Key Staff
The Secretary
Helen Silver commenced as Secretary of Victoria’s Department of Premier and Cabinet on 1 April 2008. In this capacity she leads the Department, and the Victorian Public Service more generally, in advising and serving the Premier and Government of Victoria. She also chairs the State Co-ordination and Management Council, the principal whole-of-government co-ordinating body of the Victorian Public Service.
Helen has had a long career in the public sector. She was First Assistant Commissioner of the Commonwealth Government’s Productivity Commission between 1993 and 1999, followed by Executive Director, Rehabilitation and Compensation for Victoria’s WorkCover Authority between 1999 and 2002. Between 2002 and 2004 she was Deputy Secretary, Economic and Financial Policy in the Department of Treasury and Finance, Victoria, and then Deputy Secretary, Policy and Cabinet in the Department of Premier and Cabinet between 2004 and 2006.
Prior to rejoining the Department of Premier and Cabinet in 2008, Helen was General Manager, Government Business, Business and Private Banking for the National Australia Bank. In this capacity Helen’s role was to manage and build NAB’s government banking business across Australia. She also sat on the Business and Private Banking Executive.
Helen Silver holds a Masters degree in Economics from Monash University, and is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria). Prior to her return to DPC, she was also a member of the Council of Australian Governments’ Reform Council, established to monitor progress of COAG reforms agreed between the Commonwealth, State Governments and Local Governments.
Email: helen.silver@dpc.vic.gov.au | 
Helen Silver |
Deputy Secretary, Policy and Cabinet Group
Greg Wilson joined DPC in the role of Deputy Secretary, Policy and Cabinet Group on 21 July 2008. Greg joined DPC from the role of Chairman, Essential Services Commission (ESC), the State’s independent economic regulator that makes determinations in relation to prices and access arrangements and oversees the retail energy market in the long-term interests of consumers
Greg first joined the State Government in 1995 as a Senior Economist with the Department of Treasury and Finance. Prior to that, Greg had a number of senior roles in the water industry, at Melbourne Water and City West Water.
Prior to his appointment with the ESC, Greg served as the Deputy Secretary (Water Sector) in the Department of Sustainability and Environment, where he managed the public consultation process and subsequent implementation of a range of policies, projects and reforms under the Government's Our Water, Our Future reform program. He was also a Deputy Commissioner of the Murray Darling Basin Commission.
Greg has a Bachelor of Commerce, with majors in economics and political science, and a Post-Graduate Diploma in economics, both from the University of Melbourne.
Email: greg.wilson@dpc.vic.gov.au |
Greg Wilson |
Deputy Secretary, Government and Corporate Group
Philip Reed joined DPC in the role of Deputy Secretary Government and Corporate Group on 14 July 2008.
Philip has a substantial record of senior leadership in Government with exposure to a number of industry sectors. Philip has worked for the Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian State Governments during his 27 year career as a public servant.
Philip joined DPC from the Department of Sustainability and Environment where he has held the position of Under Secretary, Portfolio Performance since August 2005. This role encompassed overseeing the day to day operations of the Department and managing the working relationships with the Ministers’ offices. In addition, he was appointed as Chief Executive, of the Office of Water within DSE, in February 2007.
Philip is a marine biologist and zoologist, and has worked extensively in natural resource management both as a scientist and policy maker.
Email: philip.reed@dpc.vic.gov.au |
Philip Reed |
Deputy Secretary, National Reform and Climate Change Group
Donald Speagle was appointed Deputy Secretary of the National Reform and Climate Change Group in May 2009, after three years as Chief of Staff to the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Melbourne. Donald has previously had a number of other senior roles in the Department, including as Director, Policy and Strategy Projects. He has also worked in the Department of Justice. Before joining the Victorian Public Service, Donald was a commercial lawyer at the firm now known as Allens Arthur Robinson.
Email: donald.speagle@dpc.vic.gov.au |
Donald Speagle |
Director, Arts Victoria
Penny Hutchinson became Director of Arts Victoria in November 2000, leaving a partnership at BDO Nelson Parkhill. She had previously worked at the Department of Management and Budget and the National Companies and Securities Commission.
Penny has been on a number of government boards, including Medibank Private, Federal Airports Corporation, Victorian College of the Arts and the Australian String Quartet. From March to September 2006 Penny was Acting Deputy Secretary, Sector Improvement Group within the Department of Premier and Cabinet.
Email: penny.hutchinson@dpc.vic.gov.au |
Penny Hutchinson |
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