Kathryn Campbell Renee Leon Australian Public Service Commission Public Servant

Kathryn Campbell’s replacement appointed at the Australian Public Service Commission

New public service chief promises to lead culture shift

Renée Leon was chosen due to her senior leadership experience and her record of delivering transformational outcomes.

The new head of the Australian Public Service Commission is determined to shift the culture of the public service. Renée Leon has been appointed as the new commissioner after Kathryn Campbell retired in September 2022.

The former Department of Social Services secretary told The Mandarin she was determined to lead a shift in the culture of the APS to make it more innovative and responsive to the needs of the community.

“I think we need to be much more outward-looking and much more focused on the needs of the community,” she said.

“We need to be more innovative and more willing to take risks.”

Leon said she was committed to working with other government agencies and the private sector to create a more “joined-up” approach to service delivery.

“I think we need to be much more collaborative and much more willing to share information and resources,” she said.

"We need to be much more focused on outcomes and much more accountable for the results we achieve”

Leon said she was confident she could achieve her goals, describing herself as a “very results-oriented person”.

“I’m not afraid to make tough decisions and I’m not afraid to hold people accountable,” she said.

“I think the APS is a great organisation and I’m excited about the opportunity to lead it into the future.”

Leon has a long and distinguished career in the public service. She has held senior leadership positions in a number of government departments, including the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Finance.

She is also a former chair of the Public Service Commission.

Leon’s appointment was welcomed by the Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU).

“Renée Leon is a highly respected public servant with a strong track record of leadership and innovation,” CPSU national secretary Melissa Donnelly said.

"We look forward to working with her to build a stronger and more effective public service."