Our leaders
Dave Stewart
Director-General
Dave was appointed Director-General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC) in February 2015. Prior to this role, he was the Secretary for Transport for New South Wales (NSW), where he led around 27,000 people in shaping, planning, policy and delivery of public transport, roads and freight across NSW.
After a long career in local government and engineering construction in Australia and the United Kingdom, Dave joined the Queensland Government in 2006 as Deputy Coordinator-General within the Department of Infrastructure and Planning, where he was responsible for delivering major water and road projects. From June 2008, he was the Director-General of Queensland Transport and then the Department of Transport and Main Roads, overseeing the integration of organisations to a new customer-focused model. His primary responsibility was transport leadership including strategic policy and planning, system stewardship, infrastructure delivery and service delivery.
One of his highlights as the Director-General of DPC has been participating in the community champions program for Indigenous communities, where he regularly visits gulf communities and assists them with accessing much needed government services. He is passionate about regional Queensland and engaging directly with residents, business, government and community leaders.
A civil engineer, Dave holds a Master’s Degree in Business and a Master’s Degree in Engineering Science. He completed an executive program at Harvard University looking at private sector involvement in infrastructure delivery. He is a Fellow of Engineers Australia, an Honorary Fellow, Chartered Institute of Transport and Logistics, and a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering.
He is a member of the Trade and Investment Queensland Board, Building Queensland Board, Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and Council of Australian Governments Senior Officials.
Mark Cridland
Deputy Director-General, Policy
As Deputy Director-General, Policy, Mark is responsible for leading the Economic, Social, Environment and Policy Futures teams in providing high-level strategic policy advice for the Premier and Cabinet and, for the implementation of key government decisions.
Mark is a highly experienced senior executive with more than 26 years of proven leadership and delivery in large and complex government and private sector organisations.
Between 2013 and May 2018, Mark was a senior director and account leader with KPMG Australia where he led significant engagements across Australia covering infrastructure, economic evaluation, governance, performance frameworks, and national reforms.
For the decade prior to 2013 Mark has held numerous senior executive roles in Queensland and New South Wales governments. This included Deputy Director-General (Policy, Planning and Investment) in the Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads between 2009 and 2013.
Mark holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Legal Studies) and has completed an executive program at the Harvard Kennedy School in Leadership.
Mark has a passion and commitment to public service. He believes in the role it can play in positively influencing outcomes for all Queenslanders.
Filly Morgan
Deputy Director‑General, Corporate and Government Services, PSM
Filly has more than 25 years’ experience in the Queensland public sector. In her current role as Deputy Director-General she leads the delivery of Corporate and Government Services. This includes supporting business before Executive Council, advice on machinery of government and constitutional matters, the Anzac Centenary commemoration program, corporate support for Ministerial Offices and the Leader of the Opposition, as well as the corporate functions for the department.
Filly has a broad range of experience in central and line agencies. She has previously worked in senior roles in DPC and the Department of Tourism, Major Events, Small Business and the Commonwealth Games. Filly is a Clerk of the Executive Council and is the Queensland representative on the Council for the Order of Australia. She is also an ex-officio member of the Queensland Advisory Committee for the Commemoration of the Anzac Centenary and the Queensland Veterans’ Advisory Council.
Filly was awarded a Public Service Medal on Australia Day 2018 for outstanding public service through a range of coordination and governance roles in Queensland.
Tess Bishop
Deputy Director-General, Strategy and Engagement
As Deputy Director-General, Tess leads the Strategy and Engagement Division and is responsible for intergovernmental relations, strategic policy, and the integrated communications and protocol functions within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Tess also oversees Trade and Investment Queensland and Screen Queensland’s interface with the Premier’s portfolio.
Appointed to the role in January 2017, Tess has more than 18 years’ experience across the public and private sectors in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Prior to this role, Tess was a senior executive in Queensland Health managing the Office of the Director-General. She has previously held senior positions in the Queensland and Victorian public sector and has experience working in both central and line agencies. Tess’s career in government is complemented by her extensive experience in the private sector, including her work with KPMG Europe, where she forged strategic relationships with business and industry stakeholders.
Voted by her peers, Tess was awarded an Australia Day Certificate of Achievement in January 2017. Tess is a graduate of
the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Master’s Degree of International Relations, a Graduate Diploma in Business Management and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in political science and public policy.
Leighton Craig
Cabinet Secretary
Leighton has more than 20 years’ experience in the public sector. In his role as Cabinet Secretary, he heads the team responsible for managing services across the Queensland Government that support the operation of the Cabinet and Cabinet Committees. His team also monitors delivery of government commitments and decisions and supports agencies to implement performance management.
Leighton has worked in a diverse range of policy and project areas within government, including law and justice policy, disaster relief, community engagement on significant infrastructure and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultural heritage. He has previously headed the legal and constitutional area of DPC and has been a Clerk of the Executive Council since 2010.
Annette O’Callaghan
Queensland Parliamentary Counsel
Annette was appointed Queensland Parliamentary Counsel in January 2016 and as head of the office is responsible for the drafting and publishing of all Queensland legislation. Annette has significant experience in delivering the legislative program for Queensland Government agencies. She has over 25 years’ experience in legislative drafting and statutory interpretation and has held senior drafting and leadership roles in Queensland, Victoria and New South Wales throughout her career. Annette was Queensland’s member of the Australasian Parliamentary Counsel’s Committee until Annette departed the Queensland Office of the Parliamentary Counsel in June 2018 to take up a similar position in New South Wales.
Sandra Lawson
Acting Parliamentary Counsel
Sandra was appointed Deputy Parliamentary Counsel in August 2018 and has more than 19 years’ experience in legislative drafting. She began her drafting career in 1998 at the Parliamentary Counsel Office in New Zealand. Since November 2001, Sandra has worked at OQPC in numerous legislative drafting and management roles. Sandra is currently Acting Queensland Parliamentary Counsel, pending the arrival of the newly appointed Queensland Parliamentary Counsel in October 2018.
Paul McFadyen
Deputy Parliamentary Counsel
Paul was appointed Deputy Parliamentary Counsel in 2014 and has more than 15 years’ experience in legislative drafting. As Deputy Parliamentary Counsel, Paul leads the preparation of legislation administered by the departments of Agriculture and Fisheries; Child Safety, Youth and Women; Communities, Disability Services and Seniors; Education; Environment and Science; Housing and Public Works; Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs; Natural Resources, Mines and Energy; Queensland Health and State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning.
Ian Larwill
Deputy Parliamentary Counsel
Ian was appointed Deputy Parliamentary Counsel in 2016 and has more than 26 years’ experience in legislative drafting. As Deputy Parliamentary Counsel, Ian leads the preparation of legislation administered by the departments of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships; Employment, Small Business and Training; Innovation, Tourism Industry Development and the Commonwealth Games; Justice and Attorney-General; Premier and Cabinet; Queensland Fire and Emergency Services; Queensland Police Service; Queensland Treasury; Transport and Main Roads and Queensland Corrective Services.