Chief Executive Officer

Dr Carl-Magnus Larsson has held the position of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) since 2010. On 24 February 2019, the Governor-General re-appointed Dr Larsson as CEO for a term of three years, commencing on 22 March 2019.

The CEO’s functions (as set out in the ARPANS Act) include:

• regulating Commonwealth radiation sources and facilities
• promoting uniformity of radiation protection and nuclear safety policy and practices across jurisdictions of the Commonwealth, the states and the territories
• providing advice on radiation protection, nuclear safety and related issues
• undertaking research in relation to radiation protection, nuclear safety and medical exposures to radiation
• providing services relating to radiation protection, nuclear safety and medical exposures to radiation
• monitoring the operations of ARPANSA, the Radiation Health and Safety Advisory Council (the Council), the Radiation Health Committee (RHC) and the Nuclear Safety Committee (NSC)
• reporting on the operations of ARPANSA, the Council, RHC and NSC.

Executive Group

The CEO is supported by the Executive Group, which is comprised of three branch heads, three office heads and the Chief Financial Officer. This group provides the CEO with high-level policy and strategic advice and reports on matters relating to their individual business groups. Together, the CEO and the Executive Group form the leadership team responsible for the day-to-day management of ARPANSA.

During 2018–19, the role of Head of Corporate Office and Chief Financial Officer was spilt into two separate roles following the departure of Mr George Savvides. Ms Kathryn Green was appointed acting Head of Corporate Office on 22 October 2018. Mr Niraj Pau was appointed Chief Financial Officer on 17 December 2018.

ARPANSA business groups

ARPANSA has six business groups that deliver components of the agency’s strategies and services. Figure 1 shows ARPANSA’s organisational structure at 30 June 2019.

Office of the CEO

The Office of the CEO (OCEO) facilitates, coordinates and supports the activities of the CEO. The OCEO comprises two sections: Communications, and Government and International Relations. The office leads collaboration and communication with the public and government, coordinates international engagement and provides advice to the agency and government on emerging and strategic issues.

Corporate Office

The Corporate Office comprises four sections: Finance, People and Culture, Digital Technology, and Performance and Governance. The office develops, builds and maintains the internal systems essential for the provision of an effective public service that meets the needs and expectations of the community. The office supports a competent and motivated workforce, and provides effective governance arrangements, agile systems and reliable infrastructure.

Office of the General Counsel

The Office of the General Counsel provides legal advice and strategic support to the agency with regard to all aspects of the agency’s operations and assists the CEO to achieve his statutory mandate. The Office of the General Counsel also provides legal advice and support to all ARPANSA staff to assist them in performing their functions and to ensure that in doing so they are compliant with relevant government policy and legislation.

Radiation Health Services Branch

The Radiation Health Services Branch comprises three sections: Monitoring and Emergency Response, Assessment and Advice, and Radiation Protection Services. The branch conducts hazard identification and exposure analysis of ionising and non-ionising radiation sources, evaluates the health risk to the public, workers and the environment and mitigates health and environmental risks through provision of advice, assessments and services.

Its services operate on a fee-for-service basis including the Personal Radiation Monitoring Service, the ultraviolet radiation services and the radiofrequency electromagnetic radiation calibration service. The branch undertakes a number of national initiatives including our ultraviolet radiation monitoring network, the Australian National Radiation Dose Register and the radiation monitoring network established under the terms of the Comprehensive Nuclear‑Test-Ban Treaty. Emergency preparedness and response systems for field, network and laboratory measurements, and information management and decision support systems are maintained and aligned with national planning.

Medical Radiation Services Branch

The Medical Radiation Services Branch provides safety and quality advice on the use of radiation in medicine to all Australians. The branch has three sections: Medical Imaging, Primary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory, and the Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service. The Medical Imaging section is responsible for dose data collection and advice on patient safety within diagnostic imaging and nuclear medicine. The Primary Standards Dosimetry Laboratory (formerly Radiotherapy) maintains the Australian primary standard for absorbed dose and, by calibrating hospitals’ radiation detectors against the primary standard, ensures that a provider’s equipment is accurate. The Australian Clinical Dosimetry Service audits linear accelerators used by radiotherapy providers in Australia and New Zealand verifying that the radiation exposure of patients undergoing treatment is correct.

Regulatory Services Branch

Regulatory Services Branch has main carriage of regulation of the safety and security of Commonwealth radiation sources and facilities.

The Branch has four sections: Facility Safety, Source Safety and Security, Safety Systems, and National Codes and Standards. The Branch is ARPANSA’s principal driver for promoting a uniform regulatory framework across all jurisdictions. The costs for direct regulatory activities are recovered from annual licence charges and application fees.