Our People

"The Centre for Strategy and Governance is a loose network of 18 former top officials and one of the most quietly influential networks in Canberra, although they each act independently as professionals."
The Mandarin, 1 September 2023

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Glenys Beauchamp AO, PSM

Ms Glenys Beauchamp was Secretary of the Australian Government Department of Health from September 2017 to February 2020, when she retired from the Australian Public Service. From the end of March to May 2020 Glenys returned to assist the Australian Government procure personal protective equipment for the health system during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Glenys has had an extensive career in the Australian Public Service and served as Secretary of the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (2013–2017) and Secretary of the Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport (2010–2013). She served as Deputy Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (2009–2010) and senior positions in the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (2002–2009).

Ms Beauchamp also held several executive positions in the ACT Government including Deputy Chief Executive, Department of Disability, Housing and Community Services and Deputy Chief Executive, Department of Health. She has also held senior positions in housing, energy and utilities functions with the ACT Government.

Since retiring in 2020 Glenys has provided consultancy services to assist public sector organisations and governing boards through change, strengthen governance arrangements and improve performance. Ms Beauchamp’s current appointments include Chair of Food Standards Australia New Zealand; Chair of the Australian Building Codes Board; non-executive director of the McGrath Foundation Ltd; and non-executive director of Health Metrics Pty Ltd. She is also Chair of the advisory board for Region Group Pty Ltd and is a National Fellow of the Australian Institute of Public Administration Australia.

Glenys was awarded an AO in 2023 for distinguished service to public administration, particularly innovative health reform, industry and science policy, and program delivery; and a Public Service Medal in 2010 for coordinating Australian Government support during the 2009 Victorian bushfires.

Qualifications: BEc (ANU), MBA (UC)

Contact: [email protected]

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Lynelle Briggs AO

Lynelle Briggs is a member of the board of Goodstart Early Learning and of The Department of Foreign Affairs’ Development Program Committee. Lynelle was a Commissioner of the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety. She recently completed a review into public sector board appointment processes.

Lynelle was formerly Chair of Maritime Super, Chair of the General Insurance Code Governance Committee, Chairperson of the NSW Planning Assessment Commission, member of the Australian Rail Track Corporation board, independent councilor on the Council of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners, Chairperson of ASIO’s Audit and Risk Committee, and Chairperson of the Jigsaw Theatre Company. She chaired the Shipping Workforce Development Forum, the Inquiry into Compliance, Work Health and Safety Laws in the ACT, and the Catholic Development Fund Steering Committee. Lynelle was also the Independent Project Facilitator for the Millers Point Accommodation Project.

During her executive career, Lynelle Briggs was Australia’s Public Service Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of Medicare Australia. She was Deputy Secretary of the Department of Transport and Regional Services. Lynelle has extensive public service experience, working in a variety of fields, including social security, health and community services, transport, employment and labour market support and veterans’ affairs. She was closely involved in unemployment and retirement incomes policies, health care agreements, transport and infrastructure policy, private health policy and health care delivery.

In the mid-1980s, Lynelle was policy adviser to the Minister for Community Services before spending two years with the New Zealand Treasury.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 419 632 932

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Elizabeth Cosson AM CSC

Liz Cosson retired as Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Veterans’ Affairs (DVA) in January 2023. Liz was also President of the Repatriation Commission and Chair of the Military Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission.

Before joining the Australian Public Service in 2010, Liz had 31 years of distinguished military service in the Australian Army, including becoming the first woman promoted to the senior rank of Major General. After working in the Commonwealth Departments of Health and Home Affairs (then Immigration and Citizenship), Liz returned to the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in 2016 as a Deputy Secretary before being appointed Secretary in May 2018.

During her time with DVA, Liz has been responsible for leading the largest transformation of services available to veterans, families and staff. This included the introduction of digital access for veterans, implementation of access to free mental health services for anyone who served one day in the Australian Defence Force, the introduction of the veteran and family wellbeing framework, expanding the support and services available to the veteran community and driving cultural change.

As Secretary, she was able to steer the Department through the COVID pandemic, ensuring staff and veterans were supported through this difficult time and quickly adapted the department to ensure staff were able to work flexibly and service delivery wasn’t impacted.

Liz is a passionate advocate for the recognition of military service, citizen centric policy development, service delivery and transformational reform. During her military service and recent Australian Public Service career, Liz has a longstanding focus on the profession of service to nation.

Liz was awarded a Conspicuous Service Cross in 2001 and was appointed a Member in the Military Division of the Order of Australia in 2011 for her contributions to the Army and the delivery of profound organisational reform.

Liz has a Master of Arts (Strategic Studies) and Bachelor of Social Science (Human Resources).

Liz holds a non-executive Director position on the Board of RSL LifeCare Limited and is a Member of the AICD.

In 2019, Liz was inducted into the Women in Defence Hall of Fame.

In 2014, she was awarded the ACT Award for Excellence in Women’s Leadership and Southern Cross University Alumnus of the year 2014.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 407 622 031

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Ian Govey AM

Ian was head of the Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) from 2010 to 2016, responsible for AGS’s role as the primary legal adviser to the Commonwealth and its agencies. Until its integration back into the Attorney-General’s Department (AGD) in early 2016, he was responsible as CEO for its successful operation as a government business enterprise.

Ian’s current roles include Chair, Banking Code Compliance Committee, Chair of the Australasian Legal Information Institute (AustLII), Chair, High Court of Australia Audit Committee, Chair, Federal Court of Australia Audit Committee, Deputy Chair, ACT Community Services Directorate Audit and Risk Committee, and Director of the Australian Centre for International Commercial Arbitration (ACICA).

Ian’s review work has included, in 2023, reviews into the ACT’s Integrity Commission Act 2018 and Public Interest Disclosure Act 2012.

Ian’s international experience includes serving as Counsellor (Legal) in the Australian Embassy in Washington DC (1988-1991) and as an elected member of the Governing Council of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT) (2005 to 2014.

Ian held other senior policy positions in AGD and the Treasury which involved advising on reform of business law including international trade law, copyright and company law.

Ian was a member of the Council of the Australasian Institute of Judicial Administration (AIJA), the National Alternative Dispute Resolution Advisory Council (NADRAC) and the International Legal Services Advisory Council (ILSAC.) He has been Ambassador for the Resolution Institute and a consultant on various matters for Commonwealth, ACT and State agencies.

He is a member of the Australian Academy of Law and in 2015 was awarded an AM for significant service to public administration and the law, as a leader in the provision of government legal services, and to professional organisations.

Ian is admitted as a legal practitioner in the Australian Capital Territory. He has a Bachelor of Laws (Hons) from the University of Adelaide and a Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 417 493 365

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Rosemary Huxtable AO PSM

Rosemary Huxtable retired as Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Finance in August 2022, a position she held from October 2016. As Secretary of Finance, and prior to that as Deputy Secretary Budget Group, Rosemary was closely involved in the preparation and delivery of the Australian Government Budget, oversaw the financial framework of Australian Government agencies, provided shareholder oversight of government business enterprises and cost-effective whole of government advice and services. She has worked closely with a wide range of government entities, particularly in the areas of Defence and national security, infrastructure and social policy.

Rosemary has a longstanding interest and commitment to public sector reform and effective organisational leadership, was chair of the Secretaries APS Reform Committee, and led reforms to improve transparency and accountability of Commonwealth public sector agencies.

Rosemary has extensive experience in health, aged care and social policy. She was Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care from March 2009 to June 2013 with responsibility for aged care, mental health and e-health and, prior to that worked extensively on health funding reforms across hospitals, pharmaceuticals and Medicare.

Rosemary is currently working as a consultant, providing strategic advice and policy development services, primarily to government and government related entities, including in the areas of health policy, defence, national security and governance. She conducted the Mid-Term Review of the Addendum to the National Health Reform Agreement on behalf of all Health Ministers, was a member of the Aged Care Financing Taskforce and a member of the three-person panel that undertook an independent analysis of the Navy’s Surface Combatant Fleet. She is currently chairing the development of the National Health and Medical Research Strategy and is a member of the Naval Shipbuilding Expert Advisory Panel.

Rosemary received an Order of Australia in 2023 for distinguished service to public administration through leadership roles in the areas of health and finance, and a Public Service Medal in 2005 for her contribution to Medicare reform.

Rosemary has a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Political Science from the University of Tasmania.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 411 496 586

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Michael Manthorpe

Michael Manthorpe PSM FIPAA

Michael Manthorpe is a consultant in public administration.  He provides executive leadership and coaching services through the Jeff Whalan Learning Group; serves on the Audit and Risk Committees of the Commonwealth Department of Education;  the Australian Skills Quality Authority;  and the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission;  and is a Member of the ACT Remuneration Tribunal.

From time to time, he undertakes independent review work for various Commonwealth entities.

In January 2025, Michael was also appointed by the Australian Government to the role of Interim Head of the Defence and Veterans’ Services Commission, the creation of which was the subject of a recommendation of the Royal Commission into Defence and Veterans Suicide.

Prior to his retirement from full-time work in 2021, Michael served in the Australian Public Service for 37 years.

He was Commonwealth Ombudsman, which incorporates the roles of Defence Force, Immigration, Law Enforcement and ACT Ombudsman, among others, from 2017 to 2021.

He served at deputy secretary level in the then Departments of Immigration and Border Protection;  and Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.

He was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2010 for his leadership of the government's handling of the insolvency of ABC Learning childcare centres.

He served as a Deputy President and councillor of the ACT Branch of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) from 2017-2023, and was recognised for his contribution with a Fellowship of IPAA in 2021.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 423 245 301

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Ken Matthews AO

Ken Matthews retired in 2010 as Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Australian National Water Commission, a position he had held since March 2005. In this role, he was responsible for working with the State and Territory governments of Australia to implement the National Water Initiative Inter-Governmental Agreement and encourage national water reform.

Mr Matthews was previously the Secretary (CEO) of the Federal Department of Transport and Regional Services from November, 1999 to October, 2004, and from February, 1998 to October 1999, was the Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. During 1997, Mr Matthews headed the Australian Government's high level Wik Task Force in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, providing advice to the Prime Minister on Native Title.

Mr Matthews' academic background is in economics, majoring in government (B.Ec. University of Sydney, 1974). Mr Matthews is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration - Australia and a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management. He is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.  He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mr Matthews was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 for services to public administration. In 2005 he was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for services to regional communities, the national transport system and for his contribution to public administration in Australia. In 2014 he was awarded an Honorary Doctorate from Flinders University.

He currently is a consultant in the areas of public administration, water management, agriculture, transport, natural resource management and government policy. He has a background in science policy and inter-governmental relations. He has experience in governance, organisational leadership and board processes.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 419 238 562

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John McMillan_

Professor John McMillan AO

John has held the statutory positions of Commonwealth Ombudsman (2003-10), Integrity Commissioner (Acting) for the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (2007), Australian Information Commissioner (2010-15), NSW Ombudsman (Acting) (2015-17), member of the Australian Copyright Tribunal (2015-18), member of the Administrative Review Council (2003-14), and Acting ACT Integrity Commissioner (2021-25).

John is an Emeritus Professor at the Australian National University, where he taught administrative and constitutional law from 1983-2003. He is a co-author of Control of Government Action: Text, Cases and Commentary (2025, 7th ed).

John is a National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia, a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Law, an honorary life member of the Australian Institute of Administrative Law, and a recipient of a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society of Consumer Affairs Professionals. He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours List 2010 for his work as Ombudsman, academic and in professional societies.

John has extensive experience in establishing offices and systems, publishing legal guidelines, conducting major investigations, and providing legal and policy advice. He established two offices (ACLEI and OAIC), and conducted independent reviews of other offices and government programs. As Ombudsman and Information Commissioner John published over 70 investigation reports, including the six volume NSW ‘Operation Prospect’ report on police corruption investigations to culminate the largest single Ombudsman investigation in Australia. In recent years he has conducted independent reviews of the medicinal cannabis scheme, the My Health Records Act, a Federal Court data breach, ABC complaint handling, the Modern Slavery Act, and the Australian Sports Commission Act.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 459 094 732

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Ian McPhee AO PSM

Ian has had a close involvement with the accounting profession having been Deputy Chair of the Australian Accounting Standards Board (2009-2014), Chair of the Public Sector Accounting Standards Board (1992-1995), member of the Australian Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (1999-2008), a member of the International Auditing and Assurance Standards Board (2002-2008) and a member of the International Ethical Standards Board for Accountants (2016-2021). He has also been President of the ACT Division of CPA Australia (1997-98) and the Institute of Public Administration Australia (2008-10). Ian is a Fellow of CPAA (Life Member), was inducted into the Accounting Hall of Fame by the Institute of Certified Management Accountants in 2024, is a Fellow of IPAA, and a graduate of the AICD.

Ian McPhee was Auditor-General for Australia between 2005 and 2015. Prior to that appointment, Ian was Deputy Secretary, Financial Management Group, Department of Finance. Ian held a range of other positions in his career in the Australian National Audit Office, the Australian Bureau of Statistics, the Department of Finance, and as a Director of the Australian Technology Group.

Ian was awarded an honorary First Class Medal of Honour by the Government of Indonesia in 2009 and honorary degree of Doctor of the University of Central Queensland in 2012. Ian is currently a Distinguished Honorary Professor at the Australian National University.

Ian has an enduring interest in sound organisational governance, policy development and performance. He has been a non-executive director of a listed company, and undertaken governance reviews for the banking industry and CPA Australia. He is currently the ACT Public Sector Standards Commissioner (part time), a member of a number of audit committees, a member of the Council of Central Queensland University, and chair of PriceWaterhouseCoopers Audit Quality Advisory Board.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 409 742 983

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Russell Miller AM

Russell Miller is a director of the Australian Academy of Law and former Chair of major Australian law firm Minter Ellison. His not-for-profit work has included as a director of the Diamond Jubilee Trust Australia Ltd.

Russell was an adviser on the Access Card Project, the establishment of Centrelink and the Commonwealth-State National Rail Freight Corporation initiative. He has conducted reviews for a number of Ministers and government agencies.

His government appointments have included the International Air Services Commission, the Australian Aviation Advisory Committee, the International Legal Services Advisory Council, the Minister for Trade's WTO Advisory Group, the boards of the Bureau of Meteorology, the NSW Independent Planning Commission, the Royal Australian Mint Advisory Board  and the National Electricity Code Administrator.

His published works include Miller's Australian Competition Law & Policy (Thomson Reuters 3rd ed 2018) and Miller’s Australian Competition and Consumer Law Annotated (Thomson Reuters 47th ed 2025); subjects on which he has lectured in Australia and internationally.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 411 109 727

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Mike-Mrdak

Mike Mrdak AO

Mike Mrdak holds a number of non-executive and advisory roles.

He is the Chair of the Airports Development Group companies in the NT which owns and operates Darwin, Alice Springs, and Tennant Creek airports and a number of hospitality and utilities businesses in the NT. He is a Director on the Boards of the NBNCo Pty Ltd, Western Sydney Airport Pty Ltd and the Net Zero Economic Authority.

Mike had a 32-year career with the Australian Public Service between 1988 and 2020.

Mike held the position of Secretary, Commonwealth Department of Communications and the Arts, between September 2017 and February 2020. The portfolio has responsibility for broadband and the National Broadband Network (NBN); communications infrastructure; spectrum; communication, broadcasting, and media regulation and fostering Australian arts and culture.

Between June 2009 and September 2017, Mike was Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development. His work with the infrastructure and regional development portfolio included management of infrastructure planning and investment; road, rail, aviation, and maritime transport; regional development; local government; and services to Australia’s territories.

Between March 2008 and June 2009 he was Deputy Secretary (Governance), Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. During this time he was appointed Commonwealth Coordinator-General with responsibility for ensuring the effective implementation of key Commonwealth economic stimulus infrastructure investments.

In November 2013, Mike received the Federal Government Leader of the Year Award recognizing his outstanding leadership and work on major infrastructure projects including the duplication of the Pacific and Hume Highways.

Mike was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday 2016 Honors list for his distinguished service to public administration through executive roles in the infrastructure, transport, and logistics sector, and through the development of policy reform initiatives.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 417 021029

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lisapaul

Lisa Paul AO PSM

Lisa Paul AO PSM is Chancellor of the University of Canberra and is passionate about the University’s ambition in driving equality of opportunity and its commitment to Canberra and the region.

Lisa led higher education, science, research and innovation policy, employment and workplace relations, social security payments, childcare, schooling and vocational education and training, and programs for Indigenous peoples, for the federal government, as the longest-standing Secretary of the Federal Department of Education, serving five Prime Ministers and nine Cabinet Ministers between 2004-2016.

Lisa has continued her commitment to higher education including an Honorary position at the ANU Crawford School, as Enterprise Professor at the University of Melbourne School of Government, Councillor of Bond University, Director of the Future Battery Industry Cooperative Research Centre and as a Director of Navitas, a formerly listed private higher education company.

Current Board appointments include being a Director of The Smith Family, chair of Thrive, a research initiative to show what helps school students succeed, Chair of the Audit Committee of the Australian Academy of Science, Director of the Australia American Educational Leadership Foundation Ltd and of the National Youth Employment Advisory Group with the Brotherhood of St Laurence.

From 2018-2021, Lisa chaired the board of headspace, the National Youth Mental Health Foundation and was on the Boards of the Naval Shipbuilding Advisory Board, Advanced Personnel Management (APM), Social Ventures Australia, Australian Schools Plus, High Resolves, and the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth.

Lisa has participated in a number of state and federal government reviews, including on schools in NSW and WA, Co-Chair of an Independent Review of the National Disability Insurance Scheme 2022-23, Chair of a review into the Quality of Initial Teacher Education in 20221-22, in 2023 Deputy Chair of the Review in the Education Portfolio to advise targets and reforms for the next national schools funding agreements and co-lead reviewer of a federal review of apprenticeships in 2024.

Lisa is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, the Institute of Public Administration Australia, the Australian Institute of Management, and the Australia New Zealand School of Government.

Awards include a Centenary Medal, a Public Service Medal for leading the domestic response to the Bali Bombings, being made an Officer in the Order of Australia for services to public policy in 2011, national government leader of the year 2011, and the Australian Academy of Science Medal in 2024.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 417 278 830

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John Simpson AM

John Simpson is a senior corporate executive and company director with more than 35 years in the private and public sectors.  John is Deputy Chancellor of Monash University.

Previously, John was Chair of the Superannuation Complaints Tribunal and President of ESSSuper (one of Australia’s top ten Superannuation Funds).

At National Australia Bank, John held the position as Group General Manager - Corporate Affairs and Strategic Advisor to the CEO.  John spent the majority of his career with Shell Australia and Shell International - working in Australia, Asia and the United Kingdom. He was Director - External Affairs at Shell, and was appointed a Director of Shell Australia Limited in 2002 and Shell Energy Holdings (Australia) Limited the following year.

John has particular interests in education, science and technology communication and music. He has served as Deputy Chairman of the National Science & Technology Centre (Questacon) and as a Member of Council - Scotch College, Melbourne.

Throughout his career, John has had an interest in seeing the private and public sectors work more cooperatively and has worked to develop greater understanding in both sectors. He created a series of Shell seminars in Canberra specifically designed to improve knowledge within Government of the Upstream & Downstream energy sectors and within the Company of the challenges faced by legislators and regulators.  These events were highly valued by government and by the many hundreds who participated.

John was a foundation Director of the highly successful food rescue organisation  - SecondBite and remains a Trustee of the H V McKay Charitable Trust. He is a trained journalist & editor and writes occasional columns for The Australian / The Age / The Sydney Morning Herald and online.

John operates a pro bono mentoring practice for numerous young people seeking support and advice as they navigate their careers.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 487 000 304

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Meryl Stanton

Meryl Stanton PSM

Meryl Stanton is a retired organisational psychologist. She was for seven years a non-executive Director of the not-for-profit company Australian Human Resources Institute (AHRI) Ltd) and Chair of its Audit Committee. Meryl has served as an independent member on a number of governance and organisational change committees, and has undertaken organisational development reviews. She is a qualified Executive Coach, specialising in coaching and mentoring senior women.

Meryl is a former senior public servant. She was Deputy Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and Executive Director of the then Australian Quarantine and Inspection Service. She had previously held a number of senior policy and service delivery positions in the APS in the workplace relations and occupational health and safety areas, including as CEO, Comcare.

Meryl is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Institute of Public Administration Australia and the Australian Human Resources Institute. She was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2004 for services to public administration and to Australian quarantine, and an AHRI Medal in 2013. She is a founding member of the Centre for Strategy & Governance.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 418 481 504

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Dr Vivienne Thom AM

Vivienne is an independent consultant in the field of public administration with a focus on integrity and governance. In June 2016 Vivienne was appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to public administration through a range of senior roles, and as a mentor to women in executive positions.

Vivienne has conducted a number of highly sensitive and complex inquiries and reviews. In February 2023 she was appointed as Independent Expert Chair of the Parliamentary Leadership Taskforce overseeing the implementation of the recommendations in the Set the Standard report.

In July 2015 Vivienne completed a five-year term as the Inspector-General of Intelligence and Security — an independent statutory officer agency head position in the Prime Minister’s portfolio responsible for the oversight of Australia’s intelligence agencies. Vivienne previously held the positions of Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman (2006 to 2010), Chief Executive Officer of the Royal Australian Mint (2002 to 2006), and Commissioner of Patents (1999 to 2002).

As a former agency head Vivienne has first-hand experience of a wide range of public sector governance issues. She has chaired audit committees and has been an independent member on a range of other governance boards and committees. In late 2020 Vivienne was appointed by the Minister for Defence to lead the independent IGADF Afghanistan Inquiry Implementation Oversight Panel. Vivienne is also currently a member of the ACT Selection Committee for the Winston Churchill Memorial Trust. She has previously been a member of the IPAA ACT Council (2017 to 2021), an ACT Division Councillor for the AICD (2009 to 2018), and a member of the Trans-Tasman IP Attorneys Board (2016 to 2019).

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 418 571 224

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Alan Thompson Hon FIE Aust

Alan Thompson is a former Chief Executive of public departments and agencies. Over a period of 22 years, Alan was variously CEO of three Victorian Departments (Housing and Construction; Conservation and Natural Resources; and Justice), the ACT Department of Urban Services, the Auckland Regional Transport Authority, New Zealand Ministry of Transport, and finally the Department of Parliamentary Services for the Australian Parliament.

Largely driven by external economic circumstances, a major priority of Alan’s CEO roles in Victoria, ACT and New Zealand was “institutional reform”, coupled with client focus, and budget savings.

Alan led the ACT Government’s Bushfire Recovery Taskforce in the aftermath of the disastrous 2003 Canberra bushfires.

After retiring from full-time public sector roles, from 2013 to 2020 Alan provided strategic advice to an international engineering design firm, focussing on Australian and international government clients.

Alan was also inaugural chair of the Board of Melbourne Parks and Waterways, and chaired the Parliament House Security Management Board. Alan has also served on numerous government boards and inter-jurisdictional committees, and was a member of Expert Reviewer Panel for Infrastructure NSW.

Alan continues to contribute to national debates and policy development for infrastructure priorities and project delivery, as well as emerging technologies.

Alan initially trained as a professional engineer, and mentors young engineers, and executive engineers. Alan is also an active contributor to Engineers Australia (EA), which is the learned society for Australian engineers. Alan’s work with EA largely focusses on leadership and management issues, and the transport sector. In 2018 EA accorded Alan “Honorary Fellow” status in recognition of his contribution to Australian infrastructure development, and the engineering profession.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 416 970 729

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Malcolm Thompson

Malcolm Thompson

Malcolm’s career in the Australian Government stretched over three decades, the majority of which was in senior roles in water, environment and agriculture portfolios.

After stints in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Treasury and Infrastructure Department, Malcolm had the privilege of leading a team which drafted the Australian Intergovernmental Agreement on a National Water Initiative (NWI) – Australia’s world-leading blueprint for water reform.  He helped establish the National Water Commission to oversee NWI reforms, and as General Manager and then Deputy CEO, led the first national assessment of governments’ progress against the NWI – work which helped lift water management across Australia (including water governance, water pricing and water planning).

He has held Deputy Secretary roles in the environment, climate change and agriculture departments working in strategic policy (including Australia’s first Sustainable Australia report, and Threatened Species Strategy), regulatory practice, program delivery, intergovernmental relations, public administration and governance, and operational challenges.

He completed his career in the Australian Public Service as Head of Taskforce to the National COVID-19 Commission which was established by the Prime Minister to provide a business perspective on management of the pandemic’s impacts on the Australian economy and society.

Malcolm is currently engaged in consulting roles covering good governance and water/natural resource policy and management.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone: +61 409 047 494

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antheatinney

Anthea Tinney PSM

Anthea Tinney is a non-executive director and independent consultant with wide experience in public policy advising and government administration. She was a deputy secretary in the federal environment portfolio and, prior to leaving the Australian Public Service, was appointed as the Interim CEO of the National Film and Sound Archive.

Anthea has served on many boards and advisory committees and is currently Chair of the NSW government Marine Estate Expert Knowledge Panel, a member of the Marine Estate Management Authority and Acting Chair of the Advisory Board of the National Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority. She was formerly a director of the CRC for Contamination Assessment and Remediation of the Environment (CRC CARE) and Chair or independent member of several public sector audit committees. She was also Chair of the Sydney Harbour Federation Trust, Chair of the Australian National Commission for UNESCO, Chair of Land and Water Australia, the inaugural independent Chair of the Steel Stewardship Forum and a member of the Australian Government’s Independent Communications Committee.

Anthea has conducted several independent reviews for the Australian government, mostly related to her previous experience in the Environment portfolio.

During her earlier public service career, Anthea spent over two decades in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, including five years as the head of the Cabinet Office and some years in the Treasury. She has a Bachelor of Economics degree and was awarded a Public Service Medal in 1995 for services to the Australian Cabinet system.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone +61 419 302 580

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davidtune

David Tune AO PSM

David Tune was Secretary of the Department of Finance from August 2009 to June 2014. In this role, he provided advice to the government on all Budget issues, as well as whole-of-government ICT policy, government property management and financial management.

David has held many senior positions in the Australian Public Service, including Associate Secretary, Domestic Policy Group in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, where he was responsible for providing advice on a diverse range of domestic policy issues, including industry policy, infrastructure policy, social policy, health policy, environment policy, economic policy and fiscal policy. He was also the Australian Sherpa for the first two G20 meetings in 2008 and 2009.

He began his career in the Australian Public Service in 1976 and has worked in the Departments of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Social Security/Family and Community Services and the Treasury at Senior Executive Service levels on a range of policy matters and program management. From 1986 to 1988 he was seconded to the British Cabinet Office working in the UK Efficiency Unit.

Other senior positions have included Deputy Secretary of Treasury’s Fiscal Policy Group with responsibility for providing policy advice to the Government on all issues involving expenditure. In this role, as well as in Finance and PM&C, David provided direct advice to government and the Expenditure Review Committee of Cabinet over a long period and had a leading role in the preparation of countless Budgets and other Economic Statement.

David’s more recent roles include Chair of the Government’s Aged Care Sector Committee (since early 2015) and Co-Chair of the Independent Review of Parliamentary Entitlements for the Commonwealth Government that reported in early 2016.

He David was awarded the Public Service Medal in the 2009 Australia Day Honours List and in January 2015 became an officer in the general division of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to public administration through leadership of finance, budget and social policy initiatives, as an adviser to government, and through disaster recovery co-ordination and liaison.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone +61 411 720 446

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Tim Yeend

Tim Yeend is a trade and economic specialist with over thirty years’ experience in government and the international system. Currently he is a Director on the Tourism Australia Board, a Visiting Fellow at Adelaide University’s Institute for International Trade and an Adviser to Geopolitical Strategy, a consultancy providing tailored geopolitical briefings to business and investors.

Tim was formerly Associate Secretary Trade and Investment in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade from 2021-2024. Before that he was Principal Adviser and Chief of Staff at the World Trade Organization in Geneva from 2013 to 2021.

In addition to Tourism Australia, Tim’s other Board experience includes Export Finance Australia from 2021-2024 and as Deputy Board Chair for the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific from 2023-2024.

Tim has also served as Australia’s Ambassador in Geneva as well as diplomatic assignments at the Australian embassies in Indonesia and South Africa.

Tim has a BA (Hons) from ANU and more recently an Advanced Professional Diploma in Board Governance (Masters equivalent) from the UK.

Contact: [email protected]
Phone +61 448 095 632

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