I am delighted to join the Local Jobs First Office as its new Commissioner, and to join the broader team at the Department of Jobs, Precincts and Regions.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my first few weeks as Local Jobs First Commissioner and connecting with various stakeholders and executive teams across government and local industry. For those I have yet to speak with, I look forward to meeting you soon.
Building on the work of the inaugural Local Jobs First Commissioner Mr. Don Matthews, I am committed to promoting ongoing opportunities in government procurement for SMEs across local industry. This involves continuing to advocate for the use of local goods and services by government across regional and metropolitan Victoria, including in major construction, manufacturing, and services projects. This will create and support Victorian industry, jobs, apprenticeships, traineeships and cadetships, and contribute to the state's economic recovery.
I am an experienced lawyer and have previously been a senior officer at companies including ASX-listed SEEK and REA Group, and an executive at Bupa. I have also served as a non-executive director in a number of organisations and am currently the Chair of the Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commission. Through this experience, I bring an array of skills to this role and to the monitoring and compliance functions of the office.
In addition to advocating for Victorian SMEs and the procurement of local goods and services across government, the role of the Commissioner is also to ensure compliance with the legislation. The office undertakes this through audits and, where relevant, by seeking information from parties involved in Local Jobs First projects in relation to their contractual commitments.
As the Local Jobs First Commissioner, I am here to lead the effective delivery of the Local Jobs First Policy. I look forward to working together with local industry and government to achieve this.
If you would like to contact me or the Office, you can do so here.
