Regulator Leadership Cohort

Clare Savage was appointed Chair of the Australian Energy Regulator in September 2019 and is a member of the Energy Security Board.

Over the last 21 years Clare has acquired significant leadership experience in the Australian energy industry. She has a passion for the energy sector and a commitment to its development, particularly through this current transition.

Prior to joining the AER, Clare was Deputy Chair of the Energy Security Board. Prior to joining the ESB, Clare was an Executive Director at the Business Council of Australia.

From 2012 to 2015 Clare held senior executive positions within EnergyAustralia spanning corporate strategy; business development; policy & government affairs; and public affairs. Prior to this Clare held several roles at the Energy Supply Association of Australia including Chief Executive Officer. Clare commenced her career in the public service – initially in the UK and then at the Federal Department of the Treasury.

Clare has a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) and a Bachelor of Arts (Politics and History) from The University of Melbourne and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Liz Hefren-Webb was appointed as the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner, commencing 20 January 2025.

Liz has almost 30 years’ experience in social policy and programs, many of which are underpinned by regulatory frameworks. She is known for her strong strategic and stakeholder engagement capabilities.

Liz was previously Deputy Secretary, Social Policy, in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and prior to that Deputy Secretary, Families and Communities, in the Department of Social Services. Her leadership in areas such as the National Redress Scheme and the COVID-19 pandemic response has involved complex and sensitive consumer and stakeholder engagement.

Sue Woodward AM commenced as Commissioner of the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC) on 12 December 2022. She also played an instrumental role in the formation of the ACNC, serving as the inaugural Director of Policy and Education during the early years of the Commission.

Previously Sue was Chief Adviser for Not-for-profit Law with the charity Justice Connect. She has also been involved with a number of leadership bodies and has sat on various charity boards.

As an academic, she made a seminal contribution to reform of the regulation for the charity and not-for-profit sector. Not-for-profit Law was established based on her research recommendations.

Sue is also a staunch supporter of reducing unnecessary regulatory obligations on the sector. She has worked with an alliance of peak bodies and federal and state governments to make modernised and harmonised fundraising laws a priority.

Sue was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia in 2021 for “significant service to the not-for-profit sector, fundraising and the law.”

Current Chair and Agency Head of the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) since 2017.

Prior to this appointment, Nerida served as interim CEO of the Digital Transformation Agency from 2016 to 2017 leading the establishment of the new Agency.

From 2011-2016, Nerida was a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Communications and the Arts providing policy advice across telecommunications, broadcasting, online content and the arts. This included responsibility for major projects, including successfully leading the Digital Television Switchover Program from 2011 to 2013.

Gina Cass-Gottlieb commenced her 5-year appointment as Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) on 21 March 2022.

Before she joined the ACCC Gina was a senior and founding partner of Gilbert and Tobin’s competition and regulation team. Gina has over 25 years' experience advising on a large number of merger, competition and regulatory matters in Australia and New Zealand. She is widely recognised as one of Australia’s leading competition and regulatory experts.

Gina was appointed by the Commonwealth Treasurer to the Reserve Bank of Australia’s Payments System Board in 2013. She was re-appointed in 2018 and again in 2023 for a further 5 year term.

Mr Jeff Pope APM was appointed as Electoral Commissioner on 15 December 2025 for a period of five years. This followed an acting period in the role from December 2024 and having previously served as the long-standing Deputy Electoral Commissioner. Mr Pope joined the AEC in 2013 and delivered the 2013 and 2016 federal elections as the State Manager (and Australian Electoral Officer) for Victoria.

Mr Pope was appointed as Deputy Electoral Commissioner in December 2016 and was successfully reappointed to the role in December 2021. As Deputy Commissioner, he guided the AEC through an unprecedented period of change to successfully deliver multiple federal events, including the 2023 referendum. He was involved in several key AEC initiatives, including the development of the Electoral Integrity Assurance Taskforce where he chaired the Board for 5 years.

Prior to joining the AEC, Mr Pope worked in various roles in law enforcement for over 23 years. He concluded his law enforcement career as an Assistant Commissioner with Victoria Police in 2013. He was awarded an Australian Police Medal for his outstanding contribution to law enforcement.

Mr Pope holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Bachelor of Laws, is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has attended the Executive Management Program at Insead Business School in Singapore.

Tim Beresford joined AFSA in May 2022 and is based in Sydney.

Tim is AFSA’s Chief Executive and holds the statutory appointment of Inspector-General in Bankruptcy. He is also the immediate past Chair of the Benevolent Society (TBS), Australia’s oldest non-Indigenous not for profit.

Previously, Tim has held the roles of Acting Chief Executive of the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Macquarie University and First Assistant Secretary of the Social Policy Division in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Tim has significant leadership experience in the higher education, government, notfor-profit, financial services, and professional services sectors. Tim's areas of expertise include strategy, governance, public policy, change management and organisational design. Tim holds a Bachelor of Economics (Honours), Bachelor of Laws, a Masters of Philosophy (International Relations) and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Kaylene Dale was appointed Chief Executive Officer of AMSA on 1 October 2024. She brings more than 20 years of Commonwealth service across regulatory and operational roles, having begun her public service career with the Australian Customs Service in 2000.

Kaylene has held senior leadership positions in the Australian Border Force, the Department of Home Affairs, and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Her experience spans civil maritime security, border operations and enforcement, strategy and capability, gender equality, and emergency management.

As CEO, Kaylene leads AMSA’s efforts to strengthen maritime safety, seafarer welfare, marine environmental protection, and national search and rescue coordination. She is committed to customer-focused service delivery and digitisation, and to fostering a strong organisational culture, ensuring AMSA remains a trusted, modern maritime regulator and a safe, inclusive workplace.

She holds a Master of Public Administration and a Master of Studies in Applied Criminology.

Mr Michael Drake was appointed as the inaugural Director General of the Australian Naval Nuclear Power Safety Regulator in November 2025. He will be responsible for the regulation of naval nuclear propulsion activities associated with Australia’s fleet of nuclear-powered submarines.

Prior to his appointment, Mr Drake has had an extensive career in maritime safety and regulation, including as the National Operations Manager Regions and then the Executive Director Operations in the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA), in which he was responsible for the effective delivery and implementation of AMSA’s national ship and vessel programs.

Mr Drake spent 15 years in the Royal Australian Navy where he served in a variety of roles at sea, primarily on submarines, and shore-based roles both within Australia and overseas.

On leaving the Navy, Mr Drake retrained as a lawyer and practised at a commercial law firm before taking up roles in the NSW Public Service.

Mr Drake held senior leadership positions within NSW Government agencies, Roads and Maritime Services and Transport for New South Wales prior to joining the AMSA in 2018.

Mr Drake holds a Master of Public Policy, a Bachelor of Law (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts.

Scott Hansen was appointed Chief Executive Officer in July 2024. Scott is an experienced executive in the primary industries sector, bringing over 30 years of leadership across various industry and government roles.

Scott served as Director General of the New South Wales Department of Primary Industries from 2014 to 2024, and previously held positions as General Manager, Regional Manager, and Managing Director at Meat and Livestock Australia from 2004 to 2014. Scott has a Rural Science degree from the University of New England in Armidale and holds postgraduate qualifications in commerce from the University of Southern Queensland. Scott is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and completed the Advanced Management Programme at Oxford University.

John Lonsdale PSM was appointed as Chair of APRA on 31 October 2022 after originally joining as Deputy Chair on 8 October 2018.

In his Deputy Chair role, John was responsible for oversight of Australia’s banking sector. His responsibilities also included oversight of APRA’s work on culture and remuneration, building APRA’s crisis resolution capability and strengthening APRA’s collaboration with peer regulators.

John worked for Australian Treasury for over 30 years prior to joining APRA. He was a member of Treasury’s Executive and, in his role as Deputy Secretary, Markets Group, he had responsibility for financial system, consumer and foreign investment policy. In 2014 he led the Secretariat to the Financial System Inquiry based in Sydney. John also worked across key areas in the Treasury including budget policy, tax policy, retirement incomes and the financial system.

Dr Geoffrey Shaw is the Director General of the Australian Safeguards and Non-Proliferation Office (ASNO), where he leads the implementation and compliance for Australia’s non-proliferation treaties through domestic regulation. He is an international expert in nuclear non-proliferation and is widely recognised for his strong leadership and technical skills in complex international security environments.

Dr Shaw is an independent statutory office holder and reports directly to the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs. 

As Director General for ASNO he administers the responsibilities of a domestic regulator and the role of the national authority for Australia’s non-proliferation treaties. 

Dr Shaw serves as an Alternate Governor for Australia to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Board of Governors and is the current Chair of the Asia-Pacific Safeguards Network. 

Dr Shaw has previously served as Australia’s High Commissioner to Pakistan,  Australia’s Ambassador for People Smuggling and Human Trafficking, Representative of the Director General of the IAEA to the United Nations in New York, Special Assistant for Policy to the Director General of the IAEA in Vienna; and Counsellor and Deputy Permanent Representative of Australia to the Conference on Disarmament in Geneva.

Joe Longo commenced as ASIC Chair on 1 June 2021.

He has held senior leadership roles over four decades in corporate law, financial services, regulation and law enforcement, in Australia and some of the world’s most important financial markets.

He was the general counsel for Deutsche Bank in London and Hong Kong for 17 years, providing leadership across regulatory issues, governance, corporate law and non-financial risk.

Before that, Joe was the national director of enforcement at ASIC between 1996 and 2001, and responsible for the coordination and direction of all enforcement and litigation activities.

CEO Saxon Rice has extensive experience across the VET and employment services sectors as well as the public policy process. Ms Rice previously held a range of senior government, VET and management positions, and was Assistant Minister for Technical and Further Education in the former Queensland Government from 2012 to 2015, and Chair of the then Ministerial Industry Commission responsible for industry engagement.

Ms Rice is a former Director of Global Business Development for an Australian employment services company and was responsible for significant growth into new countries in the European and Asian markets. Ms Rice has also served in a range of Senate Committee Secretariats, including as Acting Secretary and Principal Research Officer to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee. More recently, she was a Member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal from 2016 to 2018 and is a Member and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms Rice commenced as a Commissioner of ASQA on 16 April 2018, before being appointed as Chief Commissioner and CEO (initially Acting) on 7 October 2019. With effect from 1 January 2021, Ms Rice was appointed CEO for a period of five years.

Current Commissioner of Taxation at the Australian Taxation Office.

Experienced public servant with 10 plus years as deputy secretary (and over 20 years in the SES) across five portfolios: treasury, health, energy, education and Indigenous policy. Expert in policy, program delivery and data analytics.

Proven leader of people with an open, collaborative and authentic style and strong record of achievement in leading organisations to help shape and deliver on Government priorities.

Justin Untersteiner joined the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) as CEO in April 2025, becoming the second person to lead the organisation since it was established in 2010.

Working in partnership with the National Boards, Justin strives to ensure Australia has a safe and professional health workforce and high levels of community confidence in the health system. He prioritises stakeholder engagement, seeking diverse views on emerging issues in a dynamic healthcare sector, and is set to lead the organisation through the most significant program of reform in its 15-year history.

An experienced senior executive, Justin’s career spans a range of complex national organisations in the Government and Not-For-Profit sectors. He is known for delivering strategic transformation initiatives in a career focused on consumer protection and public safety.

Justin has led major compliance and regulatory programs at the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) and, the Australian Financial Complaints Authority (AFCA). He has He implemented change programs including a major IT transformation, a significant data and analytics uplift, and a culture renewal program to support the delivery of high-quality regulatory outcomes. As well as leading initiatives to drive organisational efficiency and effectiveness, Justin is a champion of inclusive workplaces. He advocates passionately for gender equality and is known for publicly challenging social norms and outdated systems.

Justin holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He lives in Melbourne with his family.

Pip Spence commenced as the CEO and DAS on 17 May 2021.

Before joining CASA, Pip was the Chief Operating Officer and Deputy Secretary for the Arts at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. Before that she was the Deputy Secretary for Transport. In this role,

Pip was responsible for aviation and airport policy and program matters. Pip has held senior leadership roles across the Australian Public Service. This includes: Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet the then Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy.

In that role Pip was closely involved in establishing the National Broadband Network and the associated reform of telecommunications regulations.

Mr Parker has over 20 years-experience in economics, public administration and policy and regulatory matters.

Before joining CER, Mr Parker was Deputy Secretary at the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources, the Department of Environment and Energy, and Treasury. He also worked at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris.

Mr Parker has qualifications in economics and law. He has been a Member of the Order of Australia since 2012.

Hamish Hansford is the Deputy Secretary of the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Group in the Department of Home Affairs. Hamish joined the department in January 2016.

In this role Hamish leads on cyber security, protective security, data security and critical infrastructure policy, and manages the Australian regulatory authority for 11 critical infrastructure sectors including transport security and telecommunication security. Hamish is also responsible for AusCheck, a national background checking service.

Prior to his current position, Hamish was the Inaugural Head of the Cyber and Infrastructure Security Centre.

Hamish began his career in the public service at the National Museum in 2002. Hamish has extensive leadership experience in national security, border protection, technology, cyber security, indigenous affairs and criminal justice issues in the Australian Public Service.

Hamish has an Executive Master of Public Administration from the Australia and New Zealand School of Government, a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University (ANU) and a Bachelor of Asian Studies from ANU and Gadjah Mada University.

Victoria Anderson was appointed Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on 8 December 2025.

Victoria has over 25 years of experience in public policy and governance roles, including 17 years in the agriculture portfolio.

She has held a number of senior executive roles in the Treasury, the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and the Department of Agriculture, covering housing, small business, employment and population policy, foreign investment, national schools reform, risk and governance, drought policy, agricultural trade policy and industry assistance and adjustment.

Victoria commenced in the Australian Public Service as a graduate in the Department of Agriculture in 2000. Her interest in Australian food and fibre industries is longstanding, having grown up on a stud beef cattle property in Queensland.

She has a Bachelor of Arts/Laws (Hons) from the University of Queensland and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Australian National University.

Shane is the Acting Deputy Secretary of the Environment Regulation and Heritage Group, which leads responsibility for environmental impact assessment and approvals, environmental permitting and compliance, establishing the future EPA, and world, national and Indigenous cultural heritage.

Prior to this, Shane was the Head of the Environment Law Reform Taskforce in the department, which recently steered a package of ground-breaking legislative reforms through the Parliament.

Shane has previously held senior executive roles in climate, energy, resources and environmental regulation. In recent years his work has focussed on decarbonising heavy industry and developing the new industries needed to meet net zero by 2050. He has represented Australia at various International Energy Agency and G20 meetings and worked closely with former Chief Scientist, Dr Alan Finkel, in his review of the security of the National Electricity Market.

Shane holds a degree in science and has over 25 years’ experience in the Australian public service at the Commonwealth and State levels.

Brenton’s experience spans over 20 years in the Australian Public Service, having performed senior roles in social policy, energy policy, digital transformation, and competition and consumer protection regulation. He has served in the departments of Industry, Energy and Environment, Social Services, Prime Minister and Cabinet, Education and The Treasury, as well as a long career with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. Brenton is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Batchelor of Arts and a Batchelor of Laws from James Cook University.

Anna Booth was appointed to the position of Fair Work Ombudsman for a 5-year term from 1 September 2023.

Under the Fair Work Act 2009, Anna is responsible for promoting harmonious, productive, cooperative and compliant workplace relations.

Anna has extensive and diverse experience in industrial relations spanning more than 45 years, working with unions, private and public sectors. Anna was most recently Director of CoSolve Pty Ltd. She returned to CoSolve in 2020 after serving as a Deputy President of the Fair Work Commission for eight years. Before her appointment to the Fair Work Commission, Anna combined her CoSolve directorship with non-executive directorships of ME Bank and IFM and was the non-executive chair of Slater & Gordon Ltd.

Anna spent much of her early career in the union movement. She was the National Secretary of the Textile, Clothing and Footwear Union of Australia and a Vice President of the Australian Council of Trade Unions.

Dr Sandra Cuthbert was appointed Chief Executive Officer of FSANZ on 31 March 2022 to 31 March 2027.

Sandra has extensive leadership, policy, corporate governance and stakeholder engagement experience across the public and private sectors. She has held senior roles with the Australian Government departments of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Finance and Agriculture and Water Resources, as well as Food Standards Australia New Zealand (FSANZ).

Sandra brings a practical understanding of the complex environment that FSANZ operates within, drawing on her experience managing the agency's stakeholder engagement, corporate and food safety functions between 2018 and 2021. She has a reputation for delivering outcomes on complex and time critical projects, most recently as the Assistant Secretary, Commonwealth-State Relations at PM&C.

Sandra has post graduate qualifications in science and law and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mr Thomas has been the Chief Executive Officer of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority since 2019.

With experience in the public and private sectors, in Australia and overseas, he has worked in a number of senior roles across the environment, agriculture and finance portfolios.

Mr Thomas is an experienced leader, strategist and communicator with a passion for tackling complex policy challenges and working in the public interest.

Mr Thomas is a member of, and contributor to, several professional associations. He lives in Townsville and holds a Master of Business Administration, Master of International Affairs, Bachelor of Science, and Bachelor of Arts (Honours)

Professor Tony Lawler is the Deputy Secretary of the Health Products Regulation Group which works to safeguard and enhance the health of all Australians through effective, timely and risk-proportionate regulation of therapeutic goods, and the control of drug imports, exports and production.

Prior to joining the Department in June 2023, Tony was the Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Secretary of Clinical Quality, Regulation and Accreditation with the Tasmanian Department of Health. This role included providing leadership to health professionals, system-wide clinical governance oversight, and the regulation of private health services.

As Director General since 2018, Michael has led IP Australia on a customer-focused, digital-first strategy. As well as seeing unprecedented growth in IP rights during the pandemic, IP Australia has been a test bed of public sector innovation and digital transformation.

Prior to his appointment, Michael spent three years as Chief Operating Officer at the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science. He also spent time as acting Chief Operating Officer at CSIRO.

Michael’s career across industry, innovation and science policy has included responsibility for implementing innovation programs including the $3B R&D tax incentive; developing med-tech, pharma-bio, small business and industry policy; attracting foreign investment into Australian high-tech industries; leading trade and multilateral negotiations in food, agriculture and energy.

Rachael Jackson has been the Chief Operating Officer at the National Indigenous Australians Agency (NIAA) since 2019, leading governance, corporate and enabling functions including grants administration. Rachael has a career of over 25 years in public service, with 15 years at senior executive levels across the Departments of Attorney-General’s; Finance; and the Industry, Innovation and Science as well as the Justice and Community Safety Directorate in ACT Government.

Rachael also leads NIAA’s efforts on Priority Reform 3 of the National Agreement on Closing the Gap: transforming government organisations, particularly to eliminate racism.

Rachael holds an Executive Master of Public Administration (ANZSOG) and is a Certified HR Professional with AHRI and member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Rachael is also Chair of the Board of the Women’s Legal Centre in ACT (voluntary role).

Sue joined NOPSEMA as the Chief Executive Officer in February 2023 following eight years as the Chief Executive and National Rail Safety Regulator at the Office of the National Rail Safety Regulator.

In a career spanning more than 40 years in government, Sue has held a range of roles across education, including time as a school principal, the Public Transport Authority and as Deputy Director General of Policy, Planning and Investment at the WA Department of Transport. In these roles, Sue developed experience and expertise in government policy and regulatory frameworks and risk management in safety and environmental management, which she applies in her current role.

Sue holds a Bachelor of Law from Murdoch University, a Master of Education from Edith Cowan University, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is a member of the National Association of Women in Operations, National Women in Transport, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration.

Louise Glanville commenced as the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner on 1 October 2024.

Louise is an experienced Chair, CEO, Deputy Secretary and Commissioner across legal, social and government sectors. Louise currently serves as a member of the BreastScreen Victoria Board.

Louise is the former CEO of Victoria Legal Aid, and Deputy CEO of the National Disability Insurance Agency. She also held chair roles for National Legal Aid, the Victorian State Government’s Metropolitan Development Advisory Panel and the Victorian Assisted Reproductive Treatment Authority.

Elizabeth Tydd commenced as the Australian Information Commissioner and head of the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) on 16 August 2024.

Elizabeth was the Freedom of Information Commissioner at the OAIC. Prior to this Elizabeth served as the Information Commissioner and CEO of the NSW Information and Privacy Commission from 2013. Elizabeth was the Executive Director, Office of Liquor Gaming and Racing, Department of Communities from 2009 to 2013.

Between 1997 and 2009, Elizabeth held a number of senior roles at the New South Wales Department of Fair Trading including Assistant Commissioner, Compliance and Legal Group and Deputy Chairperson, Consumer Trade and Tenancy Tribunal.

Elizabeth holds a Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws from the University of Technology, Sydney together with a Certificate in Policy Leadership, Harvard University.

Professor Krause PhD, GAICD, PFHEA is Chief Commissioner of Australia's Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA). An experienced senior leader in several of Australia’s public universities, Professor Krause has most recently held the position of Vice-Chancellor of Avondale University and Chair of Australia’s Higher Education Standards Panel, advising the Minister on quality and standards in higher education. With an extensive track record in the fields of higher education governance, regulation and policy, her leadership has focused on systemic institutional turnaround strategies through enhancing the quality of research-informed learning, teaching and student experiences, particularly among diverse student cohorts.

Professor Krause is internationally recognised for her contributions to higher education policy, research and practice. Her research program spans decades of work on the evolving nature of higher education curricula, learners, academic work and implications for leadership, quality, standards and governance. Her most recent book, Learner-centred leadership in higher education, reflects the essence of her leadership philosophy, combining research-informed approaches with practical tips on strategic higher education leadership with learners at the heart.