Interim Working Group up and running
The Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet announced this week appointments to the Interim Working Group to assist in the development of Australia’s OGP National Action Plan
Four of the six non government positions are filled by Network members Coghill, Szuminska, Timmins and Zirnsak.
The first meeting of the group will take place in Canberra on Monday 5 September.
From the announcement:
“The civil society representatives were selected from an extremely competitive field, reflecting the deep level of ongoing public engagement with Australia’s process to join the OGP. They bring a wide breadth of experience across a range of fields relevant to open government, and represent a diverse range of interests and sectors.
Meet the civil society representatives:
- Ms Fiona McLeod SC (co-chair): Fiona is the President-elect of the Law Council of Australia and has also previously served as the President of the Australian Bar Association, as Chair of the Victorian Bar, and as a member of the Law Council Executive Board. Fiona brings considerable leadership experience to her role as co-chair, and substantial experience working with government, corporate and non-government sectors. The Law Council engages closely in parliamentary and public sector reform processes related to transparency and strengthening the integrity of public offices.
- The Hon. Dr Ken Coghill: Ken is an Associate Professor at Monash University with research and teaching interests in government accountability and governance. He is also a former Member of Parliament in Victoria, and Deputy Chair and Treasurer of the Accountability Round Table, which advocates for transparency as a key factor of accountability. Ken has written extensively on Commonwealth, State and Territory government accountability and parliamentary reforms.
- Mr Mark Zirnsak: Mark is the Director of the Social Justice Unit of the Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, Uniting Church in Australia. In this role, he has advocated for transparency, accountability and open government, including through his involvement in Publish What You Pay Australia, Transparency International Australia and as a member of the Secretariat for the Tax Justice Network in Australia.
- Ms Maree Adshead: Maree is the CEO of the Open Data Institute Queensland, a node of the international Open Data Institute. She has held a number of industry representative roles, including as past Chair of the Technology Council of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry Queensland, and past Chair of the Australian Information Industry Association Queensland. ODI Queensland promotes the release of public data to increase accountability, improve efficiencies, and to drive technological innovation.
- Mr Peter Timmins: Peter is the Interim Convener of the OGP Civil Society Network, a coalition of civil society organisations and individuals committed to making government work better through transparency, participation and accountability. He also has considerable experience engaging with freedom of information and privacy laws, including as a member of the Australian Law Reform Commission Advisory Committee for the Inquiry into Secrecy Laws and Open Government in Australia, and the NSW Information and Privacy Advisory Committee.
- Ms Katherine Szuminska: Kat is the Co-Founder and Director of the OpenAustralia Foundation and also sits on the Steering Committee of the OGP Civil Society Network. The OpenAustralia Foundation uses technologies and tools to encourage public participation in the political process, and to advocate for more transparency and accountability in government. Kat has a strong knowledge of the OGP, having been involved in various international OGP events.
Meet the government representatives:
- Dr Steven Kennedy (co-chair): Deputy Secretary, Innovation & Transformation, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
- Dr Stein Helgeby: Deputy Secretary, Governance & APS Transformation, Department of Finance.
- Mr Iain Anderson: Deputy Secretary, Civil Justice and Corporate Group, Attorney-General’s Department.
- Mr Timothy Pilgrim: Australian Privacy Commissioner and Acting Australian Information Commissioner.
- Ms Anne Lyons: Assistant Director-General, Government Information Assurance & Policy, National Archives of Australia.
- Senior executive (TBA): Treasury
The NSW Information Commissioner, Ms Elizabeth Tydd will also be a non-voting jurisdictional member, reflecting the Commonwealth’s desire to build stronger relationships with the states on open government matters.”