Philip Reed Email and Phone Number

Responsible for the day to day management of the affairs of the Commission and for the implementation of the decisions of the Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners.

Philip was responsible for: policy and strategy development and investment in arts, science and innovation; whole-of-government directions in information-communication technologies; reforming shared government service models and delivery and promoting collaboration and opportunities between government, industry and the community. In this role Philip had to create the department from four precursor departmental entities and offices, develop its strategic direction and work plan, drive implementation of the new government’s reform agenda, implement the significant staffing and budget savings associated with the government’s fiscal repair strategy, and manage external stakeholder relationships. The department comprised 3200 staff and an operating budget of $437M.

The department’s role was to contribute to a fair and just society and safe, healthy, productive workplaces and community. It provided services to the Queensland community through the courts and tribunals, and via inspectorates regulating workplace health and safety, liquor and gaming, and consumer protection. Philip was responsible for developing policy and legislation associated with the criminal and civil jurisdictions, workplace health and safety, liquor, gaming and fair trading. The department comprised 4200 staff and an operating budget of $525M.

Philip was responsible for the development and delivery of briefings, policy advice and programs on behalf of the premier in the areas of security and emergencies, protocol, government advertising, legal advice, and the Office of the Victorian Government architect. In addition, he was responsible for managing the provision of corporate services to the department, including finance, and budgeting, HR, IT and risk and audit functions, as well as relationship management with the portfolio agencies including the Ombudsman’s office, State Services Authority, Government House and Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel. He was instrumental in assisting the Secretary and Premier deal with the aftermath of the 2009 bushfire tragedy, including the establishment of the Royal Commission and the Victorian Reconstruction and Recovery Authority.

As CEO of the Office of Water, Philip was responsible for development and delivery of government policy on water and delivering the second phase of the government’s water strategy ‘Our Water Our Future’, a $4.9 billion plan to boost water supplies across Victoria.

As the Chief Operating Officer of the highly regionalised department, with 3000 staff and a budget of $900 million, Philip managed the department’s relationships with its two Ministers; ensured that it delivered on the substantial policy and program commitments made by the government in the areas of water, fire, environment, land-use and urban planning; drove the governance processes of the department; and oversaw the production of two substantial new government policy initiatives, namely ‘Our Environment Our Future – Sustainability Action Statement 2006’, and the ‘Central Region Sustainable Water Strategy – Action to 2055’.

Philip managed the day-to-day operations of the department, comprising 150 staff and $146.6M budget, and also managed the ministerial-office relationship. He was instrumental in driving a restructure of the department to integrate two precursor entities.

The division comprised 245 staff and a $75M budget and delivered: legal advice and prosecution services; communication and media advice; financial services; ICT services; human resource services; property portfolio services to Workcover’s network of regional offices; and support services to the minister. Philip was also responsible for relocating WorkCover’s Head Office of 500 people to Gosford from Sydney. The project involved negotiating on appropriate accommodation, overseeing the design and layout of the fit-out, ensuring the design represented best practice in OH&S principles and practices and that the workforce was fully engaged in the process. The relocation involved managing the turnover of about one-third of the workforce prior to and immediately post arrival at Gosford. It was delivered on time and within budget, without any industrial disputes or loss of business continuity, and the project subsequently won a Premier’s award.

Philip managed teams of policy officers in examining and providing advice on a wide range of matters relating to government natural resources policy and administration to the Executive and the Premier. This included the preparation of cabinet submissions, briefing papers, material for legislative purposes, submissions to the Premier and answering the premier’s correspondence.

Philip provided administrative support to the Cabinet and Cabinet Standing Committees; programming and co-ordination of the government’s legislative program; administrative support for the meetings of Executive Council; co-ordination of responses to parliamentary questions asked of the premier, and the whole ministry; allocation of acts, and registration and answering of premier’s correspondence. Philip also restructured the branch to ensure its focus on delivery of core services to the department.