Department of Regional NSW (DRNSW) Secretary Gary Barnes today congratulated Georgina Beattie on her appointment as Deputy Secretary of Mining, Exploration and Geoscience (MEG), following an extensive external and internal recruitment process.
Mr Barnes said Ms Beattie has extensive public sector leadership experience, having served as Executive Director, Strategic Advice and Economics at DRNSW, as well as senior roles at the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, NSW Department of Industry, NSW Environment Protection Authority and NSW Minerals Council.
“Georgina brings a wealth of knowledge to the role, having led work in Regional Strategy, Economic Development, Better Regulation and Environment and Community during the past 15 years,” Mr Barnes said.
Ms Beattie said she is thrilled to be appointed as Deputy Secretary and is looking forward to returning to the resources sector, working to achieve the goals of the NSW Government’s coal and minerals strategies and supporting job creation and investment in regional NSW communities.
“Investors know NSW is open for business and I look forward to leading our efforts to attract more investment to NSW, further strengthening our strong and vibrant resources sector and delivering the economic benefits to people right across the state,” Ms Beattie said.
“NSW’s thriving mining and exploration sector generates more than $31 billion each year and is the lifeblood of many regional communities bringing jobs and economic opportunities.
“The NSW Government’s approach to resources policy and operations has bolstered industry confidence, evidenced by a doubling of exploration licence applications in the past five years while maintaining world class environmental and water protections”
The Mining, Exploration and Geoscience group within the Department of Regional NSW works to develop the State’s mineral and petroleum resources, which includes setting the policy and strategic framework for exploration and mining in NSW, promoting investment in the sector, efficiently regulating access to resources and acquiring and analysing geoscientific data.
Ms Beattie holds a Masters of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Sydney and a Bachelor of Science (Economic Geography) from the University of New South Wales.
Ms Beattie starts her new role on 8 February.
Mr Barnes also thanked Michael Wright for his outstanding leadership of MEG during the past three years.
“We wish Michael all the very best in his new role as Group Deputy Secretary Housing and Property at the Department of Planning Industry and Environment and we’re thrilled he decided to continue working in the NSW public sector,” Mr Barnes said.
