Senior management

Andrew Garner

Director-General and acting Queensland Government Chief Information Officer

The head of the Queensland Government Chief Information Office provides quality advice to ministers, directors-general, chief information officers and senior executives on information and communication technology (ICT) issues, service delivery and governance. The office focuses on ensuring that Queensland Government is positioned to invest wisely, prepare for the future and reduce the risk of project failure.

Andrew has more than 24 years’ professional advisory experience in assisting and leading major reform programs within the public and private sector.

He has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Southern Queensland and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and the Institute of Internal Auditors.

Andrew most recently worked at Ernst & Young as their Lead Queensland Government Partner, as well as leading the Queensland Advisory Practice.

Andrew has, as part of Ernst & Young’s engagement by the relevant agencies, been Strategic Reform Advisor to the Department of Public Works upgrade/re-implementation of the Ellipse system for QBuild.

He has also acted as a Program Director responsible for the provision of services and advice to support Queensland Rail’s major corporate process, people and system reform program. 

Dr Geoff Garrett AO

Queensland Chief Scientist
FTSE PrEng

Dr Geoff Garrett was appointed Queensland Chief Scientist in January 2011 to provide high-level, strategic advice to the state government on the role of science, research and innovation in achieving the state government's priorities.

A Cambridge graduate in metallurgy and an academic for 13 years, Geoff led 2 of the world's major national research institutions—CSIR in South Africa (1995–2000) and CSIRO in Australia (2001–2008).

A former South African 'Engineer of the Year' (1999), he is a recipient of the Centenary Medal for service to Australian society through science. In June 2008 he was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Queen's Birthday Honours List.

Further biographical information is available on the Queensland Chief Scientist's website.

Dr Christine Williams

Assistant Director-General, Science Delivery Division

Dr Christine Williams is the Assistant Director-General of the Science Delivery Division in the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts (DSITIA).

In leading the Science Delivery Division, Christine’s focus has been on improving the use of science to inform policy and decision-making both within her department and elsewhere in government and the community.

Before her current position, Christine held a number of senior positions in Queensland Treasury, including Director of Economic Policy and Assistant Government Statistician (Economics). In these positions, again a focus of her work was to improve the use of information in policy and decision making.

She was previously an academic at Queensland University of Technology and the University of Queensland, where she taught statistics and econometrics. Christine is an economist by training with a Doctor of Philosophy from the University of Queensland and a Master of Philosophy from Oxford University.

Darren Crombie

Deputy Director-General, Innovation and Science Development Division

Darren is Deputy Director-General, responsible for a group that connects business, innovation, science and technology to improve Queensland’s productivity growth and create jobs.

The group focuses on:

• removing barriers to innovation, commercialisation and business growth
• profiling Queensland’s science, research and innovation capability
• creating networks
• leveraging existing investments and infrastructure.

Before this, Darren held senior positions in the former Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation and the Department of Local Government and Planning, where he was responsible for business innovation, infrastructure and strategic planning and regionalisation work.

He was formerly a senior executive with the federal government and represented Australia on UN and APEC bodies, and was the Australian Capital Territory president of his professional association.

Darren holds degrees in regional and town planning and public administration. He is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Andrew Spina

Deputy Director-General, Government ICT Division
BSc (Comp.)

Andrew Spina transitioned to the role of Deputy Director-General, Government ICT Division of the Department of Science, Information Technology, Innovation and the Arts in April 2012. He performed a similar role from April 2011 in the former Department of Public Works.

In his current role, Andrew has responsibility for information and communication technology (ICT) service delivery within the Queensland Government. Andrew provides strategic leadership to CITEC, Smart Service Queensland, ICT Strategic Sourcing and Queensland State Archives.

Andrew previously led the delivery of ICT services for various government departments, most recently, as Chief Information Officer, Department of Communities.

Andrew has had extensive experience in forming and leading ICT service organisations for multiple agencies and directing significant business and technology transformation programs, in addition to more than 30 years of experience in ICT service delivery.

Mike Burnheim

Assistant Director-General, Shared Services Division
BA, MSocSC (Australian Government)

Since 2003, Mike has played a leading role in the whole-of-government Shared Service Initiative that has transformed corporate service delivery in the Queensland Government.

In March 2003, Mike was appointed to lead the Shared Service Implementation Office and in 2006, was appointed as the Managing Director of the Shared Service Agency.

Mike has 5 years private sector experience and 30 years experience in the public sector (with 22 of these in a corporate services environment).

Previously heading the successful Corporate Administration Agency within Arts Queensland, he has also worked for Queensland Treasury, the Public Sector Management Commission and the Office of the Cabinet within the Department of the Premier and Cabinet.

Mike is a member of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.