04 December 2023

SENATOR THE HON KATY GALLAGHER
MINISTER FOR FINANCE
MINISTER FOR WOMEN
MINISTER FOR THE PUBLIC SERVICE

APPOINTMENTS TO AUSTRALIAN GOVERNMENT IN-HOUSE CONSULTING

The Minister for the Public Service, Senator the Hon Katy Gallagher, has today welcomed Andrew Nipe as Chief Consulting Officer and Joanne Rossiter as Deputy Chief Consulting Officer for the Australian Government’s in-house consultancy function.

Delivering on the Albanese Labor Government’s commitment to cutdown on outsourcing to external consultancies, Australian Government Consulting has hit the ground running and is close to completion on two pilot projects:

  • Partnering with the Centre for Australia-India Relations to analyse opportunities for closer collaboration between federal and the state and territory governments on economic engagement with India.
  • Partnering with the new Net Zero Economy agency to develop its vision and undertake strategic business planning.

The Australian Government Consulting leadership team bring extensive experience in the private and public sectors, and a commitment to developing solutions for complex public policy issues.

Mr Nipe most recently served as Victoria’s Chief Data Officer, following executive leadership roles in education policy. He has worked at McKinsey, Bain and UK Treasury and holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.

Ms Rossiter joins AGC from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, where she led landmark national skills reform. She has senior experience in management consultancy at Nous and holds a Master of Public Policy from the University of Oxford.  

The Government has committed $10.9 million over two years from 2023-24 for the in-house consultancy function.

Over the next two years, Australian Government Consulting will deliver at least 15 projects and support the APS to better leverage its expertise and get better value from external consultants.

Minister Gallagher said the in-house consulting function was part of a push to build on the deep expertise that already exists across the APS.

“Australian Government Consulting will offer public servants the opportunity to work across departments on projects that have, in the past, been outsourced to external consultancies,” said the Minister.

“Not only will this new function strengthen internal skills and capabilities by bringing important work back into the APS, but it will also save the taxpayer money.”

Australian Government Consulting’s initial recruitment for in-house consultants attracted significant interest from outside of government. Nearly 1000 applications were received across all levels advertised, more than any other PM&C recruitment outside graduate intake.

In 2024 Australian Government Consulting will work with agencies across the APS to build its project pipeline.

MONDAY DECEMBER 4 2023