Geoff's Career Achievements
Geoff Leeper, PSM.
Principal, Yarrabee Consulting
Negative Vet Level 2 security clearance granted July 2015 (ATO)
EDUCATION & QUALIFICATIONS
1975: Higher School Certificate, Sydney NSW
1979: Bachelor of Economics (Honours), University of Sydney, conferred April 1980
Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors 2016
Awarded the Public Service Medal in 2011 for reforms to national housing and homelessness programs
CAREER EXPERIENCE
OVERVIEW: Long standing Commonwealth public servant with 25 years in Senior Executive roles, 14 of those at Deputy CEO level. Deeply experienced in government affairs, have also served on a number of commercial, not for profit and voluntary boards.
October 2016 to date – Principal, Yarrabee Consulting. I operate a very successful consulting business with a focus on public sector governance, assurance and strategic reviews, and leadership development for senior executives. I have assisted 20 client agencies to date including the Bureau of Meteorology, the (now) National Indigenous Australians Agency and the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
2012 to August 2016: Second Commissioner, ATO. Responsible for Service Delivery, Debt Management, Information Technology and Infrastructure, Corporate Services, Finance, ATO People and Business Registration functions at various times over the four year period. These functions involved an operating budget of some $2 billion per annum and related to over 10,000 ATO staff. Significant achievements included greatly improved personal taxation services through successful application of digital design and delivery, improved taxpayer service standards with diminishing front line resources, strong leadership and effective cultural change in an agency with over 100 years of delivery history to the Australian public.
2011-12: Deputy Secretary, Department of Regional Australia, Local Government, Arts and Sport. Responsible for oversight of the Commonwealth’s $6 billion contribution to Queensland and Victorian flood recovery. Designed and implemented value for money tests to protect the integrity of the Commonwealth’s flood recovery spending.
2009 – 11: Deputy Secretary, Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency. Responsible for establishing the Australian Climate Change Regulatory Authority, and subsequently for policy and programs for climate adaptation, renewable energy, communications, and corporate affairs. Established the climate regulator from a zero base, ready for business by the time the emissions trading scheme was abandoned by the Government.
2007 – 09: Deputy Secretary, Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs. Responsible for policies and programs for Indigenous Housing, National Housing initiatives, legal and compliance activities, corporate affairs. Chair of the Audit Committee. Achieved significant reforms to social housing, homelessness and indigenous housing policies and programs through National Partnership Agreements.
2004 – 07: Deputy Secretary, Department of Human Services. Responsible for service delivery policy and corporate affairs. Chair of the Audit Committee.
2000-04: Health Insurance Commission: First Assistant Commissioner and Deputy CEO.
1987-2000: Department of Social Security. Various policy, program management and corporate support roles, including co-ordination of the Budget process for the portfolio three times in four years.
1980-1987: Office of the Public Service Board.
BOARDS & MEMBERSHIPS
2010 – 2019: Chair, Hartley Lifecare ACT (voluntary capacity). Hartley provides community based accommodation and support for people with profound disabilities. As Chair, I supported growth in turnover of more than 400 per cent in eight years while also implementing the NDIS reforms and achieving significant service expansion.
2009 – 2013: Ross Divett Foundation (voluntary capacity).
2010-11: Commonwealth nominee, CRC on Climate Research, Tasmania (arising from Commonwealth role).
1998 – 2000 and 2007 – 09: Commonwealth Board member, Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute (arising from Commonwealth role).
1998 – 2000: Board Member, Social Policy Research Centre UNSW (arising from Commonwealth role).
