Damon Rees steps down as Service NSW CEO

Damon Rees will be stepping down as Service NSW CEO after five years in the top job.

In a LinkedIn post, Rees said it was time to hand the baton to the “next steward of this extraordinary organisation”.

He said, “With the exception of about 10 days for Budget Estimates, I have loved every minute of my time as part of this truly special team who work so hard for their customers and communities.

“It has been a privilege to wake up each day and strive to deliver the very best outcomes we can for NSW and I’m proud knowing that our state enjoys an experience of accessing the services and support of Government that is without equal globally.”

He will be moving on to his new business venture, Better As Usual where he will establish a practitioner-led, purpose-driven and customer-obsessed professional service organisation.

Service NSW began 10 years ago with its first centre in Kiama and now helps with 250 million customer needs each year.

“From our focus on making the transactional services with Government easy and helpful, we’ve now earned the trust to help our customers facing cost of living pressure to find savings and support, and we are providing support to women returning to the Workforce in partnership with Women NSW,” he said.

“From our initial focus on the needs of individuals, we have now added Service NSW for Business to help make NSW the easiest state to start, run, and grow a business.”

Rees said Service NSW plays a “key role” in supporting customers and communities impacted by Disasters through our customer care services, and the rapid mobilisation of Grants and Stimulus which have provided over $14 Billion in support.

“From our first lean, agile, cross-functional product team, we’ve grown a scaled, digital powerhouse that underpins our agility and enables ever better customer experience for both Service NSW and across the public sector,” Rees said.

Rees thanked his staff and customer service and digital government minister Victor Dominello, “To our Minister Dominello and his team Matt, Jane, Simon, Priya. Thank you for your ambition for NSW and your tireless, collaborative, respectful leadership to achieve the very best outcomes possible. You are the benchmark.”

“To our Secretary Em Hogan whose empowering, inclusive, authentic leadership of the Department of Customer Service has set the tone and generated the highest people engagement in the sector. Thank you to my colleagues across the DCS and the NSW Public Sector for your commitment to NSW, your collaboration, and continuing to push the boundaries to make NSW the world’s most customer-centric Government,” he added.

Commenting on his new role at Better As Usual, he said, “I’m looking forward to a 2023 spent coaching and supporting leaders, advising customers, growing a new organisation, and making a positive social impact to reduce inequity.

“All in healthy balance with more quality time with my remarkable wife Rosalina, my beautiful family, my neglected guitar collection, my little used mountain bike, and my adorable Cavoodle Evie.”