DPC is led by the Secretary who reports to the Premier and acts as the head of the VPS. The department is managed by a senior executive group comprising the head of each of DPC’s groups. The administrative office heads are also key senior executives of the DPC portfolio.
Secretary
Jeremi Moule was appointed as the Secretary of DPC in October 2020. Before this role, Jeremi was Deputy Secretary of Governance Policy and Coordination at DPC, a position he held from August 2018.
Jeremi has held various executive positions in the Victorian and South Australian public services over a 17-year period. He started his career as a journalist and was the CEO of a registered training organisation. Jeremi lives in Bendigo and has worked extensively in regional Victoria.
He holds a journalism degree from the University of South Australia and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Deputy Secretary,Cabinet, Legal and Governance
Joshua Puls MVO commenced as Deputy Secretary, Cabinet, Legal and Governance in August 2023.
Josh’s previous role in the Victorian Government was Official Secretary to the Governor of Victoria between 2016 and 2022. Prior to this appointment, Josh was Executive Director of the Cabinet Office in DPC, after having overseen the Anzac Centenary when he was Director of DPC’s Veterans Branch.
Josh holds qualifications in law, arts, education and theology as well as the degree of Executive Master of Public Administration from the Australia and New Zealand School of Government and the University of Melbourne. He has a Certificate IV in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Miriam Holmes was Acting Deputy Secretary, Cabinet, Legal and Governance from 1 July to 8 August 2023. Miriam’s substantive position is Executive Director and General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel, DPC.
Deputy Secretary, Economic Policy and State Productivity
Jason Loos PSM commenced as Deputy Secretary, Economic Policy and State Productivity in June 2023.
Previously, Jason was Deputy Secretary at the Department of Treasury and Finance, where he was responsible for providing strategic commercial, financial and risk management advice to the Victorian Government.
Jason has over 20 years’ experience in the commercial structuring and delivery of infrastructure projects, including extensive experience in delivering Public Private Partnerships and the corporate governance oversight of significant Victorian Government business enterprises.
Jason has a Master of Business Administration from RMIT and an honours degree in economics from Monash University.
Deputy Secretary, First Peoples – State Relations
Terry Garwood PSM commenced as Deputy Secretary, First Peoples – State Relations in July 2023.
Terry has been an officer of the Victorian and Australian public services for over 40 years. Previously, Terry was the Deputy Secretary, Land Services in Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning.
Terry has been responsible for health, aged care, disability services, child protection, public housing programs, Freight and logistics, and Aboriginal Affairs.
Terry has served on the board of the Museum of Victoria for 9 years and the Centenary of Federation Committee for 5 years and is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. He was appointed as a Director of the Ports Victoria Board on 1 October 2022.
Terry was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2018 for distinguished public service. He was also inducted into the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll in 2018. Terry was recognised for his leadership, passion and commitment to community.
Elly Patira was Deputy Secretary, First Peoples – State Relations until July 2023, when she was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Territory Aboriginal Investment Corporation.
Deputy Secretary, Housing Statement Implementation
Jeroen Weimar commenced as Deputy Secretary, Housing Statement Implementation in February 2024. He is responsible for driving forward the Victorian Government’s ambitious Housing Statement, working closely with the housing construction industry to deliver the homes that Victorians can enjoy for generations to come.
Jeroen has held various senior positions across the Victorian Public Service, including as Commander of Victoria’s COVID Response and CEO for Public Transport Victoria and VicRoads. With a post graduate degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the London School of Economics, Jeroen began his career in management consulting, working with clients in the United Kingdom, Europe and the United States.
He then held several high-profile roles over ten years with Transport for London including as Chief of Staff and Chief Operating Officer (Surface Transport). Following his time with Transport for London, Jeroen served as Managing Director, UK Transport for Serco Group plc, and then Chief Operating Officer — UK Bus at FirstGroup plc.
Deputy Secretary, Social Policy and Interdepartmental Relations
Brigid Sunderland commenced as Deputy Secretary, Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations in April 2024. Brigid has had an extensive public sector career with a strong emphasis on social policy and service delivery reform and outcomes.
Prior to joining DPC, Brigid was Secretary of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) and before that served in executive positions in the Youth Justice division of the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS).
Brigid has previously held senior positions in both the public and private sectors including the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department. Prior to joining the public sector, Brigid practised as a lawyer in several international and Australian law firms.
Brigid’s notable achievements include leading the statewide roll out of the Family Violence Support and Safety Hubs, overseeing the design and implementation of Victoria’s best practice multi-agency risk assessment framework and leading significant reforms to Victoria’s youth justice system.
Brigid holds degrees in Law and Political Science and a Masters of Public Policy and Management. In 2017 she was named as part of the Top 50 Public Sector Women by the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria) and in 2022, a Victorian Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.
Emma Cassar PSM was Deputy Secretary, Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations during the reporting period until 22 March 2024.
Lucy Toovey was Acting Deputy Secretary, Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations during the reporting period from 1 to 21 July 2023. Lucy substantively serves as an Executive Director with Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations.
Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel
Jayne Atkins commenced as the Chief Parliamentary Counsel of the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel on 19 January 2022. From 2013 she was Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel and Subordinate Legislation Manager, having joined OCPC in March 1991 after 4 years at the State Trustees as a solicitor. Jayne has over 30 years' experience drafting bills and drafting, settling and advising on subordinate legislation, where she has a particular interest.
Official Secretary of the Office of the Governor
Jonathan Burke commenced as the Official Secretary of the Office of the Governor in August 2022. Jonathan’s experience spans the government, not-for-profit and tertiary education sectors. His government experience includes several appointments in DPC and DJCS.
Jonathan has served four Governors of Victoria, including as Deputy Official Secretary and now, Official Secretary.
Jonathan holds degrees in Arts and Law from Monash University and has an Executive Master of Public Administration from the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) and the University of Melbourne.
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