Mr Graeme Head has had a long and distinguished career in public administration and public policy. He was the Chief Executive of three NSW government agencies – notably as inaugural Public Service Commissioner for six years – and one federal agency. He served as a deputy secretary in both NSW and Commonwealth governments and his experience spans policy, regulatory, and central agencies, with a focus on social policy, environmental policy, and public sector employment.

Graeme Head is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration and was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the 2019 Australia Day Honours.

Ms Taylor held senior executive roles for more than 15 years in the NSW public service working in human and social services portfolios. Ms. Taylor was Executive Director of NDIS Implementation in the NSW Department of Family and Community Services. In this role, she led NSW negotiations on the NSW NDIS agreement, and managed all facets of the NSW transition to the NDIS, giving effect to the $6 billion agreement with the Australian Government. She also advised on the transfer of NSW Government-operated specialist disability services to the non-government sector.

In 2017, Samantha Taylor was awarded a Public Service Medal for her leadership in disability reform in NSW.

Mr. Jason Stott has extensive experience leading governance, program management, service delivery, and corporate operations across federal departments and other agencies. His achievements include business process and ICT transformation, strategic governance reform, leadership in complex programs, and implementation of high- profile initiatives and measures.

Amongst his diverse experience Mr Stott worked extensively with Indigenous communities in Cape York and is a Jawun Program alumnus. He also led teams deployed to scrutinised international disasters including the Bali tragedy, the Middle East evacuation, and the Christchurch Earthquake.

Jason Stott is an active reservist.

Robert Griew
Complaints Commissioner

Mr. Robert Griew joined the NDIS Commission as Complaints Commissioner in April 2020. Mr Griew has extensive experience in leadership roles across a wide range of areas of social policy and across sectors. He has senior executive experience in the Commonwealth, state and territory governments, and non-government sectors; he also has significant experience in consulting to government.

Mr Griew’s public service experience spans health, education, aged care, child protection, and other social policy domains. Notably, he was the Secretary/CEO of the Northern Territory Department of Health and Community Services and has held Associate Secretary and Deputy Secretary positions in the Australian Commonwealth.

Dr Jeffrey Chan
Senior Practitioner

Dr. Jeffrey Chan has worked in disability and health services for nearly 30 years in government, non-government, and statutory roles. He was the inaugural Victorian Senior Practitioner with the responsibility of protecting the rights of people with disability subject to restrictive interventions and compulsory detention. Dr Chan was also Queensland’s inaugural Chief Practitioner and Director of Forensic Disability (a Governor-in-Council appointment) where he was responsible for protecting the rights of people with cognitive impairment subject to restrictive practices. Prior to his current role, Dr Chan was Deputy CEO of the largest intellectual disability service provider in Singapore.

Jeffrey Chan was an International Rotary Scholar to the University of Sydney 1988. He received the Rotary Club of Ryde Pride of Workmanship Award in 2002 for this work in rehabilitation services. He was also a Finalist in the Australian Human Rights Award 2010 for Community (Individual) category for his work in protecting the rights of people with disabilities subjected to restrictive interventions. He continues to research and publish in international refereed journals in the area of disability and is an Adjunct Professor at the University of Queensland’s School of Education.

Christine Bruce
Branch Head Operations

Ms. Christine Bruce brings more than 30 years of experience in social policy and an energy and commitment across a broad range of functions including corporate services, communication and engagement strategies, policy and program design, program implementation, and service delivery in NSW, VIC and TAS. She has delivered complex government services in western NSW working with Aboriginal communities on improving outcomes to deliver Closing the Gap targets to address Indigenous disadvantage. Ms Bruce introduced the National Disability Parking Scheme and the National Companion Card Scheme in 2010 and prior to joining the NDIS Commission she was leading the Department of Health grant program transition of the Department of Social Services Community Grants Hub.

Christine Bruce has served on a number of Boards, including the Institute of Public Administration in VIC, and has formal qualifications in project management and a Master’s in Public Administration. She has a deep understanding of the interaction and dependencies of the NDIS, the Social Security Payments Scheme and the not-for-profit sector in weaving a comprehensive framework to improve the lives of marginalised Australians.

Melissa Clements
Deputy Registrar

Ms. Melissa Clements has more than 25 years of experience in the disability sector in a range of policy, program, and service delivery roles. Previously she was Director, Disability, Learning and Support in the NSW Department of Education, leading policy and program delivery, and reforms supporting more than 100,000 students with disability in NSW public schools. She also led work across the Department to support the transition to NDIS and its interface with education provision.

Melissa Clements held a number of roles with the NSW Ombudsman and Community Services Commission for over 10 years, oversighting community and disability service provision as well as a range of direct service delivery roles supporting people with disability.

Carolyn Strange
General Counsel

Ms. Carolyn Strange came to the NDIS Commission with a long and varied career as a lawyer and regulator in the NSW and Commonwealth public sectors, most recently as General Counsel at the NSW Public Service Commission, after starting out as a commercial litigation solicitor. Her other public sector legal experience has included positions in the Commonwealth Office of General Counsel, the NSW Environment Protection Authority, NSW Parliamentary Counsel’s Office and the Office of the NSW Solicitor General and Crown Advocate.

Ms Strange has also held senior management roles in non-legal positions with regulatory dimension, including Director, Quality Assessment and Regulation in the Early Childhood Education and Care Directorate of the NSW Department of Education and Director, Contaminated Sites in the NSW Environment Protection Authority.