DPC is led by the Secretary who reports to the Premier and serves as the head of the Victoria Public Service. The department is managed by a senior executive group comprising the head of each of DPC’s groups. The administrative office heads are also key senior executives within the DPC portfolio.
Secretary
Jeremi Moule was appointed as Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet and head of the Victorian Public Service (VPS) in October 2020.
Prior to this role, he was the Deputy Secretary, Governance Policy and Coordination at the Department of Premier and Cabinet, a position he held since August 2018.
Jeremi has held various executive positions in the Victorian Public Service over a 20-year period, was the CEO of a registered training organisation and started his working life as a journalist. He has worked extensively in regional Victoria, where he also lives.
He holds a journalism degree from the University of South Australia and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Deputy Secretary, Public Administration
Joshua Puls MVO commenced as Deputy Secretary, Public Administration in August 2023.
Josh’s previous role in the Victorian Government was Official Secretary to the Governor of Victoria between 2016 and 2022. Prior to this appointment, Josh was Executive Director of the Cabinet Office in DPC, after having overseen the Anzac Centenary when he was Director of DPC’s Veterans Branch.
Josh holds qualifications in law, arts, education and theology as well as the degree of Executive Master of Public Administration from the Australia and New Zealand School of Government and the University of Melbourne. He has a Certificate IV in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Deputy Secretary, Economic Policy and State Productivity
Jason Loos PSM commenced as Deputy Secretary, Economic Policy and State Productivity in June 2023.
Jason was previously Deputy Secretary at the Department of Treasury and Finance, where he was responsible for providing strategic commercial, financial and risk management advice to the Victorian Government.
Jason has over 25 years’ experience in the commercial structuring and delivery of infrastructure projects, including extensive experience in delivering Public Private Partnerships and the corporate governance oversight of significant Victorian Government business enterprises.
Jason has a Master of Business Administration from RMIT and an honours degree in economics from Monash University.
Jason is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and in 2023 was named a Victorian Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.
In 2024, Jason was awarded the Public Service Medal for his significant contribution to the infrastructure policy and projects across Victoria.
Deputy Secretary, First Peoples – State Relations
Terry Garwood PSM commenced as Deputy Secretary, First Peoples - State Relations in July 2023.
Terry has been an officer of the Victorian and Australian public services for over 40 years. Previously, Terry was the Deputy Secretary,
Land Services in Victoria’s Department of Transport and Planning.
Terry has been responsible for health, aged care, disability services, child protection, public housing programs, freight and logistics, and Aboriginal affairs in a variety of senior executive roles.
Terry has served on the Museum Board of Victoria for 9 years and the Centenary of Federation Committee for 5 years and is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. He was appointed as a Director of the Ports Victoria Board on 1 October 2022.
Terry was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2018 for distinguished public service. He was also inducted into the Victorian Aboriginal Honour Roll in 2018 recognising his leadership, passion and commitment to community.
Deputy Secretary, Social Policy
Dr Emma Cassar PSM returned to her role as Deputy Secretary, Social Policy in March 2025 following her secondment to the Commonwealth Department of Home Affairs.
Emma has more than 25 years’ experience in both local and international roles spanning government, private and non-profit organisations.
Emma commenced her career as a forensic psychologist with Corrections Victoria in 1999. She went on to become General Manager at several male and female prisons in Victoria and held senior executive roles in both the not-for-profit and private sectors, including Partner at KPMG. She returned to the Victorian public sector in 2018 and has made a significant contribution in her roles as Corrections Victoria Commissioner and Commissioner COVID-19 Quarantine Victoria.
Following a transition to DPC in 2023, she was seconded as Associate Secretary, Immigration, in the Department of Home Affairs.
Emma holds a Doctorate in Forensic Psychology from the University of Melbourne.
Brigid Sunderland was Deputy Secretary, Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations during the reporting period until January 2025.
Dannii de Kretser was Acting Co-Deputy Secretary, Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations during the reporting period from 16 October to 3 January 2025. Dannii was also the Acting Deputy Secretary, Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations during the reporting period from 17 January to 10 March 2025.
Deputy Secretary, Children’s Portfolio Coordination
Brigid Sunderland commenced as Deputy Secretary, Children’s Portfolio Coordination in January 2025, having previously been Deputy Secretary of Social Policy and Intergovernmental Relations. Brigid has had an extensive public sector career with a strong emphasis on social policy and service delivery reform and outcomes.
Prior to joining DPC, Brigid was Secretary of the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing (DFFH) and before that served in executive positions in the Department of Justice and Community Safety (DJCS).
Brigid has previously held senior positions in both the public and private sectors including the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department. Prior to joining the public sector, Brigid practised as a lawyer in several international and Australian law firms.
Brigid holds degrees in Law and Political Science and Master of Public Policy and Management. In 2017 she was named one of the Top 50 Public Sector Women by the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria) and in 2022, a Victorian Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.
Chief Parliamentary Counsel, Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel
Jayne Atkins commenced as the Chief Parliamentary Counsel of the Office of the Chief Parliamentary Counsel (OCPC) on 19 January 2022. From 2013 she was Deputy Chief Parliamentary Counsel and Subordinate Legislation Manager, having joined OCPC in March 1991 after 4 years at the State Trustees as a solicitor. Jayne has over 30 years' experience drafting bills and drafting, settling and advising on subordinate legislation, where she has a particular interest.
Official Secretary of the Office of the Governor
Jonathan Burke commenced as the Official Secretary of the Office of the Governor in August 2022. Jonathan’s experience spans the government, not-for-profit and tertiary education sectors. His government experience includes several appointments in DPC and DJCS.
Jonathan has served four Governors of Victoria, including as Deputy Official Secretary and now, Official Secretary.
He holds degrees in Arts and Law from Monash University and has an Executive Master of Public Administration from the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) and the University of Melbourne.
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