Senior executive with deep experience in leadership and government systems
Commissioner Brereton was educated at the University of Sydney, graduating witha Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws and serving two terms as President of theStudents Representative Council.
He was admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales in 1982, called to the Bar in 1987and appointed Senior Counsel in 1998. At the Bar, he had a diverse general practice. In2005, he was appointed a Judge of the Supreme Court of New South Wales, where hewas assigned primarily to the Equity Division, and was the Corporations List Judge andAdoptions List Judge. On 23 August 2018 he was appointed a Judge of Appeal.
From 2013 he was a member and from 2019 Deputy President of the Defence ForceDiscipline Appeal Tribunal. He was appointed a part-time Commissioner of the NSW LawReform Commission on 1 June 2016 and Deputy Chairperson on 1 July 2016.
He retired from his judicial appointments on 31 May 2023, in order to assumethe appointment of inaugural Commissioner of the new National Anti-CorruptionCommission from 1 July 2023.
He is one of the four authors of the current (tenth, 2019) edition of Nygh’s Conflict ofLaws in Australia.
His service in the Army Reserve commenced in the Sydney University Regiment in 1975and culminated in his appointment as Head of Reserves & Cadets with the rank of MajorGeneral (2011—2013). He was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the MilitaryDivision in 2010 for exceptional service as Chief of Staff 5th Brigade, Assistant Chief ofStaff Land Headquarters and Commander 5th Brigade. As an Assistant Inspector-Generalof the Australian Defence Force he conducted an inquiry into alleged war crimes inAfghanistan. He currently holds honorary appointments as Colonel Commandant of theRoyal New South Wales Regiment and the University of New South Wales Regiment.