Our people - Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

Steve has been serving as the Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development since April 2024.

He brings with him a wealth of experience from his extensive career in the public sector in roles that have served regional communities and primary producers across NSW.

Prior to commencing as Secretary for the Department, Steve was the Chief Executive Officer of Local Lands Services, where he managed a team of over 900 employees dedicated to supporting landowners and safeguarding the agricultural and environmental future of NSW communities.

Steve has extensive experience in a range of senior leadership roles across the sector including setting up and running the corporate services functions for the Department, economic recovery efforts for regional NSW communities following natural disaster events, and regional coordination in the Department of Premier and Cabinet. He has also led key reforms in local government and served as the Chief Executive of the NSW Livestock Health and Pest Authorities.

Steve holds a Master of Business Administration from Deakin University and a Bachelor of Applied Science with Honours from the University of Western Sydney. Additionally, he is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Beyond his professional life, Steve enjoys spending time at his home in Berry on the south coast, with his wife Leanne and children, Sam, Patrick, and Rachael. 

James joined the NSW Government in 2018 and is responsible for the Regional Development and Delivery Group for the Department.  

Since joining the NSW Government, James has demonstrated his ability to provide strategic leadership, work collaboratively across Government and with community and manage complex projects and programs. James’ portfolio includes Public Works, Soil Conservation Service, Regional Growth NSW Development Corporation, the regional NSW Digital Connectivity Program and the Regional Development team.    

Prior to working with the NSW Government, James worked in a variety of senior roles in local government over an 11-year period including economic development, major projects, strategy, community and commercial developments.

Before returning to his hometown of Wagga Wagga in 2007, James studied and worked in Canberra, Sydney and London.

James is passionate about driving whole of government approaches to regional issues and ensuring the people of regional NSW have the appropriate support, services, and infrastructure to live a great quality of life. 

Sean has more than 25 years’ management experience and has held senior positions in Commonwealth and State government, and in the Pacific Islands. As Deputy Secretary for Fisheries and Forestry, Sean is accountable for providing strong leadership and stewardship in the fisheries and forestry sectors of NSW.

Since 2020, as Deputy Director-General, Fisheries in NSW, Sean has been responsible for marine and freshwater fisheries and aquaculture management and development, policy, scientific research, stock assessment, stock enhancement, monitoring, compliance, enforcement, community education, licensing, marine parks and marine environment management, the NSW Shark management program and Hunting management, compliance, education and licensing.  

Prior to being appointed as Deputy Secretary Fisheries and Forestry, Sean was the Acting Director-General of NSW Department of Primary Industries. In this role he served NSW communities in looking after the agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sectors, as well as biosecurity, food safety, animal welfare and hunting.

Among his many achievements, Sean has led the development of national guidelines for fishery harvest strategies, which have been adopted by all Australian jurisdictions. He was also Chair of the Australian Fisheries Management Forum for five years, Chair of the National Fisheries Compliance Committee and National Aquaculture Committee. Sean holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc), Fisheries from the University of Tasmania. He has a Graduate Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Rob commenced as acting Chief Executive Officer in April 2024. He has over 20 years executive leadership experience in primary industries, land and natural resource management, regulatory compliance, and water resources.

Rob began with Local Land Services (LLS) in March 2014, starting as General Manager of Riverina. In February 2020, he became the Executive Director Regional Delivery, prior to taking on the acting CEO role.

Before commencing with LLS, Rob was the Executive Manager of Infrastructure, Planning, and Environment for Murrumbidgee Irrigation.

Rob holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of Sydney and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Rob lives in Griffith, NSW with his wife Kellie and has two children, Sam and Ava, who are currently studying at university in Sydney. Rob is a keen runner and AFL tragic. 

With a strong background in Public Sector leadership, strategy, reform and industry development, Georgina brings a wealth of leadership experience to the NSW Resources group.

As leader of NSW Resources, Ms Beattie oversees decisions about the State’s mineral and petroleum resources, investment in the sector, the policy and strategic framework for exploration and mining in NSW, effective regulation and the acquisition and analysis of geoscientific data

Georgina joined NSW Resources (then Mining, Explorations and Geoscience) in early 2021 after a broad career driving economic development in NSW. Prior to joining NSW Resources she held leadership roles in regional economic development in the NSW Government and has strong relationships with industry and community stakeholders.

Georgina is committed to deliver reform and initiatives that will boost exploration and mining investment safely and sustainably, with a strong focus on customer service.

Angus is the Acting Chief Operating Officer of the Enabling Services Group. Angus has served as the department’s Chief Financial Officer since 2020 and was directly responsible for the finance, procurement, property, and fleet functions.  

Angus has more than 25 years of experience in enabling service roles across the telecommunications, financial services and public sectors, with a robust background in customer-centric transformation, innovation, optimisation and business enablement.  With his strong financial acumen and extensive experience at senior executive levels in both private and public sectors, Angus brings a commercially-focused perspective to his work, enabling businesses to achieve their strategic goals through process simplification, elimination of duplication and high-quality financial management.  

Angus is a Fellow of the Chartered Accountants Australia & New Zealand (CAANZ) and holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University (ANU). Angus also holds a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance from FINSIA.

Beyond work Angus enjoys exploring remote parts of NSW, for reason unknown to his family continues to play soccer albeit at a much slower pace these days. Angus lives in Sydney with his partner Kirsty and three boys Lachlan, Callum and Rory and of course his dog Fudge.