Integrity Matters

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.

Emma Townsend was admitted to legal practice in South Australia 2002. She spent 2002 working as an Associate in the Supreme Court to the Honourable Justice Wicks. She commenced work at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) in 2003 where she remained until 2021. While at the ODPP she worked across all areas of the office and prosecuted a range of complex matters in both the District and Supreme Courts. She also appeared in the Court of Criminal appeal in relation to appeals against sentence and conviction. In 2018 she established and managed a specialist vulnerable witness team which focused on the prosecution of complex child sexual abuse allegations. In 2021 she spent six months working in the Attorney-General’s Department Legislative Services unit focusing on legislative reform in relation not domestic abuse and child sexual abuse. She commenced as the Director of the Office for Public Integrity in January 2022.

Wayne Lines is the sixth Ombudsman appointed since the Office was established in 1972.

Mr Lines has lived in Adelaide, South Australia, all his life. He graduated from Adelaide University with a law degree in 1983 and worked in legal practice for 25 years, including 16 years in the Civil Litigation Section of the Crown Solicitor’s Office, where he undertook diverse work and represented government in various courts and tribunals.

He was appointed South Australian WorkCover Ombudsman in 2008 and South Australian Ombudsman in December 2014. As the State’s Ombudsman, Mr Lines has overseen many significant and high profile investigations into state agencies and local government. His emphasis is to drive improvement in public administration, especially in relation to the integrity and fairness of decision making while at the same time keeping state and local government agencies accountable.

Mr Lines is a member of the Australian and New Zealand Ombudsman Association (ANZOA), a professional association and peak body for ombudsmen.

Paul Alsbury has a Bachelor of Business (Accountancy) (QUT), a Bachelor of Laws (QUT) and a Master of Laws (QUT), and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He was originally admitted in Queensland as a Solicitor in 1999.

Paul has around 20 years’ experience in the Queensland public sector, including as a Crown Prosecutor with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, Executive Director (Legislation and Standards) with the Department of Transport and Main Roads, and Executive Director (Legal Division) with the Queensland Police Service. He most recently held the position of Senior Executive Officer (Corruption) at Queensland’s Crime and Corruption Commission.

Paul commenced his role as the Deputy Independent Commissioner Against Corruption on 14 February 2022.