Movers & shakers: ACIC major promotions, Health appoints five assistant secretaries

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The latest senior public sector appointments from across the country.

Senior Executive Service

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The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has made two major promotions, with Matthew Rippon now in the role of deputy ceo intelligence and Anne Brown in the role of deputy ceo support. 

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Sumone Chakravarti has joined the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIS) as strategy and priorities general manager.

The Australian National Audit Office has promoted Bola Oyetunji to group executive director. 

In the Attorney-General’s Department, Alexandra Mathews and Anne Sheehan have been promoted to senior executive roles. 

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The Department of Health has promoted Ingrid Leonard, Felicity Jones, James Benson, Jessica Evans and Sheryl Hedges to assistant secretary roles.

Desmond Lee has joined The National Disability Insurance Agency as Queensland state manager. 

Christopher De Luis, from the Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources, has become the Australian Space Agency senior executive of opportunities. 

Two Department of Defence staff, Jane Wood and Josephine Perrott, have taken senior executive roles. 

The Department of Education, Skills and Employment has promoted Susan Kluth to assistant secretary data analysis and Emma Hill to assistant secretary. 

Stuart Fisher has become risk advisory branch manager at the National Disability Insurance Agency and Richard Quincey has received a promotion at the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority to reef protection general manager. 

New Victorian commissioner for LGBTIQ+ communities

Todd Fernando will become the second person to fill the role of Victorian commissioner for LGBTIQ+ communities. 

“I am honoured to work with a government that believes equality is not negotiable,” Fernado said in a statement. 

“It’s time to build on existing achievements by connecting more closely with LGBTIQ+ people, communities, and organisations, while recognising the many parts that make up who we are.”

A descendant of the Kalarie peoples of the Wiradjuri nation who identifies as queer, Fernando has experience as a diversity and inclusion consultant working with both First Nations and LGBTIQ+ communities.

In 2018, along with other members of the Aboriginal rainbow community, Fernando co-founded Koorie Pride Victoria, an advocacy organisation that campaigns for the social inclusion and advancement of Victoria’s LGBTIQ+ Aboriginal community.

Fernando was acting as the commissioner for LGBTIQ+ communities since June following Ro Allen’s appointment as the Victorian equal opportunity and human rights commissioner. 

Commercial lawyer joins WA tribunal

Nova Oldfield has become an ordinary member of the Western Australia State Administrative Tribunal (SAT).

Oldfield since 2017 has been director and principal lawyer of her firm Oldfield Legal, which specialises in company, commercial and business law and strategy. Beforehand she was legal officer at the Public Trustee of Western Australia for five years.

She brings the number of full-time non judicial members on the tribunal’s to 21. 

WA attorney-general John Quigle said the appointment increased the tribunal’s capacity to oversee matters that ranged from large commercial disputes to safeguarding the rights of vulnerable community members.

New faces to guide NSW training decisions

The NSW government has appointed seven new members to its TAFE advisory board that makes recommendations to skills and tertiary education minister Geoff Lee services, priorities, and operations.

The new board members are Alison Mirams, Katrina Troughton, Isaiah Dawe, Adam Liaw, John Borghetti AO, and Dr Geoff Newcombe AM.

Western Sydney Local Health District former ceo Danny O’Connor has also become the board’s new chair. 

Lee said the board members came from diverse backgrounds.

“TAFE NSW is continually evolving to meet the needs of industry and students, so a board with wide-ranging experience and expertise is critical in guiding the organisation,” he said. 

Victorian magistrates appointed

Five new magistrates have been appointed in Victoria.

Cecily Hollingworth has practised as a criminal lawyer in Victoria for more than 18 years, including 12 years as a barrister both prosecuting and defending jury trials. She’s appeared at state matters and Commonwealth matters, and coronial inquests and Worksafe hearings. She was formerly senior crown prosecutor for the Director of Public Prosecutions in the Northern Territory. 

Rohan Lawrence has appeared in jury trials as a barrister since 2008 under both Victorian and Commonwealth criminal legislation, and public and private hearings conducted by IBAC and other integrity bodies. He previously worked as a solicitor at and as a volunteer lawyer.

Cynthia Lync, a barrister predominantly in criminal law for the past 11 years, has appeared in matters across the Magistrates, Children’s, County and Supreme Courts, and specialised jurisdictions including the Drug Court and Koori Court. She has also helped to develop junior lawyers through a Victoria Legal Aid’s program, and as a mentor.

Jason Ong has worked for the Office of Public Prosecutions during the past 18 years, preparing complex criminal law matters in the Magistrates, Children’s, Coroners, County and Supreme Courts and serving as OPP co-ordinator for the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants. He was admitted as a lawyer in 2000.

Matthew White is a specialist in criminal law and has been principal of a firm for the past 17 years. Before then he was a partner at another firm, and worked as a solicitor for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, the Australian Government Solicitor and Victoria Legal Aid.