Public Service minister Katy Gallagher has announced key appointments to the Australian Government Consulting (AGC) team. 

Andrew Nipe takes the helm as Chief Consulting Officer, with Joanne Rossiter stepping in as his Deputy.

The government says the appointments underscore its commitment to reducing reliance on external consultancies. 

AGC has embarked on two pilot projects. The first project involves a partnership with the Centre for Australia-India Relations, focusing on fostering closer economic ties between federal, state, and territory governments and India. 

The second is in collaboration with the newly established Net Zero Economy agency, aiding in strategic business planning and vision development.

Mr Nipe, the new Chief Consulting Officer, brings experience from his recent role as Victoria’s Chief Data Officer and previous leadership positions in education policy. His background includes stints at McKinsey, Bain, and the UK Treasury, topped with a Master of Public Policy from Harvard Kennedy School.

Ms Rossiter, appointed Deputy Chief Consulting Officer, joins AGC from the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Her notable achievements include spearheading national skills reform and a robust background in management consultancy at Nous. Ms Rossiter also holds a Master of Public Policy, her alma mater being the prestigious University of Oxford.

The Government's investment of $10.9 million over two years from 2023-24 in the in-house consultancy function highlights its dedication to this initiative. 

Over the next two years, AGC aims to deliver at least 15 projects, enhancing the Australian Public Service’s (APS) ability to utilise its expertise and secure better value from external consultants.

“Australian Government Consulting will offer public servants the opportunity to work across departments on projects that have, in the past, been outsourced to external consultancies,” Gallagher said.

The initial recruitment drive for AGC witnessed an overwhelming response, attracting nearly 1000 applications from a diverse range of candidates, surpassing any other PM&C recruitment outside graduate intake.

In 2024, AGC is set to collaborate with various agencies across the APS, aiming to expand its project pipeline.