Leadership
Ms Rachel Hunter PSM
Acting Chair Commissioner
Ms Hunter is a highly distinguished public sector leader and has made a significant contribution to the practice and profession of public administration. She has been recognised for her outcome-focused and values-based leadership and for her contribution to government policy and public sector reform in Queensland.
She is a former Director-General of the Queensland Department of the Premier and Cabinet, with accountability for Ministerial and Ministerial Staff Codes of Conduct. Ms Hunter was Under Treasurer, Queensland Treasury, and has also led the Department of Justice and Attorney-General; the former Department of Education, Training and the Arts; and the former Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Infrastructure and Planning. Ms Hunter has also served as Queensland’s Public Service Commissioner.
Ms Hunter has chaired the Board of Legal Aid Queensland and has served as the Chair of Children’s Health Queensland. She has also served as the Deputy Chancellor of Griffith University.
In 2020, Ms Hunter was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to the community of Queensland.
Ms Barbara Bennett PSM
Acting Commissioner
Ms Bennett has had an extensive career in social policy including serving at senior levels in the Commonwealth Public Service, overseeing the development of policy and programs to support families, children, family safety, multicultural affairs and settlement services.
She played a key role in the delivery of the Prime Minister's Women's Safety package in 2016, overseeing the development of the Third Action Plan which encourages governments to work together to change Australia's attitudes to, and tolerance for violence against women and their children. Ms Bennett worked closely with senior levels of all governments, non-government organisations and stakeholders to respond to the recommendations of the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse – reforms and changes crucial to protecting children from abuse.
From 2019-2023 Ms Bennett served as a Commissioner on the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability.
In 2017, Ms Bennett was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in the area of Social Services.
Ms Mary Brennan
Acting Commissioner
Ms Brennan is an experienced reviewer, having conducted multiple independent and sensitive reviews, principally for the Commonwealth and primarily in the Code of Conduct and Public Interest Disclosure spaces. Cases have included allegations of fraud, wrongful disclosure, conflict of interest and bullying and harassment claims. She has previously been engaged by the PWSS to conduct independent reviews of conduct complaints.
Ms Brennan is a Sessional Senior Member of the Australian Capital Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal, hearing occupational disciplinary matters, reviews of administrative decisions and conducting mediations.
Ms Brennan has also served three terms on the Psychology Board of Australia, and was part of a panel with the Australian Public Service Commissioner for the Senior Executive Service Integrity Masterclass Series.
Mr Joseph Catanzariti AM
Acting Commissioner
Mr Catanzariti AM was a Vice President of the Fair Work Commission from 4 June 2013 to 3 June 2024. Prior to his appointment to the Fair Work Commission, Mr Catanzariti was a senior Partner of Clayton Utz and Practice Leader of the Workplace Relations, Employment and Safety Practice Group for 25 years. He has been a trusted adviser to many of Australia's leading private companies and government departments, advising on all aspects of employment law and workplace relations.
In 2016, Mr Catanzariti was awarded a Member in the Order of Australia AM for significant service to the law, to legal education, to labour and employment relations, and to professional legal bodies.
Mr Adair Donaldson
Acting Commissioner
Mr Donaldson is an experienced lawyer, having 25 years as a partner or director of law firms. Mr Donaldson has been involved in a wide range of matters, including advocating for survivors of child abuse, assisting Veterans, negotiating Australia’s first PFAS ground water contamination settlement, and assisting a group of former child gymnasts advocating for change in the wake of the Athlete A documentary that led to the establishment of the restorative justice scheme by the Australian Sports Commission in 2022.
In 2007, Mr Donaldson developed his first educational resource to educate school leavers about the law. After 17 years, this has evolved into education, consultancy and advocacy work on a national level to sporting bodies, peak bodies regarding gendered violence, schools, universities and workplaces. Mr Donaldson is passionate about using his experience and expertise to resolve conflict, address social issues, and drive cultural change within organisations.
In 2020 he was retained by the Queensland Law Society to write and produce their sexual harassment resource, which is now being used by all law societies in Australia.
Ms Joanne Muller AM
Acting Commissioner
Ms Muller holds qualifications in science, teaching, law, and governance. She is a solicitor who has held numerous statutory appointments. From 1994 to 2014 Ms Muller was a Member, Chair/Deputy Chair of NSW health professional disciplinary tribunals. Since 2000 she has chaired the Committee of Review (NSW).
Ms Muller has also represented health consumer interests in different arenas, currently as a member of the TGA Advisory Committee on Medicines. Ms Muller was an inaugural member of the Physiotherapy Board of Australia, served two terms on the Psychology Board of Australia, and is the current legal member of the Nursing and Midwifery Council of NSW.
Ms Muller is the Chair of the Mining and Petroleum Competence Board (NSW) and also has experience in the regulation of radiation, cemeteries and child safety, the latter being an area of significant volunteering commitment.
Ms Muller is a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for significant service to youth, to community health, and to the law and is on the COVID-19 Honour Roll.
Mr Colin Neave AM
Acting Commissioner
Mr Neave is an Australian business executive and was the Commonwealth Ombudsman from 2012 to 2017. He has previously been engaged by the PWSS to conduct independent reviews of conduct complaints.
Mr Neave has held a number of senior management positions in the public sector, including roles as Deputy Secretary of the Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department, Managing Director of the Legal Aid Commission of New South Wales, Secretary of the Victorian Attorney-General's Department, and Director-General of the South Australian Department of Public and Consumer Affairs.
In 2005, Mr Neave was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for service to public administration and to the banking and finance industry, particularly through dispute resolution.