Damon Rees is stepping down after five years as CEO of Service NSW to found a new business venture.
In statement posted on LinkedIn on Wednesday Mr Rees says it’s time to hand over the baton, begin a new chapter in his career and spend more time with his family.
Mr Rees says his new venture, Better as Usual, will establish a “practitioner-led, purpose-driven and customer-obsessed” professional services organisation.
“I’m looking forward to a 2023 spent coaching and supporting leaders, advising customers, growing a new type of organisation, and making a positive social impact to reduce inequity,” he says.
Mr Rees paid tribute to the outgoing minister, Victor Dominello, Department of Customer Service Secretary Emma Hogan, and his team at Services Australia, which currently assists more then 250 million customers a year.
He also thanked frontline workers for their work during Covid-19.
“You turned up every day through the depths of COVID-19 to support your customers and team mates, and you answer the call every time Disaster strikes and help is needed. To keep your company has been humbling,” he said.
Mr Dominello announced in August that he would not contest the March 2023 election, citing a family health issue.
Rail safety regulator moves on
Meanwhile, ONRSR chief Sue McCarrey has announced her departure after an eight year tenure with the national rail regulator.
Mr McCarrey as been appointed CEO)of the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) for a three-year term from February 2023.
“Creating a truly national organisation with a positive and professional reputation has been a huge team effort and it has been a team I’m honoured to have been given the opportunity to lead,” she said.
The Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator is an independent body corporate with responsibility conferred upon it by Australia’s transport and infrastructure ministers for the regulatory oversight and promotion of rail safety.
ONRSR said since joining the organisatoin in December 2014, Ms McCarrey had overseen the full nationalisation of rail safety regulation in the country and established ONRSR as modern, innnovative, respected and resilient organisation.
It said Ms McCarrey had facilitated the introduction of the world’s first heavy-haul, long distance autonomous rail operation in the Pilbara as well as the advent of driverless passenger trains in metropolitan Sydney.
She also oversaw the development of ONRSR’s data systems and the introduction of the National Rail Safety Data Strategy and the National Level Crossing Portal.
Ms McCarrey finishes up at ONRSR on December 30, with COO Peter Doggett to act in her place as CEO and national rail safety regulator while an international recruitment process is undertaken.
Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Madeleine King said Ms McCarrey’s expertise as a respected national regulator positioned her ahead of global competitors for her new role.
“Ms McCarrey has the ideal skills and qualifications to lead NOPSEMA as it addresses the challenges of increasing oil and gas decommissioning activity and expands its regulatory scope to encompass the fast-emerging offshore electricity infrastructure sector,” she said.
Ms King thanked outgoing CEO Mr Stuart Smith for his significant contribution as NOPSEMA’s CEO since 2014.
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