We help older Australians feel safe and well-looked after with the aged care they receive.
We do this by ensuring that providers:
- are accountable for the quality and safety of care they give
- follow their obligations under the Aged Care Act 2024.
An independent Commissioner, Liz Hefren-Webb, leads our organisation.
Liz reports directly to the Minister for Aged Care and Seniors, The Hon Sam Rae MP.
Meet our Executive Leadership Team below.
View our organisation chart.
We welcome expression of interest requests for members of the team to speak or present at external events.
Liz Hefren-Webb, Aged Care Quality and Safety Commissioner
Liz joined the Commission in January 2025.
Prior to joining the Commission, Liz was the Deputy Secretary Social Policy in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C). This role included leading the Aged Care Review Taskforce and working with agencies on aged care reforms.
Liz has led social policy initiatives across the Commonwealth for almost 30 years.
Before joining PM&C, she was the Deputy Secretary Families and Communities in the Department of Social Services. She had responsibility for policy and programs to support disadvantaged communities, families and children and promote family safety, as well as the National Redress Scheme for people who have experienced institutional child sexual abuse.
Liz was previously the First Assistant Secretary in PM&C, in the Indigenous Affairs Group, responsible for education, community safety, health and wellbeing programs and policy for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.
Liz has also held senior executive positions in the former Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs.
She started her career as a graduate in the former Department of Social Security.
Liz has an Arts degree with Honours in Government from the University of Sydney.
Treasure Jennings, Complaints Commissioner
Treasure joined the Commission on 1 November 2025.
On this day, the Aged Care Act 2024 came into effect and the role of Complaints Commissioner became an independent statutory officer who oversees the complaints handling process for aged care services.
Treasure has extensive experience leading consumer complaints and dispute resolution systems. She was the Chair Commissioner of the Mental Health and Wellbeing Commission in Victoria, the Victorian Mental Health Complaints Commissioner, Disability Services Commissioner and Public Transport Ombudsman.
Treasure has Masters degrees in Dispute Resolution, Ethics and Legal Studies from Charles Sturt University.
Executive Leadership Team
Melanie Metz, Deputy Commissioner Sector Capability and Regulatory Strategy
Melanie (Mel) joined the Commission in March 2025, bringing deep experience in the public service across aged care, the NDIS, social security, Medicare, the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme and the National Redress Scheme.
Prior to joining the Commission, Mel was the Assistant Secretary of the Aged Care Legislative Reform Branch at the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, where she led the development of the Aged Care Act 2024. In addition to policy and delivery roles within government, Mel spent 10 years working as in-house counsel and is admitted as a legal practitioner in the Australian Capital Territory. Her passion is social policy, and social care regulation has been a particular focus in her career.
Mel has a Master of Laws from ANU and Bachelor of Science with Honours (majoring in biochemistry) from La Trobe University.
Mark le Dieu, Chief Operating Officer, Chief Security Officer, Deputy Commissioner Corporate
Mark joined us in June 2024, bringing with him a deep knowledge of APS service delivery as well as a proven track record of establishing and providing corporate systems/support.
Most recently Mark oversaw the Community Grants Hub for the Department of Social Services. The Hub manages around 30,000 grants each year with a combined value of over $10 billion. The grants are mostly across the community and health sector, including aged care.
He has had an extensive career at the SES level in the Australia Public Service (APS), the majority in corporate support or service delivery roles, undertaking senior roles in human resources, business process/systems redesign, change management/reform programs and service delivery.
In the past he has been responsible for all Department of Human Services’ Medicare and Centrelink shopfronts and supporting responses to national disasters and COVID-19.
Mark is passionate about service delivery and how the APS can support communities and those that need assistance.
Mark is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the ANZSOG Executive Fellows Program. He is also a Council member of the Institute of Public Administration Australia, Queensland.
Gary Rake, Deputy Commissioner Regulatory Operations
Gary Rake joined the Commission in May 2025, after serving three years as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Building Codes Board. He has spent almost 30 years in regulatory roles – from frontline customer service and field investigations, through to statutory decision-making, and leading the development of important national reforms. He has worked in the private sector as well as within the Commonwealth, ACT and NSW governments.
Gary was drawn to the Commission by the scale and significance of the Commission’s vision and purpose, the rights-based approach of the new Aged Care Act and the positive impact we have on the lives of older Australians.
He describes himself as a ‘serial-helper’ and values being part of an organisation focussed on the safety and wellbeing of people. Gary is based in the Canberra office. In his spare time, he coaches professional development for community leaders, and volunteers as a weekend surf lifesaver on the south coast of NSW over summer.
Gary holds a Bachelor of Economics, Master of Accountancy and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Dr Mandy Callary, Chief Clinical Advisor
Mandy joined us in July 2024.
Mandy has over 20 years’ experience as a geriatrician – specialising in the medical care, health and well-being of older people.
She has expertise in:
- The assessment and management of frailty - particularly in cognitive disorders and in deprescribing
- Clinical audit
- Models of Care development
- Applied research – particularly in aged and health care service delivery
- Evidence-based clinical practice
- Clinical governance
- The value of lived experience in informing high quality and safe aged care delivery
Mandy has held clinical roles in acute geriatric medicine with SA Health, in geriatric assessment and rehabilitation medicine with Calvary Healthcare and in private practice providing medical care to older people in their own homes and in residential aged care.
Mandy also has 20 years’ experience as a non-executive director with the not-for-profit aged care provider Southern Cross Care (SA NT & Vic) before she commenced work with the Commission.
Mandy continues to work as a clinician within the Division of Rehabilitation, Aged and Palliative Care of the Southern Adelaide Local Health Network.
Peter Edwards, Deputy Commissioner Chief Clinical Advisor Division
Peter became Deputy Commissioner, Chief Clinical Advisor Division in August 2025. Working alongside the Chief Clinical Advisor, this role is instrumental in supporting the development, promotion and embedding of contemporary evidence-based practice throughout the aged care sector.
Peter has been with the Commission since 2022. During this time, he has held leadership roles in the areas of financial and prudential compliance, and compliance and enforcement. He has also held the position of Acting Deputy Commissioner, Regulatory Operations.
Before joining us in February 2022, Peter held leadership roles at the Australian Financial Security Authority. There, he played a lead role in modernising the regulation of personal property securities and personal insolvency.
Peter has worked in senior regulatory, service delivery and oversight roles across the public sector. At the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman, he implemented a national delivery model to improve investigatory functions.
In addition to legal qualifications, Peter has held clinical roles as a registered nurse, midwife and mental health nurse. He is a member of the Institute of Company Directors.
Assistant Commissioners
Sector Capability and Regulatory Strategy
Narelle Cameron, Assistant Commissioner Knowledge Management and Operational Policy
Narelle has worked across a range of agencies in the Federal and ACT governments, with a theme around building capability in communities and workplaces.
Narelle has led large national service delivery teams of contact centre staff, and worked with health and allied health professionals supporting vulnerable social welfare customers and assessing complex medical conditions. Narelle has also worked in child protection, TAFE, operational strategy and human resources roles.
Narelle is passionate about encouraging a growth mindset and empowering people – colleagues, clients and stakeholders. She values transparency, openness to new ideas and continuous improvement that delivers practical outcomes.
Narelle is an active Indigenous ally, committed to growing her own cultural capability and fostering a strengths-based approach to the Commission’s engagement and regulatory work with First Nations older people, workers and providers.
Narelle is drawn to this role by the opportunity to help assure respect and dignity for people accessing aged care, and by the professional calibre and passion of the people who work at the Commission.
Narelle is a life-long learner, has a Masters in Business Administration, is a Certified Human Resources professional and a Jawun alumna.
Bronwen Jaggers, Assistant Commissioner Engagement, Education and Communication
Bronwen joined us in August 2024.
Bronwen has over 28 years’ experience in the public sector across strategic communication, corporate governance and program delivery roles.
Working in the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment, Bronwen delivered a comprehensive redesign and uplift of the department’s stakeholder engagement and communication functions.
Working in the department’s Biosecurity group Bronwen led the department’s communication and media support for a number of biosecurity emergency responses, and more recently, oversaw the implementation of new accountability mechanisms for biosecurity funding.
In earlier roles with the Australian National Audit Office and the Australian Parliament, Bronwen delivered a range of high-profile audit and committee reports, influencing public administration and policy outcomes.
Bronwen has qualifications in journalism and legal studies, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Emma Jobson, Assistant Commissioner Regulatory Strategy and Policy
Emma has significant experience in policy design, program implementation and service delivery in health and social services. Most recently, Emma led the design and implementation of national aged care compliance regulations.
Her more than 10 years of public sector experience includes time as State Manager for the NSW/ACT Office of the Department of Health. In this role, Emma led the implementation of regulation and health care programs across aged and primary health care.
Emma also has expertise in:
- corporate leadership
- organisational redesign
- capacity building
- change management.
Tim O'Mahony, Assistant Commissioner Data, Analytics and Intelligence
Tim has worked with the Commission since 2022, and he leads the Commission's Data, Analytics and Intelligence Group. Tim has extensive leadership experience in regulatory functions, including data, complaints and policy functions, across aged care, health care and education.
Before joining the Commission, Tim worked at the Office of the Commonwealth Ombudsman, where he led the development and operations of the VET FEE-HELP Student Redress Scheme and the Ombudsman's data function.
Tim worked previously at the Australian Commission for Safety and Quality in Health Care where he coordinated the development of health care standards, and in the Aged Care Complaints Resolution Scheme as a complaints manager. Tim has also worked in China and the Philippines in science communication roles. Tim started his career with Questacon - the National Science and Technology Centre, where he delivered science outreach programs across Australia, including remote First Nations communities.
Tim holds qualifications in science communication, public sector management and public health.
Corporate
Shelley Castree-Croad, Chief Risk Officer, Assistant Commissioner Enterprise Governance and Security
Shelley has a passion for governance and a proven record of lifting the performance of highly complex services. Shelley does this through engaging staff, strengthening partnerships, thinking creatively and building leadership capability.
Shelley has extensive executive leadership experience. Before joining us in 2020, Shelley worked as the Chief Operating Officer at Austin Health and Chief Executive Officer at Calvary Health Care Kogarah.
Shelley is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Shelley has served on the Board of the Health Services Association NSW and as an alternate director of the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre.
Shelley has a Master of Health Administration, a Diploma in Professional Studies (Clinical Practice) and an extensive healthcare background in Australia and the United Kingdom.
Emma Connell, Chief People Officer, Assistant Commissioner People and Culture
Emma joined the Commission in December 2024.
Prior to joining the Commission Emma was Assistant Secretary People, Strategy and Safety Branch at the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Emma has led and delivered complex and multi-faceted HR reform projects to improve and enhance workforce capability related to culture, workforce planning, data insights, organisation re-design, corporate learning and development and recruitment.
As the Executive Director Emma is focused on delivering the Commission’s People Strategy and building a well-supported, highly capable, diverse workforce that works together to fulfill the Commission’s vision.
Emma holds a Master of Business Administration (Human Resource Management) and is a Certified Practitioner Human Resources (CPHR) with the Australian HR Institute.
Chris Davis, Chief Financial Officer, Assistant Commissioner Finance and Property
Chris joined the Commission in December 2024. Prior to joining the Commission, Chris was the Chief Financial Officer at the Australian Digital Health Agency.
Chris has extensive experience from nearly 20 years of working in and for the Australian Public Service, leading teams across the end-to-end finance functions within a diverse range of entities. Chris started his career at the Australian Taxation Office, before working with and advising other Commonwealth entities, including the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade, the Department of Finance’s Service Delivery Office, and the National Recovery & Resilience Agency.
As Chief Financial Officer, Chris leads the Commission’s CFO Group that comprises our Finance and Property functions, focused on driving financial sustainability and supporting the Commission’s outcomes and strategies.
Chris has tertiary qualifications in commerce and accounting, and is a member of CPA Australia.
Luke Stines, Chief Digital Information Officer, Assistant Commissioner Digital
Luke joined the Commission in December 2024. Prior to joining the Commission, Luke was with the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing, where he was the Assistant Secretary, Digital Design and Release Branch. Luke is an experienced technology and digital leader with a career spanning over 16 years.
Luke’s expertise lies in leading large, complex ICT programs in government settings, where he has developed a deep understanding of both the technical and strategic aspects of public sector technology initiatives. Luke has also worked across various policy and implementation roles throughout his career.
Luke oversees the Commission’s digital/ICT capability uplift to achieve our operational and strategic priorities.
Regulatory Operations
Scott Rumbold, Assistant Commissioner Audit
Scott joined the Commission in May 2022, bringing over 24 years of experience in the public sector across regulation, audit, compliance, project and risk management roles.
During his time at the Commission, Scott has led the national Compliance team and significant regulatory processes through engagement with providers that have high-levels of non-compliance. This engagement with provider is driven by Scott's motivation to have a positive impact on the lives of older Australians.
Working in the Department of Justice (WA) Scott successfully developed and implemented 2 operational policy frameworks, and a suite of new operational policies for all prisons in Western Australia. This included the implementation of new policies for the management of specific prisoner cohorts including but not limited to Aboriginal, female, trans and intersex prisoners. Scott also led the Department of Justice's prison and court monitoring team.
In earlier roles with the Department of Communities (WA), Scott developed and implemented the Department’s Integrity Strategy and Framework and their corruption prevention and education capability.
Rob Ghali, Assistant Commissioner Compliance and Enforcement
Rob joined the Commission in October 2025.
Rob has experience in a number of regulatory environments and including significant enforcement and compliance programs at the ACCC, ASIC and the OAIC over 25 or so years. In his more than 15 years at the ACCC, Rob’s senior executive roles included General Manager of the Cartels Branch and NSW Enforcement Office. More recently, at the OAIC, Rob led investigations into the large-scale data-breach investigations which resulted in the first Federal Court actions for privacy breaches of this type. Rob has also worked in the private sector and as a board member.
Rob was drawn by the opportunity to make a real difference in improving the wellbeing of older Australians, the strong sense of purpose and importance of the work of the Commission.
Rob has a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Accountancy from the University of Western Sydney.
Sarah Kelly, Registrar, Assistant Commissioner Registrar
Sarah has over 20 years’ experience working in aged care. A qualified social worker, she has extensive clinical experience in hospital and community settings in both Australia and the United Kingdom.
More recently, her career has been focused on aged care regulation, managing teams resolving complaints and handling compliance matters, leading the Commission’s regulatory strategy development and budget costing work and is now working to establish the new Registry in the Commission, which responsible for the registration and renewal of aged care providers.
Piet Powell, Assistant Commissioner Risk Intake and Inspectorate
Piet joined the Commission in October 2025.
Piet is a seasoned regulatory professional approaching 2 decades of experience in the Commonwealth public service, having commenced her career as an intelligence analyst at the Australian Crime Commission.
Piet spent the last 6 years leading the Compliance Branch at the Clean Energy Regulator. She was responsible for compliance strategy, assessing participant suitability, intelligence, investigations and enforcement. She also oversaw the greenhouse and energy audit functions. All of this work was focused on safeguarding the integrity of the schemes administered.
Piet holds a Master of Laws (Legal Practice) from ANU, an Arts/Law degree from the University of Tasmania, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Complaints Commissioner
Ann Wunsch, Assistant Commissioner SIRS, Provider Performance and Insights
Ann has worked with us since 2019. Ann started as our Executive Director, Quality Assessment and Monitoring Operations.
Her extensive experience in the NSW disability services sector includes:
- managing services in non-government agencies
- serving on non-government boards
- providing policy advice to the NSW Government.
Ann’s past roles include general manager of the education and operations divisions of the former Australian Aged Care Quality Agency and its predecessor, the Accreditation Agency.
Ann spent 10 years as a part-time member of the Guardianship and Protected Estates division of the NSW Administrative Decisions Tribunal.
Ann has been a surveyor for the International Society for Quality and Safety in Healthcare (ISQua) since 2010. Ann represented the Commission on the ISQua Accreditation Council until 2022.
David Pezzanite, Assistant Commissioner Intake and Complaints
David joined the Commission in 2021 and was attracted by the opportunity to be a part of transformative change within the sector and specifically the aged care complaints scheme. David has over 20 years of experience in complaint handling and investigations, having previously worked with the Commonwealth Ombudsman for 16 years, and prior to that in the South Australian Community Legal Sector. David’s passion is to achieve meaningful outcomes for individuals and also broader systemic improvements through complaint resolution processes.
David has a strong interest in social justice initiatives and working with vulnerable members of the community. David has held leadership roles across a range of complaint handling jurisdictions, including Immigration Detention, Social Security, Private Health Insurance, Law Enforcement and the Commonwealth Public Interest Disclosure Scheme. David was also involved in establishing the Homeless Person’s Legal Clinic in South Australia.
David has extensive experience in leading high profile investigations, organisational design and alternate dispute resolution/mediation activities. David also has a keen interest in nurturing leadership skills and developing strong foundations for collaborative and innovative workplaces.
David holds a Bachelor of Science (Psychology & Geophysics/Geochemistry), a Bachelor of Social Policy/Social Work and qualifications in Statistical Research Methodology.
Felicity Walker, Assistant Commissioner Assessment and Early Remediation
Felicity joined the Commission in 2017, when it was previously part of the Department of Health, and has experience in policy roles in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and Families and Community Services, as well as practicing as a lawyer in the aged care sector.
Restoring trust in care is the key driver for Felicity’s dedication to the aged care sector and she is passionate about bringing people together to find practical solutions to problems people care about most.
Felicity holds a Bachelor of Arts (Public Policy) and a law degree.
Chief Clinical Advisor
Loren deVries, Assistant Commissioner Senior Practitioner Behaviour Support
Loren joined us in May 2023. As a nurse practitioner (older person), Loren has years of experience and expertise in supporting older people. This includes people who live with dementia and experience changed behaviours.
Loren brings specialist knowledge and skills in the clinical care of older people. This comes from a combination of formal education, research and clinical experience.
Loren has worked in acute and residential aged care in a range of roles and settings, including rural health. Loren has taught undergraduate and postgraduate students in dementia care. Loren also completed research in Environmental Design and Physical Activity.
Loren is passionate about the care of the older person. People see her as a clinical leader.
Loren has a Bachelor of Nursing, Master of Science (Gerontology and Rehabilitation) and Master of Nursing (Nurse Practitioner).
Paula Pearsall , Assistant Commissioner ‘One-Division’ Operations
Paula joined the Commission in May 2025, bringing with her a passion to improving the welfare and wellbeing of people as they age, along with a strong understanding of the important role that regulators play in that process.
Most recently she has held the role of Agency Executive Director of the Office of the Inspector-General of Aged Care, where she led the establishment and commencement of this new independent oversight body.
Drawing on her legal qualifications, Paula has contributed extensively to multiple Royal Commissions and led a range of strategic policy initiatives within the Department of Health, Disability and Ageing and Commonwealth Treasury.
She also brings deep regulatory experience, having begun her career at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission where she worked in various roles for over 12 years. This experience strengthened her expertise in consumer protection law and regulatory practice, and reinforced her drive to help improve outcomes for everyday Australians, particularly those in most need.
Paula holds an Arts/Law degree from the University of Canberra.
