Young Professional Breakfast Seminar
Extraordinary Journeys from
Two Extraordinary Leaders
In partnership with UQ Business School, we are pleased to present two extraordinary leaders from the Victorian Public Service - Victorian Department of Transport Secretary, Jim Betts, and Director of HRM Robyn Clark.
Jim, who has been labelled an “unconventional bureaucrat” and “Melbourne's wackiest public servant” by the Age newspaper has headed up the Department of Transport since 2008. Robyn has also been with the Department since 2008, having enjoyed a successful private sector career before that.
This is a great opportunity to gain valuable insight from fellow public sector professionals who are succeeding in their domain, as well as a chance to network with your peers.
SPEAKER PROFILE
Jim Betts
Jim Betts took up his position as Secretary of the Victorian Government’s newly formed Department of Transport on 14 May 2008. The Department has a staff of about 1800 people and, alongside VicRoads, is responsible for public transport, roads and ports throughout Victoria. Prior to his appointment as Secretary, Jim had served as Director of Public Transport overseeing train, tram, bus and taxi operations throughout Victoria.
Jim has extensive experience in commercial and policy development, particularly in public transport, with both the Victorian and UK governments.
Jim graduated from Oxford in 1987 with a BA in modern history and then from Imperial College, London University in 1988 with a management science degree. He worked with the UK Government in roles such as Assistant Private Secretary to the Secretary of State for Transport and Policy Adviser in the Railways Directorate.
Arriving in Victoria in 1998, Jim undertook the role of Director, Transport Reform in the Department of Treasury and Finance (DTF).
In June 2000, Jim undertook the role of Assistant Director in the Project Development and Commercial Division of DTF where he was a senior advisor to Government on major rail projects including Regional Fast Rail and the Southern Cross Station redevelopment.
In 2003, as Deputy Director of Public Transport, Jim led the negotiation of new franchise agreements with Connex and Yarra Trams and the creation of Metlink.
He lives in Richmond and has been married to Joanne since 1997.
Robyn Clark
Robyn Clark is the Executive Director, People and Organisational Development Division, Department of Transport, Victoria and has been in this role for over three years.
Prior to this, Robyn successfully managed her own strategic HR consulting business with clients spanning both the public and private sectors.
Robyn has been nominated Telstra’s Business Women of the Year 7 times out of the previous 9 years, nominated as a National Diversity and Inclusion Champion in 2009, received an Inspirational People Award in 2009, was a nominee for the SACS Leadership in the Public Service award and is a short-listed finalist for the AHRI Dave Ulrich – HR Leader of the Year Award.
Robyn’s 21 years in the human resources field coupled with her rich experience of working with people from diverse background (Robyn originally trained as a Social Worker) enables Robyn to design and implement people strategies and systems that harness people’s talent whilst pursuing the achievement of organisational objectives.
As Robyn would say, “My job is about Social Work at the organisational level”.