A breakdown of the latest appointments and open consultations in the Australian Public Service and across the public services of the states and territories.
APS Senior Executive Service
Band 1
Anita Agett and Susan Heaton are two new branch heads at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water.
The Australian Digital Health Agency has made Danielle Pentony its new chief information security officer.
Joanna Abharayaratna is the assistant secretary of the Office of Impact Analysis and Tiffany Dreamer assistant secretary of the Economic Policy Branch within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Economic Division.
Luke Akele, Grace Ng and Samuel Witton have been promoted to senior executive lawyers with the Australian Government Solicitor.
The Department of Defence has promoted Jake Gumley and Anna Whipp to band one, and brought Matthew Berrisford into the senior executive service as assistant secretary for the Office of the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force.
Band 3
The Department of Home Affairs has made Charlotte Tressler a chief operating officer.
Federal
Australian Human Rights Commission welcomes new president
Hugh de Kretser will be the new president of the Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) when Emeritus Professor Rosalind Croucher AM steps down at the end of July after a seven-year term.
Mr de Kretser is the current CEO of the Yoorrook Justice Commission, which is the first formal truth-telling process into historical and ongoing injustices experienced by First Nations peoples in Victoria.
Hugh de Kretser begins his five-year term on 30 July. Photo: AHRC.
Holly Kramer is the new president of the Remuneration Tribunal
From 1 June, Holly Kramer will be the president of the Remuneration Tribunal for five years.
The tribunal is an independent statutory authority that determines and reports on the remuneration of key public offices. This includes members of the Federal Parliament, judicial and non-judicial offices of federal courts and tribunals, secretaries of departments, full-time and part-time holders of various public offices and principal executive offices.
Ms Kramer has chaired several committees with responsibility for remuneration, including with ANZ Group, Fonterra Group, Woolworths Group, Australia Post, Abacus Property Group and Nine Entertainment Corporation.
Holly Kramer will fill the Remuneration Tribunal vacancy following the expiry of John Conde AO’s term in December 2023. Photo: Woolworths Group.
Gary Cowan appointed as CEO of National Foundation for Australia-China Relations
As the Federal Government announces the recipients of its 2023-24 grants round for the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations, Foreign Minister Penny Wong has appointed Gary Cowan as its chief executive officer.
Mr Cowan is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through which he has served in postings in Beijing, Shanghai, Tokyo and most recently Taipei (2018-2021).
He will replace Peter Cai, who has served as the foundation’s CEO since 2021 and during its establishment phase as an advisory board member.
The advisory board has also brought a new member into the fold, Alice Pung OAM. She is a writer, editor, lawyer and an Adjunct Professor at RMIT University’s School of Media and Communication.
Gary Cowan is the new CEO of the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations and Alice Pung is an advisory board member. Photo: Australia-China Relations Foundation.
States and Territories
Victoria Essential Services Commission chairperson steps down
After five years as chairperson of the Victorian Essential Services Commission (ESC), Kate Symons will step down on 30 June.
She is one of four commissioners who serve Victoria’s independent regulator of essential services supplied by the electricity, gas, water and transport sectors.
During her term, Ms Symons has overseen the implementation of the ESC’s Getting to Fair strategy, which improves access to essential services for consumers experiencing vulnerability.
Kate Symons was appointed full-time commissioner and chairperson in 2019, after being a part-time commissioner since 2016. Photo: ESC Vic.
Victoria appoints new Southeast Asia Commissioner
Treasurer Tim Pallas has appointed Naila Mazzucco as Victoria’s new Commissioner to Southeast Asia, where she is expected to boost the state’s economic activity within the region.
Victoria’s two-way merchandise trade with Southeast Asia reached a record high of more than $27 billion in 2023. In the same year, fibre exports to Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia and the Philippines also increased significantly.
Ms Mazzucco is coming into the role following a tenure as Australia’s Consul-General in Milan and Trade and Investment Commissioner for Italy, Southeast Europe and Israel. Before that, she worked across government, the multilateral sector and private sectors in Malaysia, Thailand, Japan and the Philippines for more than 12 years.
New appointments to VICSES and CFA boards
Following the resignation of Greg Wilson as chairperson of the Victoria State Emergency Services (VICSES) and Country Fire Authority (CFA) boards, the State Government has announced new appointments.
Jasmine Doak will remain director and chairperson of the VICSES Board for another three years, while Casey Nunn ASM OAM is set to serve as director and deputy chairperson until 30 September as they look to recruit a permanent individual for the latter role.
Ms Doak has been in her current role since last year, but previously served as president of the Metropolitan Fire and Emergency Services Board. Ms Nunn has been a director of the VICSES Board since 2020.
Joanne Plummer has been appointed chairperson of the CFA for three years, while Anthony Peake OAM will act as deputy chairperson until 31 September as they look for a permanent recruit. Ms Plummer has served as deputy chairperson since June 2022, and currently holds several non-executive director and board membership roles.
Greg Wilson (not pictured) oversaw the VICSES and CFA as they managed the October 2022 floods and the 2023/24 summer floods, storms and fires. Photo: Facebook.
Victoria makes changes to Parliamentary Secretary responsibilities
Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has announced several changes to the Parliamentary Secretary responsibilities.
Tim Richardson will become Parliamentary Secretary for Men’s Behaviour Change, to work on the state’s family and domestic violence. Nina Taylor will become Parliamentary Secretary for Education to support Minister Ben Carroll. Sheena Watt will become Parliamentary Secretary for Emergency Services and support Minister Jaclyn Symes.
Josh Bull will become Parliamentary Secretary for Infrastructure Delivery, taking in both transport and health infrastructure to support Minister for Transport Infrastructure Danny Pearson and Minister for Health Infrastructure Mary-Anne Thomas as they work with the newly created Victorian Infrastructure Delivery Authority.
Interim CEO to lead Queensland’s new Games Authority
Emma Thomas has been appointed as interim CEO for the new independent Games Venue and Legacy Delivery Authority of Queensland.
Last week, Queensland Parliament passed the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games Amendment Bill 2024. The bill established an independent Games delivery authority that will provide new and upgraded venues to be used during the Olympics.
Ms Thomas had previously accepted a role to become the new CEO of Seqwater. Before taking up this role, she will first serve as the interim CEO of the Games Venue and Legacy Delivery Authority until a permanent CEO is appointed.
Emma Thomas was most recently the CEO of Sunshine Coast Council. Photo: LinkedIn/Emma Thomas.
Queensland Carers Advisory Council brings in three new members
The Queensland Carers Advisory Council has brought in three new members to support its work advising the Disability Services Minister in ensuring carers’ voices are heard.
Louise Faulkner, Fritha Radyk and Melissa Burke have joined the 12-member council, established in 2009, where they will see out their terms until 31 January, 2026.
Ms Faulkner is the national manager of service delivery for Wellways Carer Gateway (Queensland and NSW). Ms Radyk is the new CEO of Carers Queensland and will chair the council. Ms Burke is the executive director of student diversity, disability and inclusion for Queensland’s Department of Education.
South Australia establishes two postings for economic engagement with India
The South Australian Government has appointed two in-country directors for the state’s fourth-largest export market – India.
To be based in the Austrade offices of Chennai and Mumbai respectively, Kamran Khan and Priya Pankaj have been tasked with leading export growth and facilitating and securing foreign direct investment into SA from India.
Mr Khan has been working at the Australian Trade and Investment Commission in India since 2010, and most recently held the position of senior director and regional lead, Infrastructure for South Asia.
Ms Pankaj previously held positions with Citi Bank, Standard Chartered Bank and HDFC Bank, and most recently was senior investment adviser and lead – environment, energy and infrastructure at the British High Commission.
The role of the new appointments is to establish business connections that will take advantage of the Australia-India Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Trade Agreement (AI-ECTA). In the year to March, the value of India’s export market to South Australia grew by 13 per cent to $1.1 billion.
The Federal Government recently awarded $18 million to three collaborative space programs being developed under the International Space Investment India Projects program. Photo: ASA.
Advocare named new independent peak body for WA seniors
Seniors advocacy group Advocare has been named Western Australia’s new independent peak body for seniors following a competitive tender process by the Department of Communities.
As the seniors peak body, Advocare will engage with older people to hear their views and present these to government and the community sector.
Establishing an independent peak body is part of WA’s first seniors strategy, An Age-Friendly WA: State Seniors Strategy 2023-2033, and its accompanying five-year action plan launched last year.
Advocare has been providing services for older people in WA for more than 27 years, helping them access the support, information and protections available to them. It also delivers the National Aged Care Advocacy Program, the Care Finder Service, the Elder Abuse Helpline and the Aged Care Volunteer Visitors Scheme as part of its support for older people.
WA appoints members to State Administrative Tribunal
Attorney-General John Quigley has announced the appointments of Kathryn Cobbett and Karen Lang as part-time ordinary members of the State Administrative Tribunal (SAT) for Western Australia.
SAT determines a wide range of disputes, such as resources and development matters, including town planning, commercial and civil, and guardianship and administration disputes.
Ms Cobbett is a part-time legal member of the Mental Health Tribunal, presiding over hearings relating to safeguarding the rights of involuntary mental health patients in WA.
Ms Lang was a senior sessional SAT member for 20 years before being appointed to her new position, working in the human rights, commercial and civil, and vocational regulation streams.
Both have been appointed for five-year terms expiring in mid-2029.
Open for consultation
Response to PwC – tax regulator information-gathering powers review
Treasury is seeking stakeholder feedback on a paper examining whether the ATO information-gathering powers remain fit for purpose and assist the AFP to investigate serious criminal offences perpetrated against the tax and superannuation systems. It also looks at the limitations on the Tax Practitioners Board (TPB) using formal information-gathering powers before launching a formal investigation. Submissions can be made until 31 May.
Draft National Autism Strategy
The draft National Autism Strategy, not yet agreed to by the government, is seeking feedback to improve life outcomes for Australians living with autism. Submissions close on 31 May.
Non-compete clauses and other worker restraints
Non-compete clauses in employment contracts are now squarely in Labor’s sights, with the Federal Government insisting that such business methods are thwarting competition and holding back economic growth. Responses can be made until 31 May.
National guidelines for including mental health and wellbeing in early childhood health checks
The Department of Health and Aged Care has asked the Mental Health Commission to develop national guidelines to include mental health and wellbeing in early childhood health checks (for children 0-5 years). Submissions are open until 2 June.
Updates to ASIC’s regulatory guidance for external administrators and controllers
The Australian Securities & Investments Commission (ASIC) has released proposed updates that provide greater clarity on its expectations of external administrators and controllers when reporting and lodging statutory reports about alleged misconduct. Feedback on the consultation paper is open until 6 June.
Review of Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) and the Consumers Health Forum of Australia are collaborating to review the 2016 Statement on Consumer and Community Involvement in Health and Medical Research, which articulates the importance and benefits of consumer and community involvement in research, and discusses a series of implementation issues. Submissions will be accepted until 16 June.
Rapid uptake of automated decision-making and machine learning in the workplace
The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Employment, Education and Training has begun a new inquiry calling on workers, employers, software developers and providers, academics, employer groups and trade unions regarding the digital transformation of workplaces across Australia. Submissions are welcome until 21 June.
Response to PwC – regulation of accounting, auditing and consulting firms in Australia
Treasury is seeking feedback on a paper identifying priorities to strengthen regulatory arrangements for the accounting, auditing and consulting firms in Australia. Feedback is open until 28 June.
Release of draft Good Institutional Practice Guide
The National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) has opened for consultation its draft guide, which aims to provide NHMRC-funded institutions and NHMRC-funded researchers with direction on good institutional practice to promote open, honest, supportive and respectful institutional cultures conducive to the conduct of high-quality research. Submissions close on 10 July.
For information on all the state and territory government projects open for consultation, follow the links below:
- New South Wales
- Queensland
- Victoria
- South Australia
- Western Australia
- Tasmania
- Northern Territory
- Australian Capital Territory
Federal Parliament Public Hearings
Wednesday (29 May):
Food and Beverage Manufacturing in Australia – House Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Resources
Time: 8:40 – 9:30 am; Chamber: House; Location: Committee Room 1R5, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Environment and Communications Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 11 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2S3, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Finance and Public Administration legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 11 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 10:15 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Main Committee Room (MCR), Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 11 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Thursday (30 May):
Inquiry into local government sustainability – Standing Committee on Regional Development, Infrastructure and Transport
Time: 11:05 am – 12 pm; Chamber: House; Location: Committee Room 1R3, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Environment and Communications Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 11 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2S3, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 11 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 10:15 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Main Committee Room (MCR), Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 11 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Friday (31 May):
Budget Estimates hearing – Environment and Communications Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 3:30 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2S3, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Finance and Public Administration Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 5 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 10:15 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Main Committee Room (MCR), Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 5:30 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Monday (3 June):
Budget Estimates hearing – Community Affairs Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 10:30 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Economics Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 10 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Education and Employment Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 11 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2S3, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 10 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Main Committee Room (MCR), Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Tuesday (4 June):
Budget Estimates hearing – Community Affairs Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 10:30 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2S1, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Economics Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 10 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2R1, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Education and Employment Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 11 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Committee Room 2S3, Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
Budget Estimates hearing – Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Legislation Committee
Time: 9 am – 10 pm; Chamber: Senate; Location: Main Committee Room (MCR), Parliament House, Canberra, ACT.
