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. 

Rachel has worked as a senior executive for the Australian and New South Wales governments in primary industries, water, mining and energy.

Rachel has also worked as a land rights and native lawyer and for the Indigenous Land Corporation in Adelaide.

Before joining the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development in August 2024, Rachel led international and national water policy and major reforms to the Murray-Darling Basin Plan for the Australian Government working closely with states and territories and a broad range of stakeholders.

Rachel holds a Bachelor of Arts (Honours - Political Science), Bachelor of Laws from the University of NSW and a graduate diploma in legal practice.

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. 

Kate Lorimer-Ward commenced as CEO of Local Land Services in August of 2024. Kate is a committed senior executive in the NSW public service who continually seeks to deliver value to the communities that she serves. Kate has worked across a diverse range of portfolios, with extensive management experience, and has a real passion for the agricultural sector, founded in more than 20 years' experience in the public sector in rural and regional NSW. Her leadership journey includes 16 years at the former Department of Primary Industries, including serving as the CEO of the Rural Assistance Authority from 2018 to 2019 and the Deputy Director General Agriculture from 2017 to 2024.

Having began her career in the Soil Conservation Service, later moving to the Catchment Management Authority, Kate holds a personal focus and desire to service the rural, regional and remote communities within NSW, through creative leadership, innovative program creation, design, and implementation. 

Kate is not only a dedicated public servant; she also partners in a farming enterprise near Orange, serves as a Director on the Board for the Cooperative Research Centre for High Performing Soils, and currently acts as a Trustee for several trusts oversighted by the NSW government. Additionally, she is involved in several inter-jurisdictional committees and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Kate has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in soils and social geography, an Executive Masters in Public Administration and a Post Graduate Certificate in Climate Change for Primary Industries.

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.

Caroline has been with the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development since August 2024 and is responsible for the delivery of diverse corporate services and enabling functions across the department.

With more than 14 years experience in the NSW public sector, Caroline has held senior executive positions overseeing the delivery of key services and initiatives across a broad range of operational, client-facing, and corporate functions. Her leadership in these areas has consistently driven improvements in service delivery and operational efficiency, reflecting her commitment to excellence and innovation in the public sector. 

Caroline began her career as a commercial lawyer and has experience in both the private and public sectors. Throughout her career she has chaired and served on numerous employee and whole of sector forums, establishing constructive relationships with service providers and stakeholders.

Raised on a wheat and sheep farm in West Wyalong, and now based in Orange, Caroline’s deep connection to regional NSW has been a constant driving force behind her dedication to the prosperity and wellbeing of these communities. Her passion for enhancing the quality of life in regional NSW, combined with her professional accomplishments, makes her a respected leader in the public sector.

Tara joined the NSW public service in May 2014 and leads the department’s central policy team.

With over 17 years of experience in policy and legislative reform roles relating to primary industries and regional development, Tara has a thorough understanding of the opportunities and challenges facing regional communities.

Tara is focused on supporting evidence-based policy decisions across government and has extensive experience leading complex and contentious policy and legislative reform projects, including through public and targeted stakeholder consultation processes.

In addition to her substantial policy experience, Tara has successfully led engaged and high performing teams across a range of other disciplines including strategy, economics, program delivery, stakeholder engagement, media, communications, finance, risk and reporting.

Tara holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Liberal Studies) from the University of Sydney majoring in Accounting and Finance.