Celebrating excellence

At this year’s IPAA Victoria Fellowship Awards and Celebration, we proudly presented the Emerging First Peoples Leader Scholarship and the IPAA National Fellowship, alongside recognising eight outstanding public purpose leaders. They were all recognised for their dedication, innovation and enduring contribution to the Victorian community.  

The evening began with Clare Amies, Chief Executive Officer of genU and IPAA Victoria Board Member, whose professionalism and warmth set the tone for the event. This was followed by a keynote address by Jeremi Moule, Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Jeremi reflected on the enduring challenges and responsibilities of public service. He emphasised that complexity, change, and fiscal pressures have always been part of the job, underscoring the importance of core skills; sound advice, effective implementation, and service delivery.  

Jeremi urged public servants to embrace innovation, maintain purpose, and celebrate success as a counterbalance to negativity, reminding us that “the work we do is important, it has purpose, and it’s worth celebrating.”  

Following the keynote address, each awardee took the stage to share personal reflections on leadership, integrity, and the responsibilities of public service, showcasing the humans behind the work that shapes Victoria.

Kayla Cartledge, Director, First Peoples Energy Transition branch, Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action received the Emerging First Peoples Leader Scholarship. Kayla shared how the strong women in her life have helped her get to where she is, explaining that their guidance and encouragement have been pivotal in not only shaping her leadership style, but also influenced her personal growth, fostering values that continue to guide her journey. 

Paul Broderick, Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer, State Revenue Office Victoria, our new National Fellow, reflected on his leadership journey, emphasising values of respect, fairness, and hard work instilled by his parents. He expresses pride in serving as Commissioner of State Revenue and highlighted the strong culture and dedicated team at the State Revenue Office. Paul views tax collection as a vital public service, noting its often-misunderstood reputation, and feels privileged to contribute to the state’s wellbeing. 

Ro Allen, Victorian Equal Opportunity and Human Rights Commissioner, Victorian Equal Opportunity & Human Rights Commission,  reflected on the progress toward inclusion and representation in the public sector. Their story about a young non-binary Aboriginal person thanking them for visibility underscored how far Victoria has come, from binary-only forms to today’s inclusive workplaces that celebrate diversity and authenticity. 

Deb Brown, Executive Director of Water Sector Strategy and Partnerships at Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action, drew on two defining moments in her career: working through the Millennium Drought and leading the Water is Life roadmap. Both experiences reinforced her belief that great policy comes from listening to diverse voices, grounding decisions in community connection, and sharing information transparently. 

Dr Amanda Caples, Lead Scientist, Department of Jobs, Skills, Industry and Regions, highlighted how building capability, not just infrastructure, is central to sustaining innovation. She spoke proudly of the skills and networks developed across Victoria’s science and technology hubs, enabling local teams to collaborate and deliver results much faster than their international counterparts. 

Nicola Farray, Executive Director, Governance and Statewide Programs, the Department of Health, credited her early experience at the Victorian Public Sector Commission for sparking her lifelong passion for policy and governance. She described inquiry, curiosity and problem-solving as the hallmarks of effective public service leadership. 

Gavin Freeman AFSM, Fire Rescue Commissioner at Fire Rescue Victoria, emphasised values-led decision-making in high-pressure situations. Transitioning his organisation from rules-based to values-based leadership, Gavin outlined how aligning evidence, experience and values enables better outcomes for teams and communities alike. 

Jonathan Kaplan, Social Services Regulator, shared that his leadership philosophy centres on purpose, always returning to the “why.” For Jonathan, the goal of reform is not change for its own sake, but creating fairer, more effective systems that serve people and communities. 

Dr Rebecca Kogios PSM, Executive Director, Forensic Services Department, Victoria Police, described the profound link between forensic science, justice and trust. She discussed her team’s work in increasing transparency by providing evidence and documentation to explain forensic findings, is helping to strengthen integrity and confidence in the justice system. 

Finally, Fiona McLeay, CEO and Commissioner at the Victorian Legal Services Board and Commission, who was unable to attend, gave her speech through board member Lynne Williams. Fiona urged public servants to embrace both legislative duty and creative problem-solving. Quoting mentor Esther Lardent, she called for “administering for impact,” reminding attendees that effectiveness is as vital to trust as impartiality. 

The evening closed with warm acknowledgements and reflections on the value of the public purpose sector. IPAA Victoria CEO, Amanda Stevens, thanked speakers, board members and departing board members for their contributions, noting how our new Fellows’ stories really brought the evening to life.  

View the full photo gallery.

You can learn more about our Awardees here. 

Thanks to the Victorian Public Sector Commission for partnering with us for this event.