The inaugural Secretary of the Department of Regional NSW, Gary Barnes, has announced his retirement from the public service.
Mr Barnes has devoted 42 years to the public service in Queensland, the Northern Territory and NSW and has led the Department of Regional NSW since its creation in April 2020.
Deputy Premier and Minister for Regional NSW Paul Toole thanked Mr Barnes for his decades of work as a public servant.
“Mr Barnes has devoted much of his life to working for our communities and seeing them emerge stronger from the challenges they’ve faced including floods, fires, drought and COVID,” Mr Toole said.
“As its inaugural Secretary, he has ensured the Department of Regional NSW has delivered on its promise to be a voice in government for people in the bush. He leaves the Department in good shape and firmly focused on its mission to make the regions an even better place to live, work, play and invest.
“Mr Barnes will now have the opportunity to spend more time with his extended family, without the travel demands that come from heading an agency of more than 4,500 staff, spread across the State’s regions.
“I thank him for his service to the people – and particularly to businesses and communities in regional NSW.”
Rebecca Fox will act in the role of Secretary from today.
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