Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan and Fisheries Minister Don Punch have welcomed the appointment of Heather Brayford as the new Director General of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD).
Ms Brayford has served as the Deputy Director General of DPIRD’s Sustainability and Biosecurity pillar since 2017, after previously working as the Director General of the Department of Fisheries.
She brings with her more than 30 years of senior leadership experience across the public sector in Western Australia, including two terms as the Director of the Fisheries Research and Development Corporation.
Heather was also a recipient of the 2020 Queen’s Birthday Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to legislative reform and policy development in WA.
An extensive recruitment process was conducted by the Public Sector Commissioner for the role, following which the Public Sector Commissioner recommended the appointment of Ms Brayford.
She will assume the post on 1 November 2022.
As stated by Agriculture and Food Minister Alannah MacTiernan:
“We are pleased to announce the appointment of Heather Brayford as the new Director General.
“Heather’s past experience as the Director General of Fisheries and her five years with the Primary Industries and Regional Development role gives her solid experience for this new position.
“She is a real team builder and will help us continue the important work of rebuilding capability and morale in the agency.
“We thank Acting Director General Terry Hill for the work he has done over the last nine months as acting Director General. He has done tremendous work and will hand over the Department in good shape.”
As stated by Fisheries Minister Don Punch:
“Heather Brayford is an asset to the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development and we congratulate her on this well-earned new role.
“With her extensive experience in fisheries and aquaculture, I am confident Heather is well placed to lead the Department into the future.”
