Who we are
Our department is made up of 5,000 highly skilled and experienced people. We have over 200 offices across regional NSW and Sydney.
Almost 80 per cent of our staff live in regional NSW. We contribute to life in regional communities. We work on rural farms, with regional businesses and in regional industries.
Our approach is collaborative and evidence based. We form partnerships across communities, industry and government to ensure the best possible outcomes for people in regional areas.
We value strategic thinking and problem-solving. We aim to build thriving communities for generations to come.
Visit Careers if you’d like to be part of our regional NSW team.
Visit What we do for more about our department's functions.
Our structure
Led by our Secretary, Steve Orr and supported by an experienced leadership team, our department's Minister oversees the cluster.
See our organisation chart (PDF 53.95KB)
Our Ministers
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The Hon. Tara Moriarty MLC
- Minister for Agriculture
- Minister for Regional New South Wales
- Minister for Western New South Wales
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The Hon. Ryan Park MP
- Minister for the Illawarra and South Coast
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The Hon. Courtney Houssos MLC
- Minister for Natural Resources
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The Hon. Rose Jackson MLC
- Minister for Youth
- Minster for the North Coast
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The Hon. Yasmin Maree Catley
- Minister for the Hunter
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The Hon. David Harris MP
- Minister for the Central Coast
Meet our leadership team
The Department of Regional NSW's leadership team works to achieve the best outcomes for people in regional NSW. Our team is:
collectively responsible for leading the organisation
individually accountable for their (section’s) strategic and operational activities.
Steve Orr, Secretary, Department of Regional NSW
James Bolton, Deputy Secretary, Regional Precincts
James joined the Regional Precincts Group when it was formed in 2021 and is responsible for the delivery of several key infrastructure projects across the State.
Since joining the NSW Government in 2018, James has demonstrated his ability to provide strategic leadership, work collaboratively across Government and manage complex projects including the Special Activation Precincts program funded by the Snowy Hydro Legacy Fund.
Prior to working with the NSW Government, James worked in a variety of senior roles in local government over an 11-year period including economic development, major projects, strategy, community and commercial developments.
Before returning to his hometown of Wagga Wagga in 2007, James studied and worked in Canberra, Sydney and London.
James is passionate about driving whole of government approaches to regional issues and ensuring the people of regional NSW have the appropriate support, services, and infrastructure to live a great quality of life.
Sean Sloan, A/Director-General, Department of Primary Industries
Sean has more than 25 years’ management experience and has held senior positions in government at both Commonwealth and State levels, and in the Pacific Islands.
As the Acting Director-General of NSW Department of Primary Industries, Sean is accountable for serving regional NSW communities and providing strong leadership and stewardship in the agriculture, fisheries, and forestry sectors, as well as biosecurity, food safety, animal welfare and hunting.
In his prior role of Deputy Director-General, Fisheries, Sean was responsible for fisheries and aquaculture management and development, policy, scientific research, monitoring and marine environment management. He was also responsible for the NSW Shark Management Program, compliance monitoring, community education, awareness, enforcement, leasing and licensing.
Among his many achievements, Sean led the development of national guidelines for fishery harvest strategies, which have been adopted by all Australian jurisdictions. He is also Chair of the Australian Fisheries Management Forum and Chair of the National Fisheries Compliance Committee. Sean holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (BASc), Fishing and Fisheries Science Management from the University of Tasmania. He has a Graduate Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Jonathan Wheaton, A/Deputy Secretary, Regional Development Group
Jonathan has over 20 years executive-level leadership, management and frontline experience with the NSW Government specialising in community and economic development, project and program delivery probity and governance, cross-agency and cross-jurisdiction collaboration, and community and council engagement.
Jonathan is currently the Acting Deputy Secretary of the Regional Development Group which is the government’s key regional advisory, coordination and delivery team that ensures sustainable and strategic investments in regional communities. The Regional Development team takes a whole of government approach and focuses on four streams of work:
- Sustainable regional industries, including emerging and engine industries
- Aboriginal economic development and enterprise
- Community infrastructure and capacity building
- Improving regional service delivery, including cross border communities
Jonathan lives in Woonona with his partner Anna and three kids Daphne, George and Josie and is a rugby tragic.
Rob Kelly, A/CEO, Local Land Services
Rob commenced as acting Chief Executive Officer at the end of April 2024, and has over 20 years executive leadership experience in primary industries, land and natural resource management, regulatory compliance, and water resources.
Rob began with Local Land Services (LLS) in March 2014, starting as General Manager of Riverina. In February 2020, he became the Executive Director Regional Delivery, Local Land Services (LLS), prior to taking on the acting CEO role.
Before commencing with LLS, Rob was the Executive Manager of Infrastructure, Planning, and Environment for Murrumbidgee Irrigation.
Rob holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of Sydney and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Rob lives in Griffith, NSW with his wife Kellie and has two children, Sam and Ava, who are currently studying at university in Sydney. Rob is a keen runner and AFL tragic.
Georgina Beattie, CEO, Mining, Exploration and Geoscience
With a strong background in Public Sector leadership, strategy, reform and industry development, Georgina brings a wealth of leadership experience to the Mining, Exploration and Geoscience (MEG) group.
As leader of the MEG group, Ms Beattie oversees decisions about the State’s mineral and petroleum resources, investment in the sector, the policy and strategic framework for exploration and mining in NSW, effective regulation and the acquisition and analysis of geoscientific data
Georgina joined MEG in early 2021 after a broad career driving economic development in NSW. Prior to joining MEG she held leadership roles in regional economic development in the NSW Government and has strong relationships with industry and community stakeholders.
Georgina is committed to deliver reform and initiatives that will boost exploration and mining investment safely and sustainably, with a strong focus on customer service
Fiona Dewar, Deputy Secretary, Corporate & Performance
Fiona is a senior public sector executive with a depth of leadership experience in operations, policy and communications.
As Deputy Secretary of Corporate and Performance, Fiona works across all groups in the Department of Regional NSW and with other Government agencies to provide strategic leadership and delivery of critical enabling services.
Fiona has worked across the public and private sector in a range of fields including the arts and creative industries, agriculture, vocational education, natural resources management, regional development and Indigenous Affairs.
Fiona previously held Deputy Secretary Strategy, Corporate and Performance and Executive Director roles within the Department of Regional NSW, the Office of Drought Response and the Department of Premier and Cabinet. Fiona has strong experience engaging with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities having spent five years working at a specialist Indigenous affairs consulting firm.
Fiona grew up on a wheat and beef cattle property in Moree NSW and is passionate about rural and regional issues.