Statement Regarding Secretary of Department of Industry

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian today announced that Simon Smith, Secretary of the NSW Department of Industry, will be moving on after three years’ service in that role and a total of 24 years in the NSW public service.

“During his time as Secretary, the Department of Industry has evolved into the State’s most diverse cluster, helping create conditions for the NSW community to prosper, ensuring we have a highly-skilled workforce, managing our natural resources sustainably and encouraging investment and competition,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Mr Smith has been Secretary of the Department of Industry since July 2015 and had previously been Chief Executive at the Office of Finance and Services. Before that, he held the position of Deputy Secretary at both the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet and the Office of Environment and Heritage.

Minister for Industry Niall Blair said that during Mr Smith’s tenure the Department of Industry has played a key role in creating the conditions to drive the NSW Government’s skills and jobs plan, which has seen the creation of 250,000 jobs since 2015.

“Simon has been a key advisor to me and my fellow cluster Ministers and I thank him for his service over many years to the State,” Mr Blair said.

“His extensive service to the NSW public service over more than two decades has seen him play a critical leadership role for a generation of public servants.”

Mr Smith said: “It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the State across the portfolios of Industry, Finance, Premier and Cabinet, and the Environment, but it’s now time to move on to a new phase of service”.