In other news:
- First female police commissioner for NSW
- New CHO for Queensland
- Departmental secretary to join Gold Coast Council
A new National Disability Insurance Scheme Quality and Safeguards Commissioner will start next year.
Tracy Mackey, who will take up her role on January 10, has been appointed for a three-year term.
She will be responsible for upholding the rights of people with disability receiving supports under the NDIS and promoting their health, safety and wellbeing.
Ms Mackey has been the CEO of the NSW Environment Protection Authority since 2019 and previously held senior executive positions with the Department of Immigration and NSW Department of Education.
NDIS minister Linda Reynolds announced the appointment on Wednesday.
“Ms Mackey brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to her new position as Commissioner, following her previous senior role in the care and support sector and more recently as the primary environmental regulator in NSW,” she said in a statement.
She replaces Samantha Taylor, who has been acting as NDIS Commissioner since July 1 following the departure of Graeme Head, who led the commission through its establishment phase.
NSW appoints first female police commissioner
Deputy Commissioner Karen Webb has been appointed the NSW Police Commissioner and will be the first woman to hold that position.
Ms Webb has been part of the NSW Police Force for more than 34 years and has previously been the Deputy Commissioner of Corporate Services and Assistant Commissioner of the Police Transport & Public Safety Command.
During the Black Summer bushfires of 2019 and 2020, she served as the Deputy State Emergency Operations Controller.
Premier Dominic Perrottet and Police and Emergency Services Minister David Elliott announced her appointment on Wednesday.
“Community safety is the highest priority to the NSW Government, and I’m certain Deputy Commissioner Webb will lead the state’s more than 17,000 police officers with distinction in detecting, disrupting and combatting crime,” the premier said in a statement.
She will be replacing Mick Fuller, who has been the commissioner since 2017, when he took the reins from Andrew Scipione.
His contract will expire in April.
New Chief Health Officer for Queensland
Dr John Gerrard, the first in Queensland to treat a COVID patient, will become the next Chief Health Officer for Queensland.
He is currently the Director of Infectious Diseases at Gold Coast University Hospital and has more than 30 years’ experience.
Dr Gerrard has a long track record of research into emerging infectious diseases and vaccine development.
He was recognised for his research into the emergence of AIDS in Australia and honoured with the Humanitarian Overseas Service medal for his work on the Ebola outbreak in West Africa in 2014.
Dr Gerrard was also the medical specialist lead in two separate international COVID responses, including the Diamond Princess cruise ship in Japan in February 2020 and the Dutch Antilles in early 2021.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said listening to expert health advice has kept the state safe.
“As we enter this new stage of the pandemic it is vital to have someone of Dr Gerard’s high standing as our Chief Health Officer,” she said in a statement.
His appointment comes after the resignation of Dr Krispin Hajkowicz, who was to take up the role from Dr Jeannette Young on November 1.
Dr Young served in the role for 16 years before taking up a position as the state’s new Governor.
Departmental secretary takes up role with Gold Coast Council
Tim Baker, the Secretary of the Tasmanian Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, will resign to take up a role as CEO with the Gold Coast Council.
He began in his role as Secretary last year and has helped maintain Tasmania’s border controls and biosecurity arrangements.
Mr Baker will begin his role with Gold Coast Council on February 1 and will replace David Edwards, who resigned earlier this year after only a few weeks in the role because of health reasons.
Trade and Investment Queensland adds to global network
Stefan Augustin will become the new Director of Investment for Germany for Trade and Investment Queensland, the state government’s global business agency.
He has spent the past 15 years in senior trade and investment roles around the world, including stints with Austrade across different industries in both Australian and European markets.
In his role, Mr Augustin will help the government to identify new investment opportunities and secure larger trade deals in Germany, in a move to create more jobs for Queensland.
New manager of events for Greater Bendigo
Julie Amos will join the City of Greater Bendigo as the new Manager Bendigo Venues & Events.
Ms Amos, an events specialist with more than 20 years’ experience, will start her role on December 6.
She is currently the Head of Business Operations for Circus Oz in Collingwood and has previously run her own arts management consultancy business.
Prior to that, she was Orchestra General Manager at The Australian Ballet and Orchestra Manager at Orchestra Victoria and has also been a presentation manager for major international sporting events.
Kylie Rampa to lead Queensland Investment Corporation
Beginning in her role in April, Kylie Rampa will lead the Queensland Government’s investment manager.
He appointment comes following a four-month recruitment process, commissioned by the QIC Board and led by executive search firm Egon Zehnder.
Ms Rampa has more than 25 years’ experience in real estate and was most recently the Group Head of Investments at Lendlease and, prior to that, the CEO of Lendlease Property Australia.
“As we count down to the Olympics, Kylie’s experience leading complex projects and major redevelopments will be invaluable,” Treasurer and Minister for Trade and Investment Cameron Dick said in a statement.
She will take over from Damien Frawley who will be retiring; he has held the role for the past nine years.
New magistrate in Tasmania
Marica Duvnjak will began as a magistrate in Tasmania’s Department of Justice on January 17.
She will replace Glenn Hay, who is retiring after almost 14 years of service.
Ms Duvnjak has previously served as a member of the Guardianship and Administration Board and was Principal Crown Counsel at the Office of the Solicitor-General.
She has also held the roles of Criminal Injuries Compensation Commissioner and Chairperson of the Parole Board.
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