SA’s most powerful public servant Nick Reade announces shake-up of government’s top department

A huge change in SA’s premier government department has been announced, with several new executive roles created.

A new deputy chief executive role and numerous other executive positions will be created in South Australia’s main government department.

Department of Premier and Cabinet boss Nick Reade has announced his first shake-up of the office since becoming chief executive in February.

In an internal email to department staff, the state’s most powerful bureaucrat said the changes were made after “significant consultation and reflection”.

“I have made the decision to appoint a deputy chief executive and a number of additional executive roles to help me drive our strategic agenda,” Mr Reade said in the email.

The deputy chief executive role will be advertised internally and externally, with applications closing on July 2.

“The deputy chief executive role will support me in leading the department and delivering on the Premier’s specific priorities including his cultural and communities agenda and Lot Fourteen,” Mr Reade, who is also the chairman of the Covid Transition Committee, said.

The restructure is Nick Reade’s first major shake-up to the department since taking charge in February.

The department, with an annual budget of nearly $370m, is the central agency of SA’s government.

It is responsible for the government’s IT networks, cyber security, QR Covid Safe Check-in system and communication with the public.

Premier Steven Marshall said the department had a deputy chief executive until three years ago.

“Then there was a restructure and now we’re putting that position back into place,” he said.

Mr Marshall said the new position would help his government focus on delivering more efficient customer service experiences by becoming “more digital”.

Mr Reade, the former chief executive of Bank SA, also announced the creation of a new Strategy and Policy division, which will require three new executive positions.

The division will include a new Technology Strategy and Policy team, which will oversee the government’s technology initiatives.

In the email, Jayne Flaherty was announced as executive director of strategic communications – another newly-created role within the department.

Jayne Flaherty will move from the Department of Human Services to become the Department of Premier and Cabinet’s new executive director of strategic communications.

Her appointment is understood to have raised eyebrows among other government departments, because the opening was never advertised.

Ms Flaherty was the head of corporate affairs at Bank SA between 2013 and 2018.

A department spokesman said the decision was made after “consultation across government to identify potentially suitable candidates”.

Ms Flaherty, currently director of communications at the Department of Human Services, will begin her new role on July 5.

“These appointments will expand the department’s ability to develop and deliver comprehensive economic, population and technology strategies and policies,” the department spokesman said.