State Budget Briefing 2025

Chris leads the Department in its role of providing economic, financial and resource management policy advice to the Government. Chris commenced as DTF Secretary in December 2023.

Chris joined DTF as Deputy Secretary of the Economic Division in January 2021. Chris was responsible for the provision of high-level economic and policy advice to Government on productivity, taxation and regulation, along with social, environmental and economic development issues.

Before this, Chris was the CEO of Invest Victoria, and led both the Victorian Government’s approach to investment attraction and the Economic Recovery Mission in response to coronavirus (COVID-19).

Chris’ career includes over two decades in public service in Melbourne, Canberra and internationally, including as Deputy Secretary, Policy and Cabinet in the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet.

In 2011, Chris was appointed Australian Ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris, where he led Australia’s engagement with the OECD and contributed to global best-practice public policy. Following on from his role with the OECD, Chris spent four years with the European Climate Foundation in Berlin, where, as Executive Director, Finance and Economics, he led an international philanthropic strategy on the economic and financial implications and opportunities of the low-carbon transition.

Mary is the founder and principal of DXP Consulting. Through it she provides policy, research, analysis and strategic advice. Education and skilled migration policies, and the labour market conditions and challenges of the professions, are key areas of specialisation. Other foci include gender equity, Indigenous opportunity and business strategy.

In previous roles she headed up the Education Policy function at CPA Australia, held executive in policy positions in the Victorian public service, and worked in policy and economic research roles in New Zealand.

Mary holds an Executive Master’s in Public Administration and an Honours degree in Economics.

David is a former Dean of Business (2004-2009) at Swinburne University and Dean of Social Science (2004-2016) at RMIT University, and he is a life member of the Victorian Council of Social Service.

He has extensive governance experience, including the Board of the Royal Melbourne Hospital (2007-2013), and RMIT University Council (2014-2018; 2021-).

David has followed Victorian state politics and the budget closely, having written about the Cain/Kirner, Kennett, Baillieu/Napthine, and Bracks/Brumby governments. His most recent publication on the Andrews government (Australian Journal of Political Science, 2023) enjoyed for a few months the status of the journal’s most read article.

He has Chaired a number of government advisory committees, most recently the Victorian government’s Social Housing Regulation Review.

David is a regular commentator on social and economic affairs for ABC radio, The Conversation and The Age.

Ian is the Victorian Office Managing Partner for Deloitte, supporting the 300 partners and 4000 Deloitte staff that live and work in Victoria. As Managing Partner for Victoria Ian has broad responsibility for the market strategy and the execution of Deloitte’s industry, sector, relationship, and eminence programs in Victoria. Additionally, he also supports execution of the culture and talent programs in the market.

Professionally Ian is a financial advisory partner with 30 years’ experience supporting both private and public sector clients make complex financial and commercial decisions and navigate difficult financial situations through funding, revenue, cost and operational interventions. He has worked extensively with Victorian Government Departments and Agencies supporting leaders with the financial and commercial aspects of policy design, service commissioning, service performance and financial sustainability, efficiency and effectiveness.