The DGS Executive Leadership Team (ELT) comprises the Secretary, Deputy Secretaries, and the CEO of Service Victoria. The ELT ensures services are shaped around customer experience and promotes a culture of putting customers first.
Jo de Morton, Secretary of Government Services
Prior to this role, Jo was the founding CEO of Service Victoria. She took it from a technology startup to an award-winning digital platform for government services. Under her leadership, Service Victoria played a crucial role supporting the Victorian Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Before this, Jo was the CEO responsible for establishing the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC). She has held deputy secretary roles at Department of Premier and Cabinet and Department of Primary Industries.
Jo has consistently demonstrated a commitment to customer service delivery and government service reform. She was named one of the Top 50 Public Sector Women in 2021 by the Institute of Public Administration Victoria.
Lisa Gandolfo, Deputy Secretary
Lisa Gandolfo commenced as Deputy Secretary at DGS on 29 July 2024. She has responsibility for Local Government Victoria, Emergency Coordination and Resilience and Local Government Emergencies, and Consumer Affairs Victoria.
Lisa has more than 20 years’ experience in the Victorian Public Sector, working in public policy roles in the Department of Justice and Community Safety and the Department of Education. Lisa has led transformation projects, such as the Victorian Child Information Sharing Scheme and Child Link.
Gayle Porthouse, Deputy Secretary
Gayle Porthouse commenced as Deputy Secretary at Department of Government Services on 1 January 2023. She has responsibility for shared government services.
Prior to this, Gayle was Deputy Secretary, Corporate and Government Services at the Department of Treasury and Finance. She was responsible for the efficient delivery of financial, people, information, legal, planning, procurement and technology services. She was also responsible for the management of whole-of-Victorian Government services provided to departments and agencies.
Gayle has more than 30 years' experience in the public service across several government departments, including Department of Premier and Cabinet. During this time Gayle has led significant reform activities across the public sector.
She was named one of the Top 50 Public Sector Women in 2018 by the Institute of Public Sector Administration Victoria.
John Batho, Deputy Secretary
John Batho is Deputy Secretary, Digital Transformation with responsibility for Consumer Affairs, regulation policy, Dispute Services, Births Deaths and Marriages and the Worker Screening Unit.
Prior to DGS, John was Deputy Secretary, Consumer Affairs, Liquor, Gaming and Dispute Services in the Department of Justice and Community Safety. John led the Victorian Government’s engagement and response to the Royal Commission into the Casino Operator and Licence.
John also has experience as Acting Deputy Secretary, Fairer Victoria (DPC) where he led whole-of-government initiatives to promote diversity, fairness and inclusion. Earlier in his career, John held a variety of roles in the VPS, spanning social policy, legal, governance, intergovernmental relations and industrial relations.
Darren Whitelaw, CEO Service Victoria (Acting)
Darren Whitelaw has been Service Victoria’s Chief Customer Officer since 2017. He was appointed to the role of Acting Chief Executive Officer in December 2022.
Before Service Victoria, Darren held leadership roles at Department of Justice and Community Safety, Department of Planning and Community Development and Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Darren delivered the Victorian Government’s first smartphone app in 2010 and established the first social media command centre. He is a passionate advocate for digital inclusion. He holds an undergraduate degree in Communications, a Masters in Public Administration and studied at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
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