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The latest senior public sector appointments from across the country.

Senior Executive Service

Band 1

Joanne Rossiter has moved across from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations (DEWR) to Prime Minister & Cabinet as deputy chief consulting officer.

The Department of Finance’s Megan Wilson has been promoted to an SES Band 1 role.

Emma Appleton has been hired by the National Library of Australia as its new chief operating officer and branch manager.

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade have named two new assistant secretaries: Nicholas Kay and Leah Mottram.

The Department of Education’s Alexandra Procailo is now international quality assistant secretary.

Band 2

The Department of Finance’s Rachel Antone is now first assistant secretary.

Home Affairs’ Sally Pfeiffer has been promoted to first assistant secretary industry partnerships and infrastructure policy.

The National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) has promoted Desmond Lee, Lisa Short and Shannon Rees to general manager.

Fleur Hill has also joined the NDIA as a general manager from the National Indigenous Australians Agency.

NEMA has hired Andrew Hocking as its first assistant coordinator-general for national resilience capability programs.

Band 3

Jill Charker has been appointed deputy coordinator general at the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA).

Victorian barrister to be next Commonwealth DPP

Raelene Sharp KC will commence her five-year tenure as the next Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions on 4 December. She fills a vacancy left by former office-holder, Sarah McNaughton, who was appointed to the Supreme Court of NSW Bench earlier this year.

Attorney-general (A-G) Mark Dreyfus announced Sharp’s appointment on Tuesday, noting that the selection process was transparent and merit-based.

“I congratulate Ms Sharp on her appointment and thank her for taking on this important role,” Dreyfus said.

“Ms Sharp has a strong criminal law practice, appearing for the CDPP in many complex and sensitive cases.

“She has broad public law experience, both as counsel in public law litigation and through her work with the Office of the Special Investigator and the then Australian Crime Commission,” he said.

WA picks civil litigation silk for top solicitor gig

Craig Bydder SC is Western Australia’s next solicitor-general, having recently led the State Solicitor’s Office civil litigation section. He replaces Joshua Thomson in the role.

Bydder took silk last year and previously served as deputy state solicitor in 2017. He has worked with the State Solicitor’s Office for more than 20 years.

WA A-G John Quigley said Bydder had practised extensively as counsel in all courts and tribunals, including the High Court and the Court of Appeal, and appeared for the WA in a number of high-profile matters.

“Mr Bydder has performed with distinction in his previous positions at the State Solicitor’s Office over a legal career spanning almost 25 years,” Quigley said.

“He also played a key role as part of the team advising the government on management of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The barrister has advised successive governments and their agencies across a wide range of areas including constitutional, administrative, regulatory prosecution, local government and planning and environment law.

“My Bydder’s skill and experience as a litigator and strategic adviser with the SSO make him ideally suited to serving the government in the years to come,” the A-G added.

Carbon credit watch: Iningai lands traditional custodian joins ERAC

Queenslander Suzanne Thompson has been appointed to the statutory body responsible for ensuring the integrity of Australia’s carbon crediting scheme as a First Nations member.

Once government plans to replace the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee (ERAC) with a Carbon Abatement Integrity Committee, Thompson will also continue on as a Fist Nations member.

The advisor to the Central Western Queensland Ministerial Roudtable, and founder of Yambangku Aboriginal Cultural Heritage and Tourism Development Aboriginal Corporation, will use her new role to help support market confidence in (ACCUs) Australian Carbon Credit Units.

Minister for Climate Change and Energy Chris Bowen said a range of measures were being taken to improve how First Nations people participated in Australia’s carbon market.

“Suzanne Thompson brings a wealth of experience and a respected voice from Indigenous communities to the Emissions Reduction Assurance Committee,” Bowen said.

“Her experience in carbon markets and land management, coupled with a deep understanding of the economic, environmental and cultural needs of First Nations peoples, will be an asset to the committee.”