Queensland has a new privacy commissioner in Alexander White, a former privacy advisor to the US Department of Homeland Security and the current privacy commissioner of Bermuda.
Mr White, who has been appointed on a five-year term and will start the role in October, will have oversight of the collection, storage, use and disclosure of personal information by public servants and state government contractors.
He is the first permanent privacy commissioner in at least a year, replacing Susan Shanley, who is currently acting in the role. Interim duties have also been performed by James Forbes over the last year.
Queensland Attorney-General Deb Frecklington said Mr White “brings highly valued experience and credentials”, including as the former deputy chief privacy officer for the US state of South Carolina.
“His background makes him aptly suited to the appointment and he will provide crucial advice to government departments and agencies on privacy matters,” the Attorney-General said.
Queensland Information Commissioner Joanne Kumrow added that Mr White’s appointment comes “at a time of change for Queensland’s privacy laws [and] is timely and welcome”.
Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy has been announced as the next secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Dr Kennedy has more than 30 years’ experience in the public service, most recently serving as Treasury secretary.
Replacing Dr Kennedy at Treasury is Jenny Wilkinson, who is the department’s first ever female secretary. She has spent the last three years as secretary of the Department of Finance.
Privacy and tech expert Annelies Moens has been appointed as Western Australia’s next Information Commissioner and will start in the role on 28 July. Her appointment is expected to provide a better interface between cyber and AI risk and privacy issues.
Western Australia’s Attorney-General Dr Tony Buti recognised outgoing Information Commissioner Catherine Fletcher’s “distinguished service and legal career spanning 35 years”.
Grant Rebikoff has been appointed chief information officer at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
The United States Studies Centre (USSC) at the University of Sydney has appointed Olivia Shen director of its Strategic Technologies Program.
Professor Nicola Phillips has been appointed new vice chancellor and president of Adelaide University.
Jon Davey, chief executive of Tyro Payments, has resigned after serving in the role since September 2022. Mr Davey will move to a Melbourne-based private equity-backed business as chief executive and will be outside of the financial service sector.
Ben van Delden has left KMPG as the firm’s top AgTech consultant to start his own company, Delco AgriFood. Mr Delden was also previously a partner at Deloitte for two years leading its AgriiFood services.
Vocus has appointed Andrés Irlando as its new chief executive. Mr Irlando, who was previously president of Zayo Group and worked for 15 years at Verizon before that, succeeds interim CEO Jarrod Nink who will remain in a senior leadership role.
With Justin Hendry
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