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organisational structure.
Our divisions
Office of Industrial Relations
The Office of Industrial Relations is responsible for regulatory frameworks, policy advice and compliance activities for workplace safety, electrical safety, industrial relations and workers’ compensation—to make Queensland work and workplaces safer, fairer and more productive.
Policy, Performance and Planning
Policy, Performance and Planning drives strategic direction across the department, from early childhood to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education. The division has oversight of grants, supports statutory bodies, delivers education-related strategic policy and intergovernmental relations functions, coordinates major internal and external research and reviews, and leads the development of the portfolio’s legislative instruments, performance monitoring and reporting functions, governance, risk and planning.
State Schools
The division of State Schools supports the work of 1,249 Queensland state schools, preparing young Queenslanders with the knowledge, understanding, skills and values to live fulfilling, productive and responsible lives. State Schools supports regional and school planning, improvement and operations to ensure that every student has access to quality learning opportunities and engages purposefully in their learning.
Early Childhood and Education Improvement
Early Childhood and Education Improvement (ECEI) is focused on every child making a confident and positive start. ECEI supports the delivery of early childhood education and care services, education improvement and provides strategic leadership in the development and implementation of policy, funding and regulatory frameworks that shape the early childhood education and care sector in Queensland.
People and Executive Services
People and Executive Services (PES) was established in March 2020, providing leadership and oversight across the department’s human resources, strategic communications and engagement, and legal services areas. PES is focused on supporting a diverse, capable and confident workforce that designs and delivers responsive services as our Queensland population grows and technology changes how we learn, work and live.
Corporate Services
Corporate Services supports the work of business units and schools by delivering high-quality services across corporate procurement, finance, information technologies and infrastructure services functions.
Note: Early Childhood and Education Improvement Division—formerly Early Childhood and Community Engagement Division.
Our governance
Our Executive Management Board
The Executive Management Board consists of the Director-General, Deputy Directors-General of each division, a Regional Director and the Chief Finance Officer. As at 30 June 2020, the following senior executives were in these roles:
Tony Cook PSM
Director-General
Tony began his career in Queensland and is a registered primary school teacher with a focus on early childhood education. Prior to joining the department in April 2018, Tony was the Associate Secretary for Schools and Youth with the Australian Government's Department of Education and Training.
In October 2013, Tony was made an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders and in January 2014 he was awarded a Public Service Medal (PSM) for driving school policy and funding reform in Australia.
Craig Allen
Deputy Director-General, Office of Industrial Relations and A/Deputy Director-General, People and Executive Services
Craig has held senior management positions for more than 23 years, with a government career spanning more than 40 years. Craig has a strong commitment to leading strategy that improves employee engagement, organisational performance and service delivery. Craig is strongly committed to implementing the Best Practice Review recommendations and delivering on the Office of Industrial Relations’ vision for healthy, safe and productive working lives and communities for people in Queensland.
Craig has tertiary qualifications—with a Bachelor of Education from the Tasmanian College of Advanced Education and postgraduate qualifications in public administration from Flinders University.
Annette Whitehead
Deputy Director-General, Policy, Performance and Planning
As Deputy Director-General, Policy, Performance and Planning, Annette is responsible for driving a strategic approach to policy development across early childhood, schooling and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education, at a state and national level. Annette has extensive experience in developing and driving social policy initiatives, planning, program development and legislative reform in the public sector, non-government and private sectors, including in ageing, disability, child care and the Department of the Premier and Cabinet
Peter Kelly PSM
Deputy Director-General, State Schools
As Deputy Director-General of State Schools, Peter is responsible for providing strategic leadership to Queensland state schools. Peter is committed to helping every child succeed in a safe, supportive environment and brings a thorough knowledge of the day-to-day operations of Queensland state schools based on over 30 years of education experience.
Peter has held a multitude of positions within the department including classroom teacher, Head of Department, Deputy Principal, Principal and Executive Principal; as well as Regional Director North Queensland where he worked with 110 schools and over 250 early childhood education and care services across the region.
Sharon Schimming
Deputy Director-General, Early Childhood and Education Improvement
With over 30 years experience in education, Sharon provides strategic leadership in the development and implementation of the policy, program, funding and regulatory frameworks that shape the early childhood education and care sector in Queensland. Sharon works in partnership with a wide range of stakeholders to ensure children have access to safe, inclusive and nurturing early learning environments regardless of their location or life circumstance. Sharon is also responsible for the department’s Education Improvement Branch (EIB). EIB supports continuous improvement, accountability and system-wide collaboration across Queensland’s early learning settings, state schools and education centres.
Duncan Anson
A/Deputy Director-General, Corporate Services
In this role Duncan oversees the delivery of infrastructure, information technology, finance and procurement services. Duncan was appointed as the Department’s Chief Finance Officer in 2018. Prior to joining the Department of Education Duncan served as the Chief Finance Officer in two other Queensland government departments. Duncan is a Fellow of CPA Australia, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, holds a Bachelor of Business and is Chair of the Queensland Public Sector CPA Committee.
Kim Fredericks
Regional Director
Kim is currently the Regional Director of the Central Queensland Region. With a career spanning over 37 years, Kim is a former secondary school teacher, school leader and Assistant Regional Director.
Kim has worked in a number of regions across the state and passionately believes it is a privilege to work in the state education system.
Alison Mohr
A/Assistant Director-General, Finance and Chief Finance Officer
Alison provides strategic financial advice to the department's chief executive, and has overall leadership of the department's finance strategy, functions and systems through her delegated responsibilities under section 77 of the
Financial Accountability Act 2009 (Qld).
Alison has over 15 years experience in the Queensland public sector and commenced with the Department of Education in December 2018. Prior to this, Alison served as the Chief Finance Officer in one other Queensland government department. Alison is a member of CPA Australia. She also holds a Bachelor of Electronic Commerce (Accounting) from the Queensland University of Technology.
A list of our governance committees can be found at
Appendix F (PDF, 310KB).