Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has appointed Matt Yannopoulos as secretary of the Department of Finance, placing a career public servant with a strong IT and digital background at the helm of the Commonwealth’s central tech procurement agency.
Most recently at the Department of Defence as associate secretary since October 2021, Mr Yannopoulos has progressed through senior APS roles in Defence and Finance, including responsibility for digital transformation and technology strategy.
His appointment comes as Finance takes control of Services Australia under recent machinery-of-government changes, making the department responsible for both service delivery and the federal government’s largest technology contracts.
Mr Yannopoulos’ term will commence on 29 September 2025 for a five-year period.
Geraldine Chin Moody has been appointed independent chair of the Tech Policy Design Institute (TPDi) Board, joined by Professor Elanor Huntington as board director. The appointments expand TPDi’s governance and technical depth, adding experience from Directors Australia and CSIRO, respectively.
The appointments sit alongside existing board members Kate Pounder, David Masters, Tobias Feakin, Johanna Weaver and Zoe Jay Hawkins. With the expanded line-up, TPDi has signalled its intention to deepen its role advising on issues ranging from AI adoption and regulation to online safety, cyber security and the digitisation of government services.
The Albanese Government has appointed Julie O’Brien as Deputy Commonwealth Ombudsman. Ms O’Brien is currently General Counsel at the Australian Human Rights Commission and will commence her five-year term in November, bringing extensive legal and regulatory experience to the role.
Ms O’Brien has served in the Human Rights Commission since 2004 and was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2023 for her work managing legal services during the COVID-19 response. Attorney-General Michelle Rowland said the appointment would support the Ombudsman to continue its “important work” safeguarding the community.
Katrina McKenzie has been appointed Commissioner of Economic Growth Victoria and Better Regulation Victoria. Ms McKenzie has worked in public sector leadership and regulatory operations, including senior roles in the City of Melbourne and City of Greater Dandenong. Finance Minister Danny Pearson said her appointment supports the Victorian Government’s Economic Growth Statement and regulatory reform agenda.
In Queensland, the state government has thanked Dominique Lamb for her service as Small Business Commissioner ahead of her resignation effective October 3. Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin said the government would begin an open recruitment process to fill the role.
The Victorian Government has named Paul Sakkal as Commissioner for Economic Growth Victoria, the new body tasked with coordinating the state’s investment and trade strategy.
In Queensland, the state government has thanked Dominique Lamb for her service as Small Business Commissioner ahead of her resignation effective 3 October. Minister for Small and Family Business Steve Minnikin said the government would begin an open recruitment process to fill the role.
Founding director of AirTrunk, Michael Juniper has joined HMC Digital Infrastructure as a proposed director on Thursday. He will take on executive responsibilities at DigiCo, with a remit to speed up its local and international growth.
Seven new members have joined the NSW Government’s Artificial Intelligence Committee, including UNSW Canberra faculty head of AI strategy Alex Antic, UTS Human Technology Institute co-director Nicholas Davis and QBE Insurance group chief privacy officer Lisa Schonstein.
Other new appointees are Westmead Fertility Centre Board chair Kylie de Boer, litigation strategy advisor Howard Elliott, Amnesty International Australia non-executive director Ajoy Ghosh and NSW Police assistant commissioner Rodney Smith.
Professor Genevieve Bell has stepped down as Vice-Chancellor of the Australian National University after a turbulent tenure.
The Australian Conservation Foundation has appointed former Greens leader Adam Bandt as its next chief executive officer.
TCorp Board has appointed a new chief executive Rob Kenna, previously its general manager financial markets. Mr Kenna will start 5 December following the retirement of current chief executive David Deverall.
The Albanese Government has reappointed Steven Skala as a part-time member to the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) for a one-year period, starting 18 September.
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