Our leadership

Our organisational structure

Our organisational structure is designed to ensure we are delivering our key priorities. The following information is correct as at 5 May 2025.

Our Secretary

Michael Lye is the Secretary.

Ellen Fitzgerald is the Chief of Staff.

Deputy Secretary, Delivery and Data

Corri McKenzie is the Deputy Secretary, Delivery and Data.

Group Manager, Data and Evaluation

Kayelle Drinkwater is the Acting Group Manager responsible for: 

• Danielle Aeuckens – Branch Manager, Data Reporting and Evaluation
• Sharon Stuart – Branch Manager, Data Governance and Use.

Group Manager, Income Management Taskforce

Patrick Burford is the Group Manager responsible for:

• Kirsti van der Steen – Branch Manager, Income Management Taskforce.

Group Manager, Delivery

Pia van de Zandt is the Group Manager responsible for Delivery.

Deputy Secretary, Social Security

Matt Flavel is the Deputy Secretary, Social Security.

Group Manager, Participation and Family Payments

Ben Peoples is the Group Manager responsible for: 

• Katrina Chatham – Branch Manager, Participation and Supplementary Payments
• Dani Chatillon – Branch Manager, Carer, Disability and Student Payments
• Agnieszka Nelson – Branch Manager, Families and Payment Support. 

Group Manager, System, Strategy and Seniors

Jo Evans is the Group Manager responsible for:

• Gillian Beer – Branch Manager, Payment Structures and Seniors
• Andrew Seebach – Branch Manager, International Payments and Compliance
• Gillian Beer – Branch Manager, Strategy and Analysis.

Group Manager, Disability Employment 

Kellie Spence is the Group Manager responsible for:

• Cath Pou – Acting Branch Manager, Disability Employment Programs
• Jacinda Still – Branch Manager, Disability Employment Implementation
• Alex Buckley – Branch Manager, Disability Employment Policy. 

Deputy Secretary, Families and Communities

Letitia Hope is the Deputy Secretary, Families and Communities.

Branch Manager, Stream Delivery Office

• Tasma Vyver – Acting Branch Manager, Stream Delivery Office. 

Group Manager, Family Wellbeing

Jacqueline Hrast is the Acting Group Manager responsible for:

• John Riley – Branch Manager, Family and Adult Supports
• Janaya Cox – Acting Branch Manager, Early Childhood and Parenting Wellbeing
• James Steen – Branch Manager, Financial Resilience and Response
• Alexis Diamond – Branch Manager, Legislation and Liaison. 

Group Manager, Family Safety

Anna Lutz is the Group Manager responsible for:

• Tim Crosier – Branch Manager, National Policy
• Eve Cordeiro – Branch Manager, National Programs
• Emily Hurley – Branch Manager, Family, Domestic and Sexual Violence Specialist Policy
• Emily Devine – Branch Manager, Children’s and Youth Policy. 

Group Manager, Community Wellbeing

Chris D'Souza is the Group Manager responsible for:

• Mary Hodge – Branch Manager, Community Cohesion
• Marnie Wettenhall – Branch Manager, Community Partnerships
• Kate Hamilton – Branch Manager, Closing the Gap. 

Chief Operating Officer

Patrick Hetherington is the Chief Operating Officer.

Chief Counsel and Group Manager, Legal Services, Audit and Assurance

Bronwyn Worswick is the Chief Counsel and Group Manager responsible for: 

• Emma White – Branch Manager, Corporate and Commercial
• Branch Manager, Public Law
• Heidi Kiekebosch-Fitt – Branch Manager, Legislation Development, Data Access Governance
• Rob Stedman – Branch Manager, Audit and Assurance.

Group Manager, Redress

Justine Fievez is the Acting Group Manager responsible for:

• Alison Hale – Branch Manager, Policy, Institutions and Governance
• Val Still – Branch Manager, Integrity and Information
• Kym Hemming – Acting Branch Manager, Operations and Outcomes. 

Group Manager, Community Grants Hub 

Kath Paton is the Acting Group Manager responsible for:

• Tamsin Jackson – Branch Manager, Hub Operations
• Veronica Westacott – Branch Manager, Hub Strategy
• Jessica Ballinger – Acting Branch Manager, Client Grants
• Mike Mays – Acting Branch Manager, DSS Grants
• Tanya George – Branch Manager, Disability Employment Services Grants. 

Chief Finance Officer and Group Manager, Finance and Information Services

Thea Connolly is the Chief Finance Officer and Group Manager responsible for:

• Cheryl-Anne Navarro – Branch Manager, Budget Development
• Josephine Banchit – Acting Branch Manager, Financial Services
• Hitesh Rohra – Branch Manager, Financial Management and Property Services
• Alana Lundy – Branch Manager, Chief Information Officer. 

Group Manager, Corporate and Government Services 

Richard Baumgart is the Group Manager responsible for:

• Mardi Stewart – Branch Manager, Campaigns and Strategic Communication
• Melissa Evans – Branch Manager, Corporate Communication and Media Relations
• Sam Ursich – Branch Manager, People Services
• Joanna Carey – Branch Manager, Government and Executive Services.

Group Manager, Social Policy and Governance  

Andrew Whitecross is the Group Manager responsible for:

• Kraig Lowes – Branch Manager, Portfolio Governance.

Portfolio bodies and statutory office holders

Find out about our portfolio bodies and statutory appointments.