MAJGEN Wade Stothart (Retd) has been appointed to the Australian War Memorial Council. Rowan Fox has been promoted to Deputy Commissioner, Small Business in the ATO. Photos: ADF & 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.
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Kristy Alexander, Emma Gill and Fiona Dempsey have been promoted to Deputy Chief Solicitors in the office of the Australian Government Solicitor.
Clare Firth has been appointed as First Assistant Secretary in the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing.
Rowan Fox has been promoted to Deputy Commissioner, Small Business in the Australian Taxation Office.
New High Commissioner to the UK appointed
Former South Australian Jay Weatherill AO will be Australia’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, replacing another Labor stalwart in the role, Stephen Smith.
Mr Weatherill served as South Australia’s 45th Premier for over six years and championed national debate on sovereign defence capability, renewable energy targets and environmental protection issues.
He served in the South Australian Parliament for 16 years in portfolios including Treasury, State Development, Education and the Environment.
In announcing the appointment, which will begin in the new year, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the United Kingdom is one of Australia’s closest friends and partners, and the appointment of Australia’s High Commissioner to the UK is one of the most important international appointments we make.
“As Premier, he was instrumental in establishing South Australia’s leadership in the defence industry, including in construction of submarines,” Mr Albanese said.
“As a proud South Australian and as our next High Commissioner, Jay is well placed to take forward AUKUS in our nation’s interests.
“I thank outgoing High Commissioner, the Hon Stephen Smith, for his service. Mr Smith has done an excellent job representing Australia’s interests in the UK across a range of security and defence matters.
“He has taken a leading role in Australia’s work with the Coalition of the Willing in support of Ukraine convened by Prime Minister Starmer and President Macron.”
Former South Australian Premier Jay Weatherill has been appointed as Australia’s next High Commissioner to the United Kingdom. Photo: Wiki
Other federal appointments
Veterans Affairs Minister Matt Keogh has announced the appointment of three new and two returning members of the Australian War Memorial Council for three-year terms.
Lesley Alway, Peter Tinley and Major General Wade Stothart (Retd) have all been appointed to replace Tony Abbott, Major General Greg Melick (Retd) and VC winner Daniel Keighran on the council, while Kim Beazley and Sharon Bown have both been reappointed for a further three years.
The AWM Council is responsible for the conduct and control of the affairs and policy of the memorial, including its displays and exhibits, maintaining the Commemorative Area and overseeing its major expansion project.
Ms Alway has been the chair of the Geelong Arts Centre Trust since 2018. She was also a member of the board of Opera Australia from 2009 to 2018 and a member of the Australian Centre for Contemporary Arts from 2009 to 2015.
Mr Tinley was recently elected as the RSL national president and is the current chair of the Veterans’ Transition Centre in Western Australia. He served for 25 years in the ADF, including 17 years with the Special Air Services Regiment, and then served in the Western Australian Parliament for 15 years, including as Minister for Veterans Issues.
Major General Stothart (Retd) recently became the director of the Office of Australian War Graves after retiring as the ADF’s Head of Military Personnel in 2024.
Vice-Admiral Jonathan Mead has informed the Federal Government he will leave his position as Director-General of the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) – the body established to develop the concept and deliver nuclear-powered submarines for Australia – in mid-2026.
Dr Brad Ridoutt has resigned from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) Dietary Guidelines Sustainability Working Group after declaring involvement in an ongoing CSIRO project funded by industry.
Vice-Admiral Jonathan Mead will leave his position of Director-General of the Australian Submarine Agency (ASA) in mid-2026. Lesley Alway has been appointed to the Australian War Memorial Council. Photos: ADF & The Wheeler Centre.
States and territories
The Western Australian Government has appointed Glen Chidlow as chief executive officer (CEO) of the Kimberley Development Commission.
Gavin Bain has been appointed by the Western Australian Government to the board of Healthway, the state body set up to fund sport, arts, community activities, health promotion projects and research. Mr Bain will succeed Steve Harris.
Anne Gale has been reappointed as South Australia’s Public Advocate until 2030.
Upon the retirement of South Australian Employment Tribunal (SAET) Deputy President, Judge Brian Gilchrist, in March 2026, Managing Commissioner Jodie Carrel has been appointed as a Deputy President Judge, while SAET President Justice Steven Dolphin and Deputy President Judge Mark Calligeros have been given authority to hear Licensing Court matters.
Damien Long and Matthew Byrne have been appointed as chair and deputy chair, respectively, of Queensland’s Building and Construction Industry QLeave Board.
There are six other appointees to the Qleave board of directors: Penelope Cornah from the Master Plumbers’ Association, Sue-Ann Fresneda from Master Builders Queensland, Kate Raymond from Master Electricians Australia, Emma McCaughey from the National Association of Women in Construction, Jeremy Minahan from the Complex Electrical Group, and Amanda Bulow from Awesome Women in Construction.
