Meet Victoria’s new Departmental Secretaries

Tony Bates PSM commenced as Secretary of the Department of Education in 2025. 

As Secretary he has responsibility for the management of the departments $17.8 billion budget and more than 4000 corporate staff to deliver and improve early childhood education and school education services across Victoria. 

Throughout his career, Tony has led state policy advice and coordination in budget and financial strategy and has held senior roles across key portfolios including education, treasury and finance, justice and community safety. 

Tony holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Science and is an Executive Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. He was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2016 for outstanding public service at Victoria Police. In 2019 Tony was inducted as an Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Victorian Fellow. 

Emma Cassar is Secretary of the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS). Emma has more than 25 years’ experience in Australian and international roles, spanning government, private and not-for-profit organisations.  

Emma commenced her distinguished career as a forensic psychologist with Corrections Victoria in 1999. She went on to become General Manager at several male and female prisons in Victoria and held senior executive roles in the not-for-profit and private sectors, including as a Partner at KPMG. She returned to the Victorian Public Service in 2018 and has made a significant contribution in her roles as Commissioner of Corrections Victoria, and Commissioner of COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria. 

Following a transition to the Department of Premier and Cabinet (DPC) in 2023, she was seconded into the Department of Home Affairs as Associate Secretary of Immigration. She returned to DPC as Deputy Secretary of the Social Policy Group, before her appointment as Secretary at DJCS in October 2025. 

Emma holds a Doctorate in Forensic Psychology from the University of Melbourne. 

Matt was appointed Secretary of the Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions in March 2025. 

Prior to this role, he was the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of V/Line, Victoria’s regional rail operator. 

Before joining V/Line, Matt was the CEO of State Trustees, Victoria’s Public Trustee.  Previously, Matt was the Deputy Secretary for Investment and Economic Projects in the former Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources. 

He is an experienced senior government executive with a particular focus on delivering organisational change and building workplace culture. 

Matt holds a double degree in Commerce and Arts from the University of Melbourne and is a Victorian Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. 

Amanda is the Chief Executive Officer of IPAA Victoria, joining the organisation in January 2024.

With over 20 years’ experience in the public purpose sector, Amanda Stevens, a corporate governance lawyer by training, has held several executive and non-executive leadership roles in federal, state and local government, including the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, Victorian Building Authority, Department of Health Covid Response and three consecutive years as the Mayor of the City of Port Phillip.

She is an experienced board chair and director serving on numerous boards with positions including Chair of the South Melbourne Market and a board member of the Australian National Academy of Music and many other community and not-for-profit boards.

Amanda is passionate about the public purpose sector and is committed to representing, empowering and celebrating the interests of its professionals, with a keen focus on integrity and governance, leadership, diversity, mental health and wellbeing.