Changes to Queensland’s Senior Public Service

On Friday, March 18, 2011, Queensland Premier Anna Bligh announced significant changes to the senior public servants across State Government departments. Leadership changes to the Departments of Premier and Cabinet, Local Government and Planning and Public Works will transpire.

Outgoing Director General of Premier and Cabinet, Ken Smith is leaving his position of the last three-and-a-half years take the post of Queensland Agent General and Trade Commissioner for Europe and Africa, which is based in London.

There is yet to be an announcement as to who will replace Mr Smith as Director General of Premier and Cabinet with the Premier advising a shortlist will be finalised within weeks.

The Premier also announced that Jack Noye, currently Acting Associate Director General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads has been appointed acting Director General of the Department of Local Government and Planning, replacing Paul Low. Working at both state and federal public sector levels Mr Noye has had an extensive career in executive roles of government service.

Department of Public Works Director General Mal Grierson will be taking extended leave as of April 18 till sometime in June. On his return he will commence his role as Chief Information Officer to assist in implementing the recommendations of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Shared Services Review.

Filling his position, Natalie MacDonald current Director General of the Department of Housing, will be appointed Director General of the Department of Public Works. Ms MacDonald has had experience in wide-ranging fields of law enforcement, international trade, employment and training, emergency services and housing over the last 20 years.

For further information, please contact your Hawker Britton consultant.

The Premier’s press release can be found below.

Premier and Minister for Reconstruction

The Honourable Anna Bligh

Friday, March 18, 2011

Premier Anna Bligh has today announced major changes in the senior public service across a range of government departments.

Ms Bligh said the significant changes would see new leadership across the Departments of the Premier and Cabinet, Local Government and Planning and Public Works.

The Premier said the Director General of Premier and Cabinet Ken Smith would leave his position of the past three-and-a-half years to take up a new career opportunity as Queensland’s Agent General and Trade Commissioner for Europe and Africa, based in London.

“Ken Smith was previously appointed to this position in September 2006 by former Premier Peter Beattie but at that time was unable to take up the role and was appointed Coordinator General and Director General of the Department of Infrastructure,” Ms Bligh said.

“Ken has served the Queensland community in a number of senior management positions over the past two decades.

“For more than 16 years he has been a Director General of agencies as diverse as Housing, Employment and Training, Education, The Arts, Infrastructure and Planning and of course most recently in my own Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

“He has also been a Chair and a member of numerous Boards and Statutory Authorities both in Queensland and nationally.

“He has made a major contribution to public administration in Queensland and further afield and I thank him for his long and dedicated service in government.”

Ms Bligh said she had engaged a recruitment firm to progress a search process for Mr Smith’s replacement and a shortlist will be finalised within weeks.

In other moves, the Premier announced:

·Jack Noye has been appointed acting Director-General of the Department of Local Government and Planning. Mr Noye, the current Acting Associate Director-General of the Department of Transport and Main Roads, has had a long career in executive roles in both the federal and state public sectors

·Department of Public Works DG Mal Grierson has decided to take extended leave as of 18 April, returning in June to assist in implementing the recommendations of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Shared Services Review as Chief Information Officer. Mr Grierson is one of Queensland’s most experienced public servants, leading his department through delivery of iconic developments including Suncorp Stadium, Roma St Parklands and the Gallery of Modern Art

·Natalie MacDonald will be appointed Director-General of the Department of Public Works. Ms MacDonald was previously DG of the Department of Housing and has over 20 years experience in the Commonwealth and State public sectors across many diverse fields, including law enforcement, international trade, employment and training, emergency services and housing.