Darren Kavanagh has been appointed as the Seacare Authority chair. Joanne Hutchinson has been appointed as Assistant Secretary in the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts. 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
Joanne Hutchinson has been appointed as Assistant Secretary in the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts.
Frances McNamara has been promoted to general manager, Property & Place in the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).
Band 2
Genevieve Davin has been appointed as General Counsel in the Department of Education.
Ying Yang has been appointed as general manager, Data (Chief Data and Analytics Officer) for the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) in the Department of Home Affairs.
Other federal appointments
Minister for Employment and Workplace Relations Amanda Rishworth has announced the appointment of Darren Kavanagh as the permanent chair of the Seacare Authority for a five-year term that began on 22 January.
He has been acting in the role since 22 October, 2025, following the end of Barry Sherriff’s term of appointment.
Mr Kavanagh has experience in workers’ compensation and work health and safety, previously serving as Commissioner of WorkSafe Western Australia, as a member of Safe Work Australia, and as a board member of WorkCover WA and the Commission for Occupational Safety and Health WA.
The Seacare Authority is a non-corporate Commonwealth entity established under the Seafarers Rehabilitation and Compensation Act 1992. It oversees the operation of the Seacare scheme, a workers’ compensation and work health and safety framework covering a specified section of the Australian maritime industry.
States and territories
Magistrate Donald MacKenzie has been appointed as Queensland’s second Deputy State Coroner, a new position created after the government made amendments to the Coroners Act 2003.
Coroner MacKenzie will assist State Coroner Terry Ryan and his fellow Deputy State Coroner Stephanie Gallagher with their specific responsibilities.
The Tasmanian Government has appointed Simon Gates as Tasmania’s new State Litigator for a three-year term.
Mr Gates has served as Assistant State Litigator since August 2024 and as Acting State Litigator since March 2025.
Janine Pritchard has been elected as chair of the Law Reform Commission of Western Australia (LRCWA), succeeding Lindy Jenkins.
Senior assistant state solicitor Breony Allen has been appointed a member of the LRCWA, succeeding WA Solicitor-General Jean Shaw.
Western Australia’s Treasurer Rita Saffioti has announced the appointment of Helen Robinson as chief executive officer of the Insurance Commission of Western Australia (ICWA) for a five-year term.
Ms Robinson has been Acting CEO of ICWA since July 2025 following the retirement of Rod Whithear.
Associate Justice Katrina Bochner and District Court Judge Kristopher Handshin have been appointed to the Supreme Court of South Australia, and Domenico Petraccaro SC has been appointed to the District Court. All appointments are effective from 19 February.
