Former Covid commander Jeroen Weimar to lead Victoria’s transport and planning department

Former Covid and Commonwealth Games boss Jeroen Weimar — now overseeing the state’s response to the housing crisis — has been appointed to another top taxpayer-funded job.

Jeroen Weimar is viewed within Labor as Jacinta Allan’s ‘Mr Fix-it’. Picture: David Crosling

Victorian journeyman bureaucrat Jeroen Weiman has been confirmed as the new boss of the state’s transport and planning department.

Mr Weimar, who is viewed within Labor as Premier Jacinta Allan’s “Mr Fix-it”, is currently in charge of the government’s housing policy implementation in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

The announcement comes after the Herald Sun revealed he had been earmarked for the role, which was met with mixed views from the public and the business sector.

On Friday, a statement issued by Ms Allan confirmed he would start in the role from 27 January 2025.

Jeroen Weimar has had a series of high-profile public roles with the Labor government, including as chief executive of Commonwealth Games 2026 in Victoria. Picture Getty

“Jeroen has significant logistical and leadership experience in transport and planning. I look forward to the energy and enthusiasm he will bring to the task of leading teams that will deliver the ongoing transformation of the transport network and the Government’s agenda to build more homes,” Ms Allan said.

“Over the last ten years, Jeroen has held roles as Head of Transport Services at the Department of Transport, CEO of VicRoads, and CEO of Public Transport Victoria, where he worked to deliver a more reliable and accessible network for Victorians. He was previously Chief Operating Officer of Transport for London.”

Mr Weimar is currently in charge of the government’s housing policy implementation in the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

He was parachuted into that role after his previous $620,000-a-year job — as the chief executive of Commonwealth Games 2026 in Victoria — disappeared due to the state cutting up its own contract for that event.

Jeroen Weimar regularly appeared alongside Daniel Andrews for marathon press conferences during the Covid years. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Weimar will take over from the current secretary of the Department of Transport and Planning, Paul Younis, who retires at the end of this year.

He has been given the nod ahead of a field of other experienced candidates that included former secretary of the Queensland premier’s department, Mike Kaiser, and VLine chief executive, Matt Carrick.

Mr Weimar played a key role in the transport bureaucracy last decade, when Ms Allan was transport infrastructure minister, but shot to prominence when he was installed as the Covid-19 response commander in 2020.

He began to front marathon press conferences alongside former premier Daniel Andrews, and was lauded internally for his communications skills.

His recent role leading the implementation of the so-called Housing Statement means he is familiar with key planning policies that are likely to define Ms Allan’s time as premier.