Nicholls is a dual-trained hospital physician and specialist general practitioner. Photo: NSW Government.
New appointees to Venues NSW board
The NSW Government has confirmed new appointees to the board of Venues NSW, replacing outgoing members Gregory Pearce and Maria Scott.
Existing member John Quayle will take on the Hunter board position, while the two new board members are Yvonne Sampson and Ian Roberts.
Ms Sampson is a highly regarded sports broadcaster who has earned a distinguished reputation in the sports media industry through a career spanning more than 20 years. Mr Roberts is a former NRL player and social justice advocate, also known as the first high-profile Australian sportsperson to be openly gay.
Michael Knight appointed to Statutory and Other Offices Remuneration Tribunal
For the next three years, Michael Knight AO will serve in the office of the Statutory and Other Offices Remuneration Tribunal, replacing the outgoing Greg Pearce.
Mr Knight will hold office as the tribunal responsible for determining the remuneration of judicial office holders, court and related office holders, public office holders and public service senior executives.
He has advised on several private-sector boards and government bodies, including as president of the Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games, chair of Sydney Olympic Park Authority and chair of Sydney Gas Limited.
Michael Knight also served in the NSW Parliament from 1981 until 2001, including as Minister for Roads, Olympics, Public Works and Services. Photo: Sydney Institute.
New board members for NSW ILGA
The NSW Government has made appointments to the board of the Independent Liquor and Gaming Authority (ILGA), replacing current vacancies and outgoing deputy chair Sarah Dinning.
ILGA is a statutory decision-maker responsible for a range of liquor, registered club and gaming machine regulatory functions, including determining licensing and disciplinary matters.
Existing member Chris Honey has been made deputy chairperson, while Associate Professor Amelia Thorpe and Nicholas Nichles have joined as members. These appointments bring ILGA’s board membership to seven.
Mr Honey joined ILGA as a member earlier this year and will remain in his new role until early 2027. He brings extensive experience in the advisory and restructuring field.
Professor Thorpe is with the Faculty of Law and Justice at the University of New South Wales and an Acting Commissioner of the NSW Land and Environment Court. Mr Nichles was previously a consul general and senior trade and investment commissioner for Australian Government agency Austrade, based in the US.
Victoria appoints new Crown Counsel
The Victorian Government has announced the appointment of Sarah Keating as Crown Counsel, replacing Liam Brown SC, who served in the role for more than five years until July.
The Crown Counsel provides high-level advice to government and conducts reviews and investigations on a range of legal and policy-related matters.
Since being called to the Bar in 2008, Ms Keating has appeared in complex criminal trials, appeals, judicial review proceedings, commissions of inquiry and tribunals.
Before joining the Bar, Sarah Keating served as an associate to Justice Elizabeth Curtain in the Supreme Court of Victoria. Photo: LinkedIn.
Victoria appoints monitors for Casey, Strathbogie and Whittlesea councils
Municipal monitors have been appointed to three Victorian councils to guide newly elected councillors in their first year of representation following the local government elections.
Local Government Minister Melissa Horne announced Peter Stephenson, Cameron Boardman, Jude Munro, Peita Duncan and Marg Allan will serve as municipal monitors at Casey City, Whittlesea City and Strathbogie Shire councils.
Until 6 November, 2025, the monitors will support good governance as new councillors enter office and help prevent the recurrence of issues that led to each council’s dismissal.
Queensland Premier unveils new Cabinet, public service heads, and assistant ministry
Queensland’s new Premier David Crisafulli has announced his Cabinet and senior government appointments.
Joining the 10 new directors-general will be Damien Walker as director-general of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. He is the current chief executive of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet for the South Australian Government, but will return to Queensland to head up its public service.
With more than a decade of experience in executive leadership roles in Queensland, Mr Walker led Queensland’s Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning. Before that, he led tourism, innovation and small-business portfolios.
Chris Lamont has been appointed as Director-General of the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business. He’s coming from NSW, where he is currently the Small Business Commissioner.
In addition to these public servants, Premier Crisafulli has a new assistant ministry comprising:
- Dr Christian Rowan – Assistant Minister to the Premier on Matters of State and New Citizens
- Trevor Watts – Assistant Minister to the Premier for Cabinet and South-West Queensland
- Amanda Stoker – Assistant Minister for Finance, Trade, Employment and Training
- Herman Vorster – Assistant Minister for Multicultural Affairs and International Student Attraction
- Rebecca Young – Assistant Minister to the Deputy Premier and Assistant Minister for Planning, Housing and Better Regulation
- Janelle Poole – Assistant Minister for Community Safety, Defence Industry, Veterans and North Queensland
- Bryson Head – Assistant Minister for Regional Development, Resources and Critical Minerals
- Bree James – Assistant Minister for Tourism, Early Learning, Creative Industries and Far North Queensland
- Donna Kirkland – Assistant Minister for Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Treatment, Families and Seniors and Central Queensland
- Sean Dillion – Assistant Minister for Primary Industry Development, Water and Western Queensland.
Damien Walker was also responsible for delivering the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games. Photo: SA Government.
WA appoints commercial litigation expert as magistrate
Attorney-General John Quigley has announced the appointment of Saul Davies as a new magistrate of the Magistrates Court of WA.
Mr Davies becomes a member of the judiciary after a lengthy career in private practice and fills a recently vacated magistrate’s position.
Admitted to practice in 2005, he worked at the same WA law firm for two decades, including as a partner for more than nine years from mid-2015. Mr Davies’ areas of legal specialisation include corporate, contractual and property disputes; and building, construction, guardianship, administration, bankruptcy and insolvency matters.
South Australia appoints new public service leadership
SA Premier Peter Malinauskas has appointed three new departmental chief executives, with Rick Persse AM to lead the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.
As a result of Mr Persse’s elevation to the position, the current Deputy Under Treasurer, Tammie Pribanic, will be appointed Under Treasurer – the first woman to hold the role.
Ms Pribanic has held various roles in the Department of Treasury and Finance, including executive director of budget, analysis and performance and director revenue. She also served in the role of chief operating officer in the Department of Education.
Paul Martyn PSM is the next chief executive of the Department for Energy and Mining, replacing the outgoing Dr Paul Heithersay, who has held the role since 2018.
Mr Martyn has held various senior roles in the Queensland Public Service, including as Director-General of the departments of Energy and Climate, Energy and Public Works, along with heading up the Premier’s COVID-19 Response and Recovery Taskforce, and CEO of Trade and Investment Queensland.
Rick Persse has served as Under Treasurer, chief executive of the Department of Education and chief executive of the Attorney-General’s Department. Photo: SA Government.
Tasmania names new Integrity Commission CEO
The Tasmanian Government has appointed Ellen McKenzie as the new CEO of the Integrity Commission, replacing the outgoing Michael Easton.
Ms McKenzie has more than 30 years’ experience in the legal profession, having operated her own private legal practice in Sydney, worked for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, and most recently held the position of deputy director, Litigation and External Intervention-Professional Standards with the Legal Regulation Department of the NSW Law Society.
The island state’s Integrity Commission has for many years been sledged as one of the weakest anti-corruption bodies in Australia, due to its lack of resourcing.
One central concern is a loophole that doesn’t allow the watchdog or parliamentary committees to investigate elected members while a state election campaign is underway. The commission was unable to investigate two alleged corruption referrals in the 2018 and 2021 state elections.
