Sandy is an experienced public-sector leader, having led government agencies in both Victoria and South Australia.
Sandy was the inaugural Secretary of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing in Victoria, an agency that supported six Ministers and spanned human services, child protection, family violence, housing and communities’ policy and service delivery.
Throughout the height of the pandemic in 2020 Sandy led the Victoria COVID-19 response that returned the state to COVID-19 zero.
Sandy’s initial role in Victoria was leading higher education, skills and training.
Prior to working for the Victorian government, Sandy was the Chief Executive of the South Australian Department of Environment, Water and Natural Resources, where she focussed on a vibrant nature-based tourism strategy for South Australia, connecting people to parks and delivering on the state’s ambitious Climate Change agenda.
And prior to that, Sandy was Deputy Chief Executive of the South Australian Department of Premier and Cabinet for five years.
She has also served as the Director of the South Australian Office for Women.
In 2012 Sandy was awarded the South Australian Telstra Business Woman of the year for the Community and Public sector category, and went on to win the national title in November 2012.
Sandy has worked in London, primarily as the head of Corporate and Parliamentary Affairs in the UK’s Commission for Racial Equality, and has previously worked in Commonwealth public sector roles in Canberra and Sydney.
Educated at the University of Adelaide, Sandy has degrees in law and the humanities.
She was raised in Mannum, has two children, a dog and a puppy to keep her on her toes.
In August 2022, Sandy returned to the South Australian Government as Deputy Under Treasurer, after working for several years in the Victorian public sector. She is currently the Chief Executive of the Department of Human Services.
