Australian Government Consulting agency taps Victoria's data chief

Victoria's chief data officer Andrew Nipe has taken the position of chief consulting officer (CCO) at the federal government’s new Australian Government Consulting (AGC) agency.

AGC CCO Andrew Nipe
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The agency is designed to bring consulting skills in house, to overcome the government’s over-reliance on the “big four” consulting houses.

Announcing the appointment, minister for the public service Katy Gallagher said nearly 1000 applications have been received in the AGC’s first intake of staff.

Nipe became Victoria’s data chief in February 2023, after 10 years with the state’s Department of Education and Training, including four years as executive director of the performance and evaluation division.

His prior roles included engagement manager at McKinsey, and nearly two years as a policy adviser in Her Majesty’s Treasury.

Gallagher announced that Nipe will be supported by deputy CCO Joanne Rossiter, who most recently led the national skills reform program at the Department of Employment and Workplace relations.

The AGC currently has a two-year funding commitment of $10.9 million, and is expected to deliver “at least 15 projects”, Gallagher said.

Its first two pilot projects, studying Australia-India economic engagement with the Centre for Australia-India Relations, and work for the Net Zero Agency, are close to completion.