Movers & shakers: new appointments for renamed departments

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Three new CEOs, the first female senior public defender for NSW, and a new advisory group for Victoria’s creative industries. The latest senior public sector appointments from across the country.

Commonwealth senior executive appointments

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Bruce Warrington has been appointed CEO at the National Measurement Institute, moving up from Deputy CEO. The National Measurement Institute is the peak body responsible for biological, chemical, legal, physical and trade measurement. Warrington has been at the National Measurement Institute since its formation in 2004.

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Andrew O’Sullivan has been appointed as Assistant Secretary, Parliamentary, Communications and Portfolio Business at the Department of Agriculture.

Tanya Howitt has moved up to Assistant Secretary, Financial Management Branch, Department of Agriculture, previously working as the Divisional Finance Manager.

Jaycob McMahon is now Assistant Secretary at the Department of Home Affairs.

Malcolm McAllister has been promoted to Assistant Secretary at the Department of Home Affairs.

John Fletcher has moved up to State Manager, Victoria, Delivery and Engagement at the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business. He previously held the position of Director.

Elizabeth Cerini has been promoted to Deputy Director, General Manager, at the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.

Claire Forsyth has been appointed as General Manager at the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science.

Mitch Pirie is now General Manager at the Department of  Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development.

Solar Victoria

Stan Krpan has been appointed the inaugural CEO of Solar Victoria. He has been CEO of Sustainability Victoria since 2012 and has previously held senior roles at WorkSafe. Read the full story here.

Tourism Western Australia

Di Bain has been appointed as Commissioner to the Tourism Western Australia board until 27 May 2020. She is currently the managing director of Bain Media, chairperson of Activate Perth and on the advisory board of Perth-based wellness start-up Nuut.

Brand Tasmania

Todd Babiak has been appointed CEO at Brand Tasmania. Babiak is the founder and CEO of the place branding companies Story Engine and Places are People, and has won awards for his work in place brand identity and marketing.

Criminal Justice NSW

Belinda Rigg SC has been appointed as Senior Public Defender for NSW, making her the first female to hold the role in NSW. Rigg will replace Justice Mark Ierace, who has moved to the bench of the NSW Supreme Court. Rigg has been a Public Defender since 2004, and was appointed as a Senior Counsel in 2014. She has advised on or appeared in hundreds of matters before the Supreme Court and Court of Criminal Appeal, and has also appeared as lead counsel in matters before the High Court.

Rigg has delivered educational presentations on various issues, including the appropriate cross-examination of vulnerable witnesses, and has prepared submissions for the Public Defender’s Office on reviews of bail laws and sentencing for murder and manslaughter.

Creative Victoria

A new Creative Industries Advisory Group has been created as part of the Victorian government’s strategy and investment plan for creative industries. Among the 20 Australians are musician Adam Briggs, fashion designer Lisa Barron, media and marketing guru Russel Howcroft and game developer Lisy Kane.

From 2020, the group will work to find innovative ways to strengthen and grow Victoria’s creative industries, informed by the experiences and needs of the community.

This year’s Budget papers show that creative industries employment has been one of Victoria’s fastest growing sectors under the Labor government.

Senior Victorians

Gerard Mansour has been reappointed as the Commissioner for Senior Victorians. With more than 30 years of leadership experience in the aged and community services sectors, Mansour has provided the Victorian government with policy advice on the prevention of elder abuse and supporting multicultural and emerging communities, has raised awareness of abuse among seniors, and has informed the government on isolation and loneliness in seniors.

Mansour was first appointed as inaugural Commissioner for Senior Victorians in 2013, and will continue the role for another four years.

Western Power

Guy Chalkley and Kathryn Barrie have been appointed to the board at Western Power. Chalkley is moving from CEO to Managing Director, while Barrie joins Western Power after almost 18 years of experience in the Western Australian State Government. She currently holds a senior role at the WA Department of Treasury, Public Utilities Office.

The appointments will strengthen the board’s understanding of the rapidly changing energy sector, while maintaining the board’s 50% female representation balance.