In other news:
- Baird Sr appointed to save tourism
- New Executive General Manager at eSafety
- Defence tech chief moves to private sector
Former NSW premier moves to aged care
Former NSW Premier Mike Baird has taken on a new role in aged care as chief executive officer at the independent Christian Charity HammondCare, which provides services including aged care, dementia care and palliative care.
He starts as CEO in September, replacing Dr Stephen Judd.
Mr Baird was NSW Premier between 2014 to 2017 but has also held numerous executive roles in the banking sector, most recently was chief customer officer of consumer banking at NAB, among other global roles including with NAB, HSBC and Deutsche Bank.
Mr Baird said he was excited to join HammondCare.
“I can think of no greater privilege than to help them care for some of the most vulnerable people across Australia,” he said.
HammondCare chair John Kightley said he was confident Mr Baird’s appointment would help ensure continuing success in the organisation’s mission to improve quality of life for people in need.
Baird Sr’s mission to save tourism
Former NSW transport minister Bruce Baird has returned as chairman at the Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) to help the visitor economy bounce back from COVID-19.
Mr Baird, who previously held the role between 2008-2014, had been acting TFF Chair following the departure of Andrew McEvoy to take on an international tourism role based in Saudi Arabia.
“The TTF Board and our team are delighted to have someone of Bruce’s calibre agree to act in the position at such an incredibly difficult time. He brings deep industry experience and extensive networks to the task of working with the organisation and its membership through the survival and recovery phases of the global pandemic,” TTF CEO Margy Osmond said
Mr Baird said he was pleased to be returning to TTF at a time when the visitor economy is facing its greatest challenge.
“In this environment I think I can make a contribution to what is a really great and always resilient industry that is fighting for survival.”
“I look forward to working with Margy and her team to ensure the future is brighter for TTF members as we help them to navigate through the challenges ahead for the remainder of 2020 and beyond.”
A search is underway for a permanent chair who is expected to be appointed in the second half of 2020.
Austroads CEO retires
Austroads Chief Executive Nick Koukoulas has retired after more than five years at the helm.
Mr Koukoulas, who farewelled the organisation on April 15, played a key role in commercialising the national vehicle and driver system NEVDIS and acquiring Transport Certification Australia earlier this year.
“It has been a great five-and-a-half years participating in an organisation that has grown and matured to be one of the most respected bodies of our type,” he said in a statement.
The Austroads Board acknowledged Mr Koukoulas’ leadership in moulding business units and program areas into focused teams and said he was central in developing national road and transport policy and improving road agencies’ capabilities, as well as achieving consistency in road and road agency operations.
Dr Geoff Allan, Austroads’ Chief Operating Officer, will be Acting Chief Executive until a new chief is recruited.
New MD for Hunter Water
Hunter Water’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Darren Cleary has been announced as its new Managing Director.
In his previous role as Chief Investment Officer Mr Cleary was responsible for leading the planning and delivery of Hunter Water’s $600 million infrastructure program, and coordinated Hunter Water’s Love Water drought campaign.
“Darren brings more than 25 years’ experience working for utilities in the water sector and his appointment will allow Hunter Water to continue to deliver on its outstanding customer experience, while advancing key policy and strategy areas,” NSW water minister Melinda Pavey said.
Hunter Water Chairman, Terry Lawler AO, said Mr Cleary’s appointment followed a rigorous, international recruitment process.
Mr Cleary has lived in Newcastle for 18 years and holds a number of directorships, including on the Board of the Committee for Hunter and a member of the Advisory Board of the University of Newcastle’s Newcastle Institute for Energy and Resources (NIER).
He succeeds former Managing Director, Jim Bentley, who was appointed as the NSW Government’s Chief Executive Officer for the NSW Water Sector in July last year.
WA corruption commissioner ends terms
John McKechnie QC has ended his five year term as WA’s Corruption and Crime Commissioner.
Commissioner McKechnie is the first person to serve a full five-year term as Commissioner. However his attempt to seek reappointment failed to win bipartisan or majority support from the four-member Joint Standing Committee on the Corruption and Crime Commission.
The CCC said McKechnie had been instrumental in highlighting corruption risks in the WA public sector around procurement, financial management and misuse of data and information.
He delivered 45 public reports into corruption in WA including an exposure of more than a decade of serious misconduct and corruption at the North Metropolitan Health Service.
“Commissioner McKechnie leaves the Corruption and Crime Commission a much better organisation than the one at which he commenced in 2015,” the CCC said.
“He has restored the focus and confidence of those within the Commission to exposing and disrupting corruption in the WA public sector.”
Scott Ellis will continue as Acting Corruption and Crime Commissioner in a part-time capacity until a new Commissioner is appointed.
Hodgman to head business growth fund
Former Tasmanian premier Will Hodgman has been appointed to lead the federal government’s $540 million Business Growth Fund.
Treasurer Josh Frydenberg announced Mr Hodgman’s appointment as inaugural chair of the Australian Business Growth Fund (BGF), which will work with other financial institutions to provide equity funding to SMEs as part of the COVID-19 recovery response.
The Commonwealth is committing up to $100 million for the fund, with each of the four major banks – ANZ, CBA, NAB and Westpac – matching that amount.
HSBC and Macquarie Group will each contribute $20 million.
Former Defence CISO moves to new role with SAP
Defence CISO Lindsay Morgan has been appointed as Director of Government Security at enterprise application software company SAP ANZ.
Mr Morgan joins SAP after working in various senior management roles at Defence for the last ten years.
He will be based in SAP’s Canberra office, where his primary focus will be the security needs of governments in Australia and New Zealand.
“After many years working in government, I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to bring my experience and knowledge to bear on the private sector,” he said.
“During periods of disruption, there is a heightened need for security, integrity and availability of critical systems, for example to enable and support a remote workforce and the increased demands that makes on systems. I am excited to work in SAP’s global Government Security team to ensure SAP remains at the vanguard of delivering world class, secure solutions that are compliant with complex frameworks of Government policy and legislation.”
Senior Vice President and Global Head of Government Security Martin Merz said Mr Morgan’s deep knowledge and background in information assurance and government security would ensure continued security and success for the company’s customers.
eSafety welcomes Rebecca Razavi in new senior role
Australia’s independent online safety regulator has appointed Rebecca Razavi as Chief Operating Officer to work with eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant.
Ms Razavi comes to eSafety following a 20-year career in public and private sector management roles in Asia, Africa, Europe and Australia, including more than a decade in senior diplomatic and other roles with the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office.
Her most recent role was at NSW Treasury, where she led the design and development of the NSW Government’s Industry, Trade and Investment Strategy as an Executive Director.
eSafety says the appointment reflects the growing demands on the agency since it began in 2015, as well as the community’s expectations in an era of proliferating online risks.
Originally tasked with protecting Australian children and minors from the harm inflicted by cyberbullying, eSafety now also operates legislative schemes in image-based abuse and illegal content such as online child sexual abuse.
Following the Christchurch terror attacks last year, eSafety gained regulatory powers to deal with Abhorrent Violent Material, as well as Terrorist and Extreme Violent Material.
“I am delighted to come on board at a critical juncture for eSafety, as well as for the online safety of Australians as the COVID-19 crisis recalibrates our online lives,” Ms Razavi said in a statement.
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