Tony Chappel will depart the NSW Environmental Protection Authority to lead the federal Clean Energy Regulator (CER), one of a raft of senior public sector changes this week.
Mr Chappel has previously been the NSW government chief of staff, a general manager for energy producer AGL, and executive GM for national grid overseer the Australian Energy Market Operator.
The green energy watchdog’s outgoing CEO David Parker retired last month after over nine years in the role.
“Mr Chappel’s appointment comes at a pivotal time, with the Clean Energy Regulator’s work central to Australia’s energy transformation and progress towards net zero,” Energy and Climate Change minister Chris Bowen said.
“[His] expertise and leadership will help ensure it continues to deliver Australia’s key climate and renewable energy programs with integrity.”
In a LinkedIn post, Mr Chappel said Cabinet Office NSW executive director housing and planning Nancy Chang will be appointed NSW EPA’s interim CEO.
Ms Chang was executive director regulatory policy, initiatives and advice at the Authority for near to five years through 2024.
News of Mr Chappel’s appointment was gazumped with the announcement NSW Premier Chris Minns would farewell his department’s secretary Simon Draper.
Mr Draper will shortly take over leadership of the federal Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR), which lost its chief bureaucrat Meghan Quinn to Defence in May.
Joining the NSW public service in 2013, Mr Draper was secretary of the state’s Department of Industry for a year.
He has been both secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet and CEO of the NSW Reconstruction Authority since 2023.
NSW Treasury Department secretary Michael Coutts-Trotter will shift to serve as acting secretary of the Premier’s Department until April 2027. Deputy secretary Liz Livingstone will succeed him at Treasury.
Federal Industry minister Tim Ayres lauded Mr Draper as bringing “extensive leadership experience across government, industry, infrastructure and the energy sector, and a proven record of delivering practical outcomes on complex challenges”.
DISR this week also announced the appointment of Joanne Fielding as general manager of international science and investment.
Mr Ayres department concluded negotiations with the world’s largest innovation funding program Horizon Europe in June, with grant applications for Australian scientists expected to open early next year.
Federal higher education authority the Australian Tertiary Education Commission has secured veteran public servant David Turvey as its CEO.
Launched in 2025 to act as a long-term steward for the tertiary education sector, ATEC was formally established as an independent statutory authority in April. Mr Turvey has been acting CEO since last October.
“I’m looking forward to working with the ATEC Commissioners and the team to help build a better and fairer tertiary education system for Australia,” Mr Turvey said in a LinkedIn post.
Federal Education minister Jason Clare on Thursday announced the appointment of Professor Mark Rose to a five year term as ATEC’s inaugural First Nations Commissioner.
The Attorney-General’s department has begun recruiting for the next Independent National Security Legislation Monitor (INSLM) ahead of the departure of incumbent Jake Blight at the end of his three-year term later in 2026.
Established in 2010 under Kevin Rudd, the INSLM is tasked with perpetually reviewing the operation, effectiveness and implications of Australia’s national security and counter terrorism laws.
Mr Blight, who is the fifth person to hold the role, said the “the ever growing volume and intrusiveness of national security laws [means] the role is more important than ever”.
Artificial intelligence tech consultancy V2AI has appointed Richard Allen as partner and Derek Bingham as Perth Director as part of its expansion into Western Australia.
Holly Dean was also appointed partner and Jean-Manuel Becker as director, part of the company’s Melbourne based national operations.
Senior Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade bureaucrat Jeremy Green has been appointed Australia’s next Ambassador for Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
Currently first assistant secretary, trade resilience, Indo-Pacific economic and Latin America division, Mr Green succeeds Elizabeth Ward, who has held the role since 2024.
Space communications and Internet of Things startup Myriota has appointed former IBM lead Richard Leon its new CFO ahead of a planned $75 million funding round to grow its mini-satellite network.
Andrew Hart has received the prestigious Minister’s Award for Achievement in Defence Science for establishing the Advanced Rocket Motor Technology Demonstrator program.
The honour follows weeks after the program spearheaded the first successful launch of an Australian made solid rocket motor from the Koonibba Test Range in June.
The Federal Court of Australia has appointed Nathan Price its chief information officer.
Mr Price joined Australia’s second highest judicial bench in 2020 to oversee a digital uplift project. He has been acting chief information and digital officer since 2024.
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