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 2 February 2026.

Our Secretary

Michael Lye is the Secretary.

Ellen Fitzgerald is the Chief of Staff.

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
• Lauren Power – Branch Manager, Child Support Reform. 

Group Manager, System, Strategy and Seniors

Jo Evans is the Group Manager responsible for:

• Kirsty Johnson – Branch Manager, Payment Structures and Seniors
• Gillian Beer – Branch Manager, Strategy and Analysis
• Cheryl-Anne Navarro – Branch Manager, International Payments and Compliance.

Group Manager, Disability Employment 

Kellie Spence is the Group Manager responsible for:

• Jacinda Still – Branch Manager, Disability Employment Programs
• Alex Buckley – Branch Manager, Disability Employment Policy. 

Deputy Secretary, Delivery and Data

Corri McKenzie is the Deputy Secretary, Delivery and Data.

Group Manager, Data and Evaluation

Patrick Burford is the Group Manager responsible for: 

• Danielle Aeuckens – Branch Manager, Data Reporting and Evaluation
• Julie Lee – Branch Manager, Data Governance and Use
• Kirsti van der Steen – Branch Manager, Income Management

Group Manager, Delivery and Communities

Pia van de Zandt is the Group Manager responsible for:

• Heidi Kiekebosch-Fitt – Branch Manager, Communities
• Rick Haines – Branch Manager, Closing the Gap Delivery
• Sarah Mourney – Acting Branch Manager, Delivery Unit.

Deputy Secretary, Families and Communities

Corri McKenzie is the Interim Deputy Secretary, Families and Communities.

Group Manager, Family Wellbeing

Jacqueline Hrast is the Group Manager responsible for:

• James Steen – Branch Manager, Child and Family Programs
• Janaya Cox – Acting Branch Manager, Reform and Implementation
• Mary Hodge – Branch Manager, Financial Resilience and Response
• Joanna Carey – Taskforce Lead, Korea-Australia Intercountry Adoption Program.

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. 

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: 

• Nicola Pearson – Acting Branch Manager, Legal Services
• Rob Stedman – Branch Manager, Audit and Assurance.

Group Manager, Redress

Grant Lovelock is the Group Manager responsible for:

• Val Still – Branch Manager, Policy, Institutions and Governance
• TBC – Acting Branch Manager, Integrity and Information
• Justine Fievez – 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
• Emma Cook – Branch Manager, Community Sector Relationships
• Jessica Ballinger – Acting Branch Manager, Client Grants
• Mike Mays – Acting Branch Manager, DSS Grants
• Tanya George – Branch Manager, Inclusive Employment Delivery.

Chief Finance Officer and Group Manager, Finance and Information Services

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

• Mark Richardson – Branch Manager, Budget Development
• 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:

• Melissa Evans – Chief Communication Officer and Branch Manager, Communication
• Sam Ursich – Branch Manager, People Services
• Kraig Lowes – Branch Manager, Ministerial, Parliamentary and Security. 

Group Manager, Social Policy

Andrew Whitecross is the Group Manager responsible for:

• Thomas Abhayaratna – Branch Manager, Strategy and Delivery. 

Portfolio bodies and statutory office holders

Find out more about our portfolio bodies and statutory appointments.