Corporate
Governance

Sharyn O’Neill commenced as Public Sector Commissioner in July 2018. She brings to the position of Commissioner incredible leadership and reform experience following 12 years as Director General of the Department of Education where she was the driving force behind the biggest reform of public education in Western Australia.

Lauded for her ability to “make things happen”, hallmarks of her leadership during her time as Director General included improvements to student academic standards, unprecedented autonomy for public schools, halting the drift of students to private schools and an unparalleled reform of public school funding.

Ms O’Neill began her career as a teacher and deputy principal in country schools, before moving into policy, governance and system leaderships positions in education.

She has a Master of Education (Education Administration and Policy). In 2016 she was awarded the Institute of Public Administration Australia (WA) Patron’s Award and was also made a Fellow of the Institute in recognition of her contribution to public administration in Western Australia.

Ms O’Neill is also the State Recovery Controller, appointed by the WA Government in April 2020, with responsibilities for developing, coordinating and overseeing WA’s recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Professor Beaton-Wells is an internationally distinguished academic leader, committed to the role of education and research for a sustainable future and with a track record in leading major organisational change through innovation and high performing, collaborative and inclusive culture.

Caron is currently Dean and CEO at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. She is also an honorary Professorial Fellow of the University of Melbourne and a lay member of the Australian Competition Tribunal.

From February 2020 to December 23, she was the internal Dean at Melbourne Business School, a period in which the School transformed its educational portfolio to offer greater accessibility, established an innovation agenda to address pressing learning and development challenges, strengthened its impact in sustainability, business analytics, Indigenous business leadership and social purpose, and forged new partnerships with industry and government.

Previously, as a member of the Melbourne Law School executive team, Caron established one of the world’s most highly regarded hubs in competition and consumer law. She led the development of Australia’s first online masters suite in this field, while researching, teaching and advocating at the intersection of law, economics and business disciplines as they relate to competition in markets and the digital economy and regulation of concentrated markets. She was awarded substantial research funding and published extensively, contributing to policy and legal reform and intellectual and public discourse around the world.

Caron has consulted to the OECD, ASEAN, and the New Zealand Government, been a non-governmental advisor to the International Competition Network, a member of UNCTAD’s Research Partnership Platform, and a member of the Law Council of Australia’s competition and consumer committee. She was the recipient of the Academic of the Year (Women in Law) Award in 2019.

Prior to her academic career, Caron was a solicitor at (now) King & Wood Mallesons and a member of the Victorian Bar, practising largely in government-related areas of law for the federal and State governments.

She is a member of Chief Executive Women, Australia’s peak organisation for influencing and engaging all levels of business and government to achieve gender balance and equity and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Jane is Dean of the Wellington School of Business and Government at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand. She came to academia after a career as an organisational psychologist and manager in the public and private sectors. Her academic and professional interests have always focused on aspects of the development of human capability in the workplace.

Jane’s academic career has been based at Victoria University of Wellington, but she has also had periods as a visiting fellow at the University of Oxford, University of Toronto, and Strathclyde University. After 14 years of service across the full spectrum of academic activity in the School of Management, Jane has spent the last 9 years in a range of senior Faculty leadership positions (Associate Dean Research, Deputy Dean) culminating in acting Pro Vice Chancellor and Dean, and now Dean.

Jane is a chartered fellow of the Human Resource Institute of New Zealand, and a Life Member of the New Zealand Psychological Society. She also currently serves as an independent director on the board of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators (RACMA).

Appointed as Commissioner for Public Sector Employment in 2014, Erma Ranieri is driven to create a world-leading public sector that delivers great results and outcomes for the South Australian community through an agile, flexible and inclusive workplace.

Erma’s extensive career has focused on helping organisations optimise productivity and employee wellbeing and has spanned roles in the private and public sectors.

Earlier this year, she was awarded the Public Service Medal in the 2021 Australia Day Honours list for her long-standing advocacy of gender equality, diversity and disability employment, as well as her commitment to public sector reform.

Kathy Leigh is the Director-General of the ACT Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate and Head of the ACT Public Service.  She provides high level strategic advice to the ACT Chief Minister and Cabinet and chairs the Strategic Board of Directors-General.

Before taking up her position as ACT Head of Service, Ms Leigh was Director-General of the ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate from October 2009. In this role she advised the ACT Attorney-General on a wide range of issues including legal policy, court reform, human rights, corrections, regulatory services and emergency management.

Ms Leigh previously served for a number of years with the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department overseeing policy development and national programs on access to justice, human rights, family law and administrative law.

Earlier in her career, Ms Leigh advised on international and constitutional law and represented Australia in treaty negotiations at the United Nations and other international forums.  She also worked at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development.

Ms Leigh has a Bachelor of Arts (Griffith University), Bachelor of Laws (with Honours, from Australian National University), and a Master of International Law (Australian National University).

Heather Baggott is one of two Deputy Public Service Commissioners at Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission who works closely with the Public Service Commissioner to provide leadership and oversight of the New Zealand Public Service. She was appointed to this role in October 2021 by the Governor General, on the recommendation of the Prime Minister, under the Public Service Act 2020. Subject to the direction of the Commissioner, the Deputy Public Service Commissioner has all the functions, duties and powers of the Commissioner. In her 5 years at the Commission, Heather has had a particular focus on system-wide efforts to improve diversity, inclusion, leadership development, and the Maori-Crown aspects of public service reform.

Heather is an experienced public servant who has been making a difference in the areas of social justice and dispute resolution, as well as working at the Crown/Maori interface and on matters of importance to our country’s heritage and identity. She has held several senior leadership roles in service delivery and service transformation, justice, courts and tribunals administrations, treaty negotiations, and as Acting Secretary for Culture and Heritage.

Heather affiliates to Maniapoto and Te Ātiawa. She is a Global Women Breakthrough Leaders alumnus and holds a Bachelor of Management Studies (First Class Honours) from Waikato University. She has held several governance roles in the public and voluntary sectors, including as the Chair of the State Sector Retirement Savings Scheme Board, a Board member (and New Zealand representative) for the Australia New Zealand National Coronial Information System, New Zealand Harkness Fellowship Trust Board, and Wellington Sexual Abuse HELP Foundation.

Brigid Monagle was appointed as Victorian Public Sector Commissioner in February 2023. The Commissioner is responsible for driving excellence, professionalism, and integrity in the sector.

Brigid is a former Associate Secretary at Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH), having held multiple Deputy Secretary roles at that department.

In 2020, Brigid was seconded to the then-Department of Health and Human Services to serve as Deputy Secretary, Public Health Policy and Strategy during the response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

In 2018, Brigid established and led the Fairer Victoria Division as Deputy Secretary in the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC).

Brigid is committed to supporting Victorian public sector employees to continue to meet the high standards that the community rightly expects of the sector.

She holds a Master of Public Policy and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons).

Nicole Hurwood was born on Larrakia country and grew up in post Cyclone Tracy Darwin. She commenced working in the Northern Territory Public Service as an office clerical trainee at the Department of Mines and Energy in 1994.

In a public service career spanning over 30 years, Nicole has worked in a number of agencies including in the Department of Education for fifteen years; and as a Deputy Chief Executive in Territory Families Housing and Communities for seven years. Nicole is currently the Northern Territory’s Commissioner for Public Employment – a role in which she is focussed on building a strong and sustainable public service and on increasing employment and career opportunities for Aboriginal Territorians.

Nicole has a strong corporate background with experience in both strategic policy and supporting frontline operations. She is passionate about growing leadership capability and high performing teams; in delivering public value in service delivery; and in creating adaptable, change resilient and well managed organisations.

Nicole is a member of Northern Territory Government’s ICT Governance Board. She was also a Board Member of Carpentaria Disability Services for four years and held the role of Chairperson of the Quality and Safeguarding Committee.

Nicole holds a Bachelor of Business; a Master of Arts (Public Sector Leadership); a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management; is a Graduate Company Directors Course and has completed the ANZSOG Executive Fellows Program.

Kathrine was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet and Head of the State Service in April 2024. Kathrine has been a Head of Agency in the Tasmanian State Service for nine years, with both central and frontline state sector experience.

Kathrine’s 35-year career has spanned the private and public sectors, including 14 years working as a corporate lawyer across Australia and overseas with Australia’s corporate regulator: the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.

A move to Tasmania brought with it the opportunity to shift from the Commonwealth to the Tasmanian State Service. In February 2014 she commenced as a Deputy Secretary (Budget and Finance) at the Department of Treasury and Finance, leading her division through the delivery of four State Budgets in just over three years, while quickly coming up to speed with the Tasmanian business and community context.

In 2017, Kathrine was appointed Acting Secretary for the Department of Justice and was confirmed in the role in early 2018. In the role, Kathrine was responsible for overseeing 1400-plus employees across 29 locations, with portfolios spanning courts, corrections, WorkSafe Tasmania, consumer protection, planning and building regulation and a $340m capital program.

In September 2019, Kathrine was appointed Secretary for the Department of Health and became responsible for the delivery of a $3 billion health service including public hospitals, district health services, Ambulance Tasmania, mental health and public health, encompassing over 16,000 employees and volunteers and 300 health sites across Tasmania.

In addition to her legal qualifications, Kathrine has completed graduate courses in business and leadership with the Melbourne Business School and the Harvard Leadership Program.

Corporate governance, financial management and transforming organisations to customer and patient-centric delivery are at the heart of Kathrine’s service-oriented career, culminating in 2020 with her role as State Health Commander for Tasmania during the COVID-19 pandemic. She was awarded the Public Service Medal and included in the COVID-19 National Honour Roll for her work.

Peter is an experienced executive and board director in the healthcare and higher education sectors. He is currently an executive with Australian Red Cross Lifeblood and a board director of Northern Health in Victoria. He was previously a Council member and Chair of the Finance & Resources Committee of La Trobe University for ten years. Peter is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of CPA Australia.

Professor The Hon Bill Shorten became Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Canberra in January 2025, after a career that included leadership roles with the Australian Workers' Union and 18 years serving federal politics, including six as Leader of the Opposition. Bill's belief in the transformative power of education drew him to UC and the role, arriving at a time of significant change for the University and the broader higher education sector. It is a circumstance he views as an opportunity to drive UC's rejuvenation.

The Vice-Chancellor is working with students and staff to develop a modern Australian university that does not just react to society's demands but anticipates them.

Bill Shorten's vision is for the University of Canberra to meet students where they are. He knows that for school leavers, that means recognition of the unique pressures on their generation. They want an experience that is enjoyable, offers support for their studies and wellbeing, and prepares them well for the workforce.

For adults returning to study, time constraints or location call for online options and a flexible approach if UC is to ensure the success of students who seek to upskill or reskill, or for the first time in their life have the confidence to attend university.

The University of Canberra supports the social and economic prosperity of the community through rich research and world-class education that equips students with the skills employers seek.

Bill Shorten's ambition is to build on UC's impactful history and make our university the preferred option for students from across our region - and beyond.

Professor Janine O’Flynn currently serves as Director of the Australian National University’s Crawford School of Public Policy, one of the world’s leading policy schools. Prior to this, she was Professor of Public Management at the University of Melbourne. 

Janine is an award-winning scholar and educator, whose research focuses on public sector paradigms, reform and relationships. Her most recent co-edited book, Pathways to Positive Public Administration (2024) was awarded the best book prize from the American Society for Public Administration in 2026. In 2025, she delivered the prestigious Donald C. Stone Lecture in Washington DC exploring foundations for the future of public administration. 

Janine is an elected Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration (USA) and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (VIC). She is currently a member of the IPAA ACT Council and serves as a strategic advisor to the IPAA National Council. In 2025, she was recognised as an ANZSOG Distinguished Fellow. 

Janine has served on a range of government advisory boards and provides expert advice to governments in many parts of the world.

Appointed in August 2024 as the Deputy Secretary, Corporate Services Group, NSW Premier’s Department.

In 2025, Simone backfilled the Deputy Secretary, Social Policy & Intergovernmental Relations role at The Cabinet Office for six months.

Prior to this, Simone held the role Deputy Chief Executive Officer, NSW Reconstruction Authority from October 2023, running the agency operationally and strategically day-to-day.

From October 2021 to October 2023, Simone was Group Deputy Secretary, School Improvement & Education Reform at the NSW Department of Education.

In her role as Group Deputy Secretary, School Improvement and Education Reform, Simone was responsible for delivering improvements across the lifelong learning journey across schools, early childhood education and vocational education.

Simone has spent many years working in the NSW Public Sector in senior executive roles, where she has used her passion for improving the customer experience to achieve the best outcomes in complex environments.

A commitment to creating a positive impact in the workplace is a strong motivator alongside focus areas of achieving results, workplace flexibility, women in leadership, and innovation. Simone is passionate about reform, cultural change and implementation. With each opportunity, Simone brings valuable skills across a variety of content and contexts.

Simone’s career began as a paediatric social worker in the Intensive Care Unit at Sydney Children’s Hospital and she has held a range of senior executive policy, strategy and operational positions in the NSW Government and non-government agencies. This includes her previous roles as Deputy Secretary, Strategy, Policy and Commissioning and Deputy Secretary, Operations, in the Department of Communities and Justice, where she was directly accountable for delivering two Premier’s Priorities and coordinating the Department’s Closing the Gap response.

Membership: Ms Dawn Oldham (Chair), Mr Robert Johanson, Ms Brigid Monagle, Mr Richard Sharp

Membership: Mr Peter McDonald (Chair), Professor Jane Bryson, Ms Ella McPherson

Membership: Ms Sharyn O’Neill (Chair), Ms Heather Baggott, Ms Kathy Leigh, Ms Kathrina Lo

Membership: Professor Mark Scott (Chair), Professor Jane Bryson, Professor Sharon Pickering, Professor Caron Beaton-Wells