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VicWater Annual Conference 2023
VicWater Annual Conference 2023
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Kelly Crosthwaite

Executive Director - People & Culture - Department of Energy, Environment and Climate Action

Professional Bio

I have built my career on a goal of influencing outcomes for public value, investing in people, and giving back to communities that I love. 

As Executive Director, People & Culture for the Department of Environment, Land, Water and Planning (DELWP) I am responsible for coordinating the needs of over 5,500 staff, across 80+ locations, within a complex and varied portfolio. While this role was always going to be an interesting challenge, helping to steward the organisation through the current pandemic has been defining. 

I have been fortunate to amass a breadth and depth of experience throughout my career. As a member for the cross-government HR Directors Committee I have led the coordination of staff wellbeing activities through the COVID response in 2020, and before that led the co-ordination of staff wellbeing efforts across the emergency sector for the 2019 bushfires.

As the DELWP Regional Director for greater Melbourne I led a program of service delivery covering bushfire management, coastal infrastructure, public land administration, biodiversity and compliance, amongst others. I was also the lead Regional Director for Biodiversity across the State. 
Earlier in my career, I worked across four jurisdictions in natural resource management including in policy, legal and compliance functions. I have led the negotiation through parliament of innovative fisheries legislation, including a world-leading framework for the allocation of resources.

I am experienced working with industry and stakeholder groups, including on highly contentious matters. I have a track record of delivering major projects, initiating reform, attracting funding and negotiating major agreements for the use of land and resources. 

I have been central to leading through substantial restructures of agencies, renewing teams and driving positive organisational culture. I apply my knowledge and experience in achieving measurable progress towards high performance at the team and organisational scale, and in particular how a focus on people and the neuroscience of work can translate into organisational outcomes. 

I hold Law & Environmental Science degrees, as well as post-graduate quals in law and fisheries management. I have also completed the AICD Company Directors Course.

I have been involved in sport throughout my life, and currently serving as the President of the Alphington Football Club Inc.