Navigating Change of Government – Panel Discussion

Appointed on 1 July 2014, Commissioner for Public Sector Employment Erma Ranieri works passionately towards creating a world-leading public sector that serves South Australians well, does what it says it will do, and to which every public servant is proud to belong.

With the role of the public sector being to serve and support South Australia to thrive, Erma leads sector-wide reform to modernise the public sector and continue to build on its value and service to the South Australian community.

Erma has worked for more than 30 years to help organisations optimise productivity and employee wellbeing. She was named a 2014 Telstra Business Woman of the Year as SA Winner of the Telstra Community and Government Award for her role in leading transformational change throughout the public sector.

With a key focus on flexibility, diversity and leadership development to ensure the public sector is positioned as an Employer of Choice, Erma continues to challenge cultural and structural barriers to drive innovative, collaborative and connected services for the community.

Julie-Anne commenced as Executive Director Organisation and Governance, Department of Treasury and Finance in March 2021. Julie-Anne is responsible for the internal functions of DTF including: People and Performance, Information Technology, Audit Risk and Security, Finance, Fines Enforcement and Recovery Unit (FERU) and Procurement (for DTF).
Prior to working in DTF Julie-Anne’s career spanned health, tertiary education, and courts. Prior to working in South Australia, Julie-Anne worked across several Australian states, gaining experience in multiple health care systems.
As a result of her diverse experience, she has a strong interest in developing and leading in complex systems, especially those with large numbers of people. She is passionate about governance, and how it can be used to drive organisational objectives, as well as great outcomes for the dedicated people who chose to work in the public sector.
Julie-Anne commenced her career as a Podiatrist and has a Master of Science (Health Policy & Management). She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Kate Stephens is currently the Director, Human Resources within the Attorney-General’s Department, a role which she commenced in late 2016.
Kate has held similar roles on other public sector agencies since 2008. Prior to that, Kate’s earlier career was in the industrial relations field. She holds a combined Arts/Law degree and has post-graduate qualifications in public sector management.

Shelley is the Chief Human Resources Officer for the Office of the Commissioner for Public Sector Employment in the South Australian Government. She is responsible for driving a number of whole-of-government initiatives with an overarching mandate to modernise and enhance HR across the public sector.
Prior to commencing in this role, Shelley was the Chief People Officer for BAE Systems Australia where she led Human Resources and Workplace Health and Safety for the company nationally. She was instrumental in driving the organisation’s transformation from a consolidating company to one of growth.
Shelley is a natural collaborator and has worked closely with industry and government counterparts to ensure they can collectively generate significant workforce growth. She has a wealth of national and international experience, having worked in the UK, US and Australia. Her career has spanned multiple functions including HR, legislative affairs, communications, media and marketing.
Shelley is passionate about connecting people to strategy and improving organisational performance by unlocking the potential of its people. She has proven success in organisation transformation, strategic workforce planning, leadership effectiveness, organisation design and cultural evolution.