Working for over 40 years and across many departments in the Australian Public Service, Rex has learnt that great work is about the staff you employ to get the job done. He believes that employers need to be committed to keeping workplaces safe for their employees and meeting the same high standards across Australia.
Building on his experience leading workplace relations policy in the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, one of Rex’s key drivers is to help make a real difference to the working lives of all Australians through the harmonisation of work health and safety laws.
Prior to joining Safe Work Australia in 2009, Rex worked in Papua New Guinea (PNG) as Deputy Secretary for the PNG Department of Prime Minister and National Executive Council under the Australia-PNG Enhanced Cooperation Program. Living and working for four years in PNG gave Rex an insight into the country’s work health and safety standards and an appreciation of the difficulties building the capacity of servants in a developing country.
Being appointed the first CEO of Safe Work Australia, Rex has found that building an agency from the ground up is a rare and rewarding experience and is a highlight of his career.
Rex holds a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics from the University of New England and is a member of the Safety, Rehabilitation and Compensation Commission (SRCC).