HEAD of the ACT’s Justice and Community Service Directorate Kathy Leigh has been promoted as the new Head of Service for the ACT Government.

Ms Leigh has been Director-General of the ACT Justice and Community Safety Directorate since 2009, and begins her new appointment as the most senior position within the ACT public service on Monday.

She  fills the role vacated by Andrew Cappie-Wood, who left at the end of last year to take up a new position within the NSW Government.

Chief Minister Katy Gallagher says she had been “impressed” by Ms Leigh’s performance in her previous role.

“I’ve watched over the last five years how Ms Leigh has approached those professionally, managed to bring people with her as she’s gone through a very significant reform process and delivered the results,” Ms Gallagher says.

Ms Leigh said she was looking forward to the role and delivering on the ACT Government’s priorities across the service.

“I am looking forward to ensuring that the ACT government continues to deliver high quality and responsive public services to the people of the ACT,” she says.

Ms Leigh has a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws and Masters of International Law.

She joined the Australian Public Service (APS) as a Legal Officer in 1983 and was promoted to the APS Senior Executive Service in 1993.

She was with the Commonwealth Attorney-General’s Department in First Assistant Secretary roles between 1999 and 2009, with periods of acting Deputy Secretary and acting Secretary.