CorporateGovernance

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.

Kathrina joined the Commission in April 2020 after previously working as a Deputy Secretary for the Department of Communities and Justice.

Kathrina has extensive public sector experience with both state and federal governments. She has held senior executive roles in the NSW Department of Justice, NSW Audit Office and NSW Information and Privacy Commission.

Kathrina has qualifications in law and economics. She is passionate about working in the public interest, and is a champion for diversity and inclusion.

The Public Service Commissioner is an independent office holder.

Belinda is a lawyer with extensive governance and senior management experience across a number of sectors – including justice, tertiary education, Māori development, defence, Treaty issues and ACC. She has conducted a number of strategic and high-profile reviews.

Belinda has held a number of senior roles in government in both New Zealand and Australia. She served as Commissioner of the Law Commission Te Aka Matua o te Ture between 2017 and 2020, and as Victorian Public Sector Commissioner between 2014 and 2017. Before that, she was Chief Executive at the Tertiary Education Commission (NZ) between 2011 and 2013, and Chief Executive at the Ministry of Justice (NZ) between 2001 and 2011.

As a lawyer, Belinda began her career in banking law with Minter Ellison Rudd Watts and is a recognised authority on Treaty issues. She was the inaugural Director of the Office of Treaty Settlements and was at the forefront in developing Treaty settlement policy and the negotiation of Treaty claims. Belinda is presently the Chief Crown Negotiator for the Ngāpuhi Treaty Claim.

Since leaving the public sector, Belinda has worked as an independent reviewer and served on a range of boards. Notably, in 2022, she worked on reviews of the governance and transformation programme of Te Pūkenga and led the independent review of the Fire and Emergency New Zealand in 2022. She was subsequently appointed to the board of that organisation. Belinda has served as a board member of ANZSOG since 2020.

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).

As Vice-Chancellor and Principal, Professor Mark Scott AO leads the University of Sydney’s strategic direction, in close consultation with the Chancellor, senior leaders and the University’s Senate and Academic Board.

Professor Scott is a proud alumnus of the University and holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma of Education, a Master of Arts (Political Science and Government), an Honorary Doctorate (Letters) and a Professor of Practice (Education and Media) from the University of Sydney, as well as a Master of Public Administration from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. He has also been awarded honorary doctorates from the University of NSW and University of Technology Sydney.

In the role of Vice-Chancellor he is committed to driving transformative change that will support students and staff from all backgrounds to excel and realise their potential, solve the world’s most pressing challenges and secure a prosperous future for the University.

Professor Scott is a highly respected and successful senior leader of large and complex institutions, across public service, education and the media. Under his leadership as Secretary of the NSW Department of Education (2016 to 2021) the Department secured a record 10-year funding agreement for public schools, created School Infrastructure NSW to deliver an additional 160,000 classroom places and established the School Leadership Institute to train and develop aspiring school principals across the state.

His distinguished record of strategic leadership includes a decade as Managing Director of the ABC (2006 to 2016), where he led the organisation’s transformation to be a public broadcaster in the digital era. Over that time, the ABC created new services like iview, News 24, ABC3 and digital radio; and expanded online and mobile services, such as podcasting and ABC News online.

Professor Scott has also held a number of senior editorial roles at Fairfax, including Education Editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and Editor-in-Chief of metropolitan, regional and community newspapers. His contribution to education reaches back to the start of his career, as a teacher in Sydney. He built on his interest in education with senior policy and leadership positions with two NSW education ministers – Terry Metherell and Virginia Chadwick – and in 2011 he was named an Officer of the Order of Australia.

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.

She is a senior public servant who previously acted as Secretary for the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH).

Prior to that Brigid was the Associate Secretary at DFFH and before that she also held several Deputy Secretary roles in 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).

Gordon de Brouwer is the Australian Public Service Commissioner. Before returning to the public service, Gordon was Professor of Economics at the Australian National University, and a member of various public and not for profit boards. Gordon has over 35 years’ experience in public policy and administration in Australia, including as Secretary for Public Sector Reform, Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Energy, and senior roles in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury, ANU and the Reserve Bank of Australia.

He has been part of several major reviews including the Australian Public Service, the Reserve Bank of Australia, and the Woomera Prohibited Area. Gordon is committed to public value, high-quality policy and implementation, and effective government.

Nicole Hurwood was born on Larakia 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.

David Mackie is the Queensland Public Sector Commissioner. He has over 35 years’ experience in public policy and administration in both central and line agencies, including the last 10 years in chief executive roles.

Prior to being appointed as Public Sector Commissioner in mid 2023, David was the Director-General of the Department of Justice and Attorney-General. He has also held senior executive positions with the Department of Justice and Attorney-General, the then Anti-Discrimination Commission Queensland, and the then Commission for Children and Young People and Child Guardian.

David’s has also been responsible for leading significant reviews and reforms. David was the Chair of the Integrity Reform Steering Committee that was established to implement recommendations of the Coaldrake review into culture and accountability in the Queensland public sector. He also served as the Secretary of the Queensland Health Payroll System Commission of Inquiry in 2013.

David is currently a member of the ANZSOG Board, the IPPA Council (Qld) and the Domestic and Family Violence Prevention Council. David was also a Council Member of the National Judicial College of Australia (NJCA) from 2017-23.

As Public Sector Commissioner, David is committed to continually strengthening the capability, integrity and professionalism of Queensland’s largest workforce.

David was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) for his contribution to public administration as part of the 2025 Australia Day Awards.

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.

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