Andrew Shearer has been appointed as Australia’s next Ambassador to Japan. Replacing him as the next Director-General of National Intelligence will be Kathy Klugman. Photos: ONI & DFAT.
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.
New Director-General of National Intelligence appointed
Kathy Klugman has been appointed as the next Director-General of National Intelligence in the Office of National Intelligence (ONI), effective from December.
Ms Klugman will succeed current Director-General Andrew Shearer, who has been designated as Australia’s next Ambassador to Japan (see below), and she will be the first woman to lead the ONI or the former Office of National Assessments (ONA).
Ms Klugman had a distinguished career in the APS, including as Deputy Secretary at the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), and as leader of DFAT’s Development and Multilateral Group, Australia’s Centre for Regional Health Security, and as chair of DFAT’s Aid Governance Board.
Other DFAT roles she has served in include High Commissioner to Sri Lanka, head of the department’s Pacific Division, and overseeing the establishment of the expanded Office of the Pacific in DFAT.
In the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Ms Klugman led the department’s International Division, and most recently served as principal adviser to the Prime Minister, International.
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Hugh Passmore has been promoted to Assistant Director-General SSN AUKUS Program Integration in the Australian Submarine Agency.
David Wain has been appointed as a senior executive in the Defence Intelligence Group in the Department of Defence.
Mitchell Surawski has been appointed as Commander Support Capability in the Department of Home Affairs.
Melissa Catania has been appointed as Commander Customs and Trade Frameworks in the Department of Home Affairs.
Carla McDonald has been promoted to branch manager – Land & Native Title in the National Indigenous Australians Agency.
Michael Gardner has been appointed as Assistant Secretary in the Commonwealth Grants Commission.
Emma Hallas has been promoted to Assistant Secretary/Senior Executive Lawyer in the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR).
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Lauren Callinan has been promoted to general manager, Payment Assurance Program and Appeals in Services Australia.
Michael Gardner has been appointed as Assistant Secretary in the Commonwealth Grants Commission. Carla McDonald has been promoted to branch manager – Land & Native Title in the National Indigenous Australians Agency. Photos: CGC & LinkedIn.
Diplomatic appointments
Jessica Hunter has been appointed as Australia’s next Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology, succeeding Brendan Dowling.
The Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology leads Australia’s international engagement on cyber affairs and critical technology issues, while delivering cyber capacity and resilience building, and incident responses across our region.
Ms Hunter will steer Australia’s international engagement under Australia’s 2023-2030 Cyber Security Strategy, focused on enhancing our role as a trusted and influential global cyber leader in Southeast Asia and the Pacific. The strategy outlines Australia’s commitment to strengthening the capacity of our region and shaping international efforts to meet the evolving challenges of cyberspace.
Ms Hunter has had a distinguished career in cyber affairs, including in the Australian Signals Directorate’s Australian Cyber Security Centre, and has served overseas as Head of Cyber Threat Operations Technical Teams at the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre. Also, she was seconded to the United States’ National Security Agency (NSA) as Deputy Australian Liaison Officer.
Paula Ganly has been appointed as Australia’s next Ambassador to Jordan, replacing Bernard Lynch.
Ms Ganly is a senior career officer within DFAT and was most recently First Assistant Secretary of the Consular and Crisis Management Division. She has previously served overseas as Ambassador to Iraq and has held postings in the UK, China, Hong Kong, the Czech Republic, Korea, Bangladesh and Venezuela.
Andrew Shearer has been nominated to be Australia’s next Ambassador to Japan, effective in early 2026, to succeed Justin Hayhurst.
Mr Shearer is currently Australia’s Director-General of the Office of National Intelligence (ONI). He has previously served as Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and as National Security Adviser to Prime Ministers John Howard and Tony Abbott.
Mr Shearer has also held senior roles at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and the Lowy Institute.
Other federal appointments
The government has appointed 35 new General Members to the Administrative Review Tribunal (ART). They are: Rachael Adolphe, Dr M Ehteshamul Bari, Rosalinda Casamento, Lisa Coffey, Maria Cristoffanini, Alison Dayman, Phillip Davies, Alan Duri, Andrew Field, Sarah Fisher, Estelle Frawley, Jane Goddard, Dilhari Gustavino, Peter Harris, Parastou Hatami, Amanda Hickey, Meredith Jackson, Anjum Kasmani, Niamh Kinchin, Dr Jackie King, Stephanie Lee, Alicia Le’Roy, Stella Lesic, Justin Moyes, Elizabeth Needham, Ashley Ngion, Stacey Parker, Leah Perkins, France Prasad, Jason Rafeeq, Dr Susannah Sage Jacobson, Dr Nikolas Tan, Heidi Thomas, Dr Helen Watchirs and Katy Welch.
Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said: “The ART is an independent federal administrative review body that reviews decisions that directly affect the everyday lives of Australians. It is crucial that the people who hear and decide these cases have the required experience and expertise.
“Each General Member was assessed as suitable for appointment through a transparent and merit-based process. The appointments will contribute to ensuring cases are effectively and efficiently heard, and to avoiding unnecessary delays for applicants.”
Treasure Jennings has been appointed as the new Federal Complaints Commissioner, effective from 1 November.
The Commissioner will play a key role in the aged-care regulatory and governance system, helping older Australians, their families and carers to understand how to make a complaint, and how those complaints will be managed and resolved.
Minister for Aged Care and Seniors Sam Rae said Ms Jennings had a proven track record in leading consumer complaints and dispute resolution, including as the Victorian Mental Health Complaints Commissioner and Disability Services Commissioner.
Four new members have been appointed to the First Nations Digital Inclusion Advisory Group. Wiradjuri researcher Dr Jessa Rogers, former AFL player Che Cockatoo-Collins, Nyangbal and Arakwal woman Naomi Moran and Wiradjuri man Terry Jamieson will join co-chairs Dot West and Professor Lyndon Ormond-Parker, and Adam Manovic as members of the advisory group.
Established by the Federal Government in January 2023, the group works closely with First Nations people and communities to identify ways to support First Nations digital inclusion, in line with Target 17 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap.
Jessica Hunter has been appointed as Australia’s next Ambassador for Cyber Affairs and Critical Technology. Hugh Passmore has been promoted to Assistant Director-General SSN AUKUS Program Integration in the Australian Submarine Agency. Photos: ASD & Macquarie University.
States and territories
The Victorian Government has appointed Dr Emma Cassar as the new Secretary of the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS). Dr Cassar currently serves as Deputy Secretary for Social Policy in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, and previously led Victoria’s prison system as the state’s Corrections Commissioner.
