Investment NSW chief executive Amy Brown will oversee the state government’s wider innovation-led economic development as secretary of the newly formed Department of Enterprise Investment and Trade from Monday.
Ms Brown, a former lawyer who has moved between the public and private sector for the last decade, has led Investment NSW since the agency was established last year as a ‘one-stop shop’ for businesses within the Department of Premier and Cabinet cluster.
Changes by new Premier Dominic Perrottet late last year moved Investment NSW out of the the premier’s cluster to a new Enterprise Investment and Trade cluster, which also includes the state government agencies for sport, art, tourism and events, and culture, and the new Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade.
Ms Brown has been promoted to secretary of the new department and will also continue as chief executive of Investment NSW. She has flagged the state’s liveability as an initial focus in her new duel role.
On Thursday, Minister for Enterprise, Investment and Trade, Minister for Tourism and Sport and Minister for Western Sydney Stuart Ayres announced the appointment.
“The establishment of the Department of Enterprise, Investment and Trade is at the heart of the NSW government’s commitment to economic development, embracing science, innovation and emerging technology while setting up the NSW economy for sustained success into the future,” Mr Ayres said in a statement.
“Amy Brown has already made great progress as CEO of Investment NSW, a role she will continue in while taking on responsibility as the department secretary. She has a proven ability to attract investment to NSW and drive collaborative partnerships between government and non-government organisations.”
Mr Ayres said the new Department had been established to combine enterprise and trade, tourism and hospitality, sport and arts to “make NSW the best place in the world to live, invest, visit, study, grow and play”.
The new secretary has held senior roles for New South Wales Treasury and the Department of Premier and Cabinet, with a near three-year stint as a partner at PwC in between.
Ms Brown said she will focus on improving the state’s liveability and economic development in her expanded role while continuing to lead the well-resourced, business focussed Investment NSW.
“Our economic strength and liveability are deeply intertwined and can’t succeed without each other,” Ms Brown said.
“We are positioning NSW nationally and globally as a safe and attractive place to do business; where innovation, trade and tourism work together to create great jobs and an even better lifestyle.”
Kate Foy was also announced as the group deputy secretary of Tourism, Sport and Arts within the department.
“Kate brings over 20 years of experience in the NSW public service in portfolios including senior executive roles in the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the NSW Telco Authority and Transport for NSW,” Mr Ayres said.
“Kate has led the delivery of the Cultural Infrastructure Plan, the COVID relief package for the arts sector and the first Closing the Gap Implementation Plan for NSW.”
Both Ms Foy and Ms Brown start their new roles on Monday.
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