Former TAFE NSW managing director Steffen Faurby says he’s unaware why he was fired

A public servant who was promised a $420,000 golden parachute when he was sacked under mysterious circumstances has broken his silence.

A former managing director of TAFE NSW who was promised a $420,000 payout after he was sacked has said there was nothing wrong with his performance.

Steffen Faurby has fronted a parliamentary inquiry into his December sacking, giving his version of events for the first time.

Mr Faurby was on a $575,000 salary – more than what the Premier is getting paid – and was sacked less than two years into the job.

The firing was ordered by then-tertiary education minister Geoff Lee in one of his final acts in the portfolio before it was taken away from him in a ministerial reshuffle.

Mr Faurby said he was never given a reason for being fired but said it had nothing to do with his performance being unsatisfactory.

“The minister has not spoken to me about his decision to terminate my employment either before, at the time, or anytime thereafter … and did not give any reason,” Mr Faurby said.

Steffen Faurby (left) and Geoff Lee (right) have not spoken since Mr Faurby was sacked.

Mr Faurby said he accepted the minister had the right to fire him without cause but said it would have been “decent” to give an explanation.

“In my view, it is common decency to be given a reason for your termination … by the person who makes the decision,” he said.

Mr Faurby also said there were several points of disagreement between himself and Mr Lee.

He said it appeared Mr Lee didn't appreciate his leadership style, which he said was about “playing to people’s strengths, empowering them to do a great job”.

He described Mr Lee’s style as “a top down … command and control style”.

He also said he and the minister disagreed on such things as priorities and enrolment targets, leading to “robust discussions”.

Mr Lee told NCA NewsWire it would be inappropriate to comment on individual employment cases.

“Throughout my ministerial career overseeing multiple agencies, I’ve always expected the highest standards from senior bureaucrats — the taxpayers of NSW deserve nothing less,” he said.

The current Tertiary Education Minister, Alister Henskens, dismissed questions about the termination when he fronted budget estimates last month, saying it was “completely irrelevant” and a matter of “historical interest only”.

“I am not interested in ancient history,” he said.

Originally published as Former TAFE NSW managing director Steffen Faurby says he’s unaware why he was fired