View the
current organisational structure.
Our divisions
Early Childhood and Education Improvement
Early Childhood and Education Improvement is focused on every child making a confident and positive start. The division supports the delivery of early childhood education and care services and provides strategic leadership in the development of policy responses, funding and regulatory frameworks that shape the early childhood education and care sector in Queensland. The division delivers school, regional and system reviews, training and capability development programs, and the sharing of effective practice and key learnings system wide.
State Schools
State Schools supports the work of Queensland state schools, preparing young Queenslanders with the knowledge, understanding, skills and values to live productive and responsible lives. The division supports regional and school planning, improvement and operations to ensure that every student has access to quality learning opportunities and can engage in their learning.
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 leads strategic planning and engages in strategic policy development and intergovernmental relations, legislation, governance, research, reporting, monitoring and review of the department's performance framework. This division oversees the management of grants for non-state education and grant programs for the non-school organisation sector, the delivery of services through Home Education and the Australian Music Examinations Board and supports several portfolio statutory bodies.
The division includes the Office of Racing, which provides policy advice and support to the Minister for the administration of the
Racing Act 2002 (Qld). The Office of Racing also delivers State funding to the Racing Queensland Board and works with the Board to support a sustainable racing industry in Queensland.
Infrastructure Services
Infrastructure Services supports the work of regions, business units and schools by providing fit-for-purpose infrastructure to deliver on the Government's education infrastructure investment to build, maintain, improve and renew our schools and facilities across Queensland.
People and Corporate Services
People and Corporate Services provides leadership and oversight across the department’s human resources, information and technologies, strategic communications and engagement and legal services functions. The division is focused on supporting a diverse, capable and confident workforce that designs and delivers responsive services as our population grows and technology changes how we learn, work and live.
Finance and Assurance Services
Finance and Assurance Services is focused on the delivery of our substantial financial investments and commitments. The division incorporates the department's finance and procurement functions, and works closely with Internal Audit to enable end-to-end provision of financial and procurement assurance services.
Executive Management
The Executive Management Board (EMB) is the department’s principal governance decision-making body. EMB sets the department’s strategic direction and priorities, and makes strategic budgetary decisions. Further information about EMB and our governance committees is in
Appendix D.
Michael De'Ath—Director-General
Michael is an accomplished senior executive with over 20 years of public sector leadership experience, including extensive experience in education as a teacher, school principal, Regional Director and Deputy Secretary. Michael has delivered outcomes for Victoria and New Zealand across diverse portfolios and most recently held Director-General positions with the Australian Capital Territory Government's Community Services and Health Directorates.
Michael holds a Masters in Educational Administration (First Class Honours), an Executive Masters in Public Administration, a Bachelor of Education, and a Diploma of Teaching.
Tony James—A/Deputy Director-General, Office of Industrial Relations
Tony has over 40 years' experience in industrial relations and workplace safety in public sector agencies. His previous roles include Executive Director, Industrial Relations; Executive Director, Electrical Safety Office, and as a Senior Director in Workplace Health and Safety Queensland.
Tony holds a Masters in Public Administration and a Bachelor of Economics.
Pia St Clair—A/Deputy Director-General, Policy, Performance and Planning
Pia leads strategic policy development for a broad range of education sectors in Queensland, along with performance monitoring and reporting, risk management, planning and regulatory activities to sustain a high-quality education environment for Queensland’s children and young people.
With over 20 years' experience, Pia has held leadership positions across a number of Queensland government agencies, including the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. She has led significant reforms in areas such as transport, main roads, early childhood education, school education, and training and skills.
Sharon Schimming—A/Deputy Director-General, State Schools
Sharon is responsible for providing strategic leadership to drive and support Queensland state schools, ensuring students develop the knowledge, skills and qualities required for success.
Sharon has more than 30 years’ experience in education, including over 20 years of Principalship, Regional Director North Queensland, and most recently, Deputy Director-General of Early Childhood and Educational Improvement since 2017.
Deborah Dunstone—A/Deputy Director-General, Early Childhood and Education Improvement
Deborah leads the development and implementation of policy, funding and regulatory frameworks to ensure all children from birth to 8 years are engaged in high-quality early childhood programs and services that support learning and development, and successful transitions.
Deborah has more than 30 years’ experience in education, including as Regional Director in Far North Queensland and the Assistant Director-General of Disability and Inclusion.
Duncan Anson—A/Deputy Director-General, People and Corporate Services Duncan provides leadership and oversight for human resources, information and technologies, legal services, and strategic communication and engagement. He has a strong commitment to the delivery of strategic goals in partnership with staff, communities and stakeholders, in order to build a diverse, capable and confident workforce and provide services that are responsive to changes in how we learn, work and live.
Duncan has almost 25 years' experience in the Queensland public sector and is the department’s substantive Chief Finance Officer. Duncan has previously served as the Chief Finance Officer in two other Queensland government departments. He is a fellow member of CPA Australia, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (honours) and holds a Bachelor of Business from the Queensland University of Technology.
Duncan Anson—A/Deputy Director-General, People and Corporate Services
Duncan provides leadership and oversight for human resources, information and technologies, legal services, and strategic communication and engagement. He has a strong commitment to the delivery of strategic goals in partnership with staff, communities and stakeholders, in order to build a diverse, capable and confident workforce and provide services that are responsive to changes in how we learn, work and live
Duncan has almost 25 years' experience in the Queensland public sector and is the department’s substantive Chief Finance Officer. Duncan has previously served as the Chief Finance Officer in two other Queensland government departments. He is a fellow member of CPA Australia, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (honours) and holds a Bachelor of Business from the Queensland University of Technology.
Tooey Elliott—Deputy Director-General, Infrastructure Services
Tooey is responsible for delivering sustainable investment in education to build, maintain, improve and renew our schools and facilities across Queensland.
Tooey is a senior executive with over 25 years’ experience in the built environment and infrastructure industries and has held high level executive positions in federal, state, territory and local governments, including as the General Manager, Planning and Economic Development at the Cross River Rail Delivery Authority. Tooey is a qualified Architect and holds a Bachelor of Applied Science, Built Environment, and a Bachelor of Architecture.
Alison Mohr—A/Chief Finance Officer and A/Assistant Director-General, Finance and Assurance Services
Alison provides strategic financial, procurement and facilities advice to the Director-General and has overall leadership of the department's finance, procurement and facilities strategy, functions and systems through her delegated responsibilities under section 77 of the
Financial Accountability Act 2009.
Alison has over 16 years' experience in the Queensland public sector including as a Chief Financial Officer. Alison is a member of CPA Australia and holds a Bachelor of Electronic Commerce (Accounting).
Lyal Giles—Regional Director
As Regional Director, North Coast Region, Lyal is responsible for providing leadership to Queensland state schools, regulation and partnership with the early childhood sector and working across communities, various levels of government and business whilst ensuring students receive a high-quality education.
Lyal brings a wealth of knowledge being a teacher, teaching principal and Principal of a range of contexts across Queensland. Lyal's experience in leadership extends over 20 years, including roles as Assistant Regional Director, Regional Director North Queensland and Regional Director North Coast.
Lyal brings to the role a passion to improve outcomes for students, particularly for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
More information about our
current executives and our organisational structure is available.