REGULATOR LEADERSHIP COHORT
COMMUNIQUÉ
20 October 2026
The Regulator Leadership Cohort met on 20 October 2026.
Ms Clare Savage, Cohort Chair, welcomed new members:
- Tony Chappel, Chair, Clean Energy Regulator (replacing Carl Binning, acting Chair)
- John Bradley PSM, Chief Executive Officer, National Environmental Protection Authority
- Joshua Smith, Chief Operating Officer, National Indigenous Australians Agency (replacing Rachael Jackson)
- Colin Radford, Chief Executive Officer, Comcare
- Christine Castley OAM, Chief Executive Officer, Workplace Gender Equality Agency
Strategic outlook
Ms Anna Harmer, Deputy Secretary, Department of Finance, addressed the Cohort on the economic and fiscal environment, including ongoing spending pressures and the importance of productivity and regulatory reform. Ms Harmer outlined changes to the Commonwealth Charging Framework, and progress in implementing regulator ideas and the regulatory reform omnibus program.
Regulatory reform opportunities
Ms Christina Garbin, First Assistant Secretary, Department of Finance, outlined engagement with policy departments, regulators and industry to identify reform opportunities. Ms Margaret Tregurtha, Acting Director General, IP Australia, shared her agency’s experience using an existing policy register incorporating stakeholder evidence to develop proposals for the omnibus process. Members discussed opportunities to reduce reporting and transaction costs, strengthen coordination across government, and measure the cumulative benefits of smaller reforms, while recognising potential transition costs for regulated entities.
Secretaries Board update and Cohort priorities
Members discussed the upcoming annual update to Secretaries Board that reports on the Cohort’s activities and achievements over the past year and proposed activities for the next.
Over the past year, the Cohort brought senior regulator experience to the design and implementation of the regulatory reform agenda, advanced work on a regulator capability framework for the APS, and progressed two Tell Us Once projects on data access and information sharing. It also brought senior system leaders into regulator-led discussions on regulatory reform, productivity, governance, oversight and accountability.
Building on this work, the annual update includes the Cohort’s new priorities under the theme of better regulation and regulators, which members agreed following the meeting:
- Influence policy and reform – Mobilise collective regulator expertise to inform regulatory reform and government decision-making processes.
- Advance data, digital and AI-enabled regulation – Drive collective approaches to secure data sharing, digital practices and AI systems in the regulatory ecosystem.
- Uplift regulator skills and capability – Drive cross-agency initiatives to strengthen the development of the regulatory workforce.
The Cohort’s annual update will be considered by the Secretaries Board in November 2026. At the meeting, Secretaries will be invited to work with portfolio regulators to identify and progress regulatory reform opportunities and consider how they can help drive the Cohort’s agenda for 2027.
Data sharing and Tell Us Once projects
The Cohort considered findings from the Data and Digital Ready Regulators Working Group’s Tell Us Once projects, which explored opportunities to reduce duplicate information requests to business by improving regulators’ access to and sharing of information. The projects examined access to Australian Securities and Investments Commission and Australian Taxation Office data, and sharing provider information across the aged care and disability support sectors. Members discussed the need for clearer guidance on accessing data and addressing capability and process barriers, while recognising legislative restrictions.
Building on the provider information-sharing project, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission and NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission will further explore opportunities to reuse registration and compliance information. This work will consider how to reduce repeat requests to providers while maintaining appropriate safeguards.
Developing regulator skills and capability
The Cohort considered findings from the Regulator Skills and Capability Working Group’s environmental scan, its six recommendations and updated workplan. These will inform a regulator capability framework, targeted for completion by the end of 2027. Members supported a flexible framework reflecting regulators’ different responsibilities and operating environments, with a focus on regulatory judgment, working across disciplines, systems thinking, leadership, and data and digital skills. The working group will use member feedback to further develop the framework.
Next meeting
The date of the next Cohort meeting is to be confirmed.
