(From left) Cassy Baker has been promoted to General Manager Security and CISO in the Bureau of Meteorology. Jennie Fluin has been promoted to head of the Environmental Data and Analysis Branch in the DCCEEW. Gina Cass-Gottlieb has been reappointed as ACCC chair. Photos: LinkedIn and Treasurer’s office.
A breakdown of the latest appointments and moves in the Australian Public Service, the public services of the states and territories, and the wider public sector.
APS Senior Executive Service
Band 1
Samantha O’Connell has been appointed head of the Australian Submarine Agency’s Commercial branch.
Jennie Fluin has been promoted to head of the Environmental Data and Analysis Branch in the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW).
Angela Webster has been promoted to Assistant Secretary Maintenance Requirements in the Department of Defence.
Monique Carew has been appointed Branch Manager, Portfolio Assurance in the Department of Finance’s Digital Transformation Agency (DTA).
Nicole Strachan has been appointed Branch Manager, Strategy and Prioritisation in the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA).
Harini Haran has been appointed as General Counsel in the Department of Finance’s Independent Parliamentary Expenses Authority.
Suzi Clark and Jade Stopar have been named as Assistant Commissioner Enterprise, Governance and Strategy & Assistant Commissioner Engagement, Education and Communication, respectively, in the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission.
Melissa Caldow has been appointed as an Assistant Secretary in the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Mark Beaumont has been promoted to General Manager, Other Metals in the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR).
Karma Abraham has been appointed Deputy Chief Consulting Officer in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Cassy Baker has been promoted to General Manager Security and CISO in the Bureau of Meteorology.
Band 2
Lauren White has been promoted to Executive General Manager, Consumer and Fair Trading in the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).
Vajira Samaranayake has been appointed as a General Manager in Services Australia.
(From left) Lauren White has been promoted to Executive General Manager, Consumer and Fair Trading in the ACCC. Karma Abraham has been appointed as Deputy Chief Consulting Officer in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Mike Mrdak has been reappointed as a non-executive director of the NBN Co Board. Photos: LinkedIn, NBN Co.
Other federal appointments
Treasurer Jim Chalmers has announced the nomination for reappointment of Gina Cass‑Gottlieb as chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) for a further five years from next March.
Ms Cass-Gottlieb was first appointed in 2022. She has worked for 25 years as a senior partner in competition and regulation at Gilbert + Tobin, serving as a non‑executive member of the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Payments System Board and as a member of the Financial Regulator Assessment Authority from September 2021 to March 2022.
The Federal Government has reappointed Mike Mrdak AO as a non-executive director of the NBN Co Board for an additional three years from 1 October. Mr Mrdak was first appointed to the board in October 2023. He has had an extensive career in the Australian Public Service, including as Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development and Secretary of the Department of Communications and the Arts.
He also has significant directorship experience, including as the current chair of the Airport Development Group in the Northern Territory, deputy chair and non-executive director of Western Sydney Airport Pty Ltd, and a member of the Net Zero Economic Authority.
Geoscience Australia has created a new advisory group designed to strengthen Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander engagement in national geoscience.
The agency’s First Nations Advisory Group is made up of First Nations leaders with expertise across science, governance, policy, business, cartography, community leadership and STEM engagement. It met for the first time on 23 September.
The inaugural group comprises Dennis Ah-Kee, Mitchell Baum, Sharon Cavanagh-Luskin, Craig Molyneux, Kado Muir, Michael O’Keeffe, Amy Rust and Professor Deen Sanders OAM.
Minerals, Energy and Groundwater Chief of Division Dr Andrew Heap said the group would work closely with Geoscience Australia to improve accessibility, discoverability and the use of geoscience data and information.
“Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples have deep understanding and an enduring connection to land, sea and sky Country,” Dr Heap said.
“There is immense opportunity for traditional custodians and Geoscience Australia to work together to strengthen connections, build partnerships and support the responsible management of the nation’s shared resources.”
Agriculture Minister Julie Collins has also appointed seven directors to the Rural Industries Research and Development Corporation (AgriFutures Australia) Board.
The directors have been appointed for a three-year term on a part-time basis from 1 October, 2026, to 30 September, 2029. Of the seven postings, two are reappointments.
Appointed AgriFutures Board directors are: Dr Harjeet Khanna (reappointment), Daniel Le Feuvre (reappointment), Dr Catherine Ainsworth, Anna Cochrane, Allison Harker, Joel Kopanica and Mark Narustrang.
States and territories
Racing NSW CEO Peter V’landys AM has announced he will stand down from the role on 30 November. Graeme Hinton will become Acting CEO.
The Victorian Government has appointed Wayne Gatt as the Victorian Labour Hire Licensing Commissioner, to succeed inaugural Commissioner Steve Dargavel.
