Our Executive

Dr Steven Kennedy PSM

Secretary to the Australian Treasury

Dr Steven Kennedy PSM commenced as Secretary to the Treasury in September 2019.

Prior to this, Steven was Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development between September 2017 and August 2019.

In a public service career spanning more than 30 years, Steven has held a series of other senior positions. These include Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; Deputy Secretary at the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science; Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Environment; Deputy Secretary at the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, and the Head of Secretariat of the Garnaut Climate Change Review – Update 2011.

Steven’s first role in the Australian Public Service came in 1992 as a cadet at the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Before this, he trained and worked as a nurse.

Steven has served on a number of boards. He is a member of the Reserve Bank Board, Council of Financial Regulators, Board of Taxation, Advisory Board of the Melbourne Institute of Applied Economic and Social Research and the Sir Roland Wilson Foundation.

Steven was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2016 for outstanding public service in the area of climate change policy.

Steven holds a PhD and a Master of Economics from the Australian National University, and a Bachelor of Economics (First Class Honours) from the University of Sydney.

Mr Brenton Philp

Deputy Secretary, Markets Group

Mr Brenton Philp joined The Treasury in February 2023.

Prior to this Brenton was Deputy Secretary, Early Childhood and Youth Group at the Department of Education, having been promoted in August 2021.

Brenton’s experience spans over 20 years in the Australian Public Service, having performed senior roles in social policy, energy policy, digital transformation, and competition and consumer protection regulation. He has served in the departments of Industry, Energy and Environment, Social Services, Education and the Prime Minister and Cabinet, as well as a long career with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.

Brenton is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Laws from James Cook University.

Ms Diane Brown

Deputy Secretary, Revenue Group

Ms Diane Brown commenced as Deputy Secretary for Revenue Group at the Treasury in July 2022.

In this role, Diane provides advice and forecasts to the government on revenue and taxation policy matters.

Prior to this role, Diane was at the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communication as the Deputy Secretary for Transport from May 2021 to July 2022 and the First Assistant Secretary of the Communications Infrastructure Division from August 2020 to May 2021.

Diane had previously spent 7 years in Treasury’s Markets Group with various responsibilities predominantly relating to financial markets and corporate regulation. Prior to joining the public service, Diane held senior roles in the private sector and in the corporate regulator, the Australian Securities, and Investment Commission. She commenced her career as an economist at the Reserve Bank of Australia and has practiced law at a national law firm in Sydney.

Diane holds Bachelor of Economics (Honours) and Law (Honours) from the University of Sydney and a Master of Economics (Honours) from the University of New South Wales.

Ms Victoria Anderson

Deputy Secretary, Small Business, Housing, Corporate and Law Group

Ms Victoria Anderson commenced as Deputy Secretary Small Business, Housing, Corporate and Law Group in October 2023. Victoria was previously Deputy Secretary Small Business, Housing and Employment White Paper Group.

She commenced as head of Treasury’s Employment Taskforce in June 2022. In this role Victoria was responsible for the government’s Jobs and Skills Summit in September 2022 and went on to lead the Taskforce in development of the Employment White Paper, which was released in September 2023.

Victoria was previously First Assistant Secretary, National Schools Reform, at the former Department of Education, Skills and Employment. In 2020–21 she was First Assistant Secretary of the Intergenerational Report (IGR) and Population Division at Treasury, which also incorporated her role as inaugural Executive Director of the Centre for Population, established in 2019.

Victoria has previously held senior executive roles in the Treasury and the Department of Agriculture covering foreign investment, business conduct of multinationals, risk and corporate governance, drought policy, agricultural trade policy, biosecurity policy and industry assistance and adjustment.

Victoria has a Bachelor of Arts/Laws (Honours) from the University of Queensland and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice from the Australian National University.

Mr Damien White

Deputy Secretary, Fiscal Group

Mr Damien White commenced as Deputy Secretary, Fiscal Group in November 2024.

In this role, Damien advises the Australian Government on its fiscal strategy, the Budget and policy proposals across all portfolios, and aims to achieve sustainable and effective economic and fiscal outcomes. Damien also manages relations with state and territory treasuries.

Damien also became Treasury’s Indigenous Champion in November 2024.

Damien is a long-term Treasury official, and first joined Treasury as a graduate. He has worked across a range of policy areas, most recently as First Assistant Secretary, Tax Analysis Division.

Before this role, Damien was the First Assistant Secretary, Commonwealth-State and Population Division. He was also previously Treasury’s Chief Adviser for National Security; General Manager, Infrastructure, Industry, Environment and Defence Division; and Principal Adviser, Social Policy Division.

Damien has also worked in roles outside of Treasury, including as Senior Adviser in the Treasurer's Office; Assistant Secretary, NBN Reform Taskforce at the former Department of Communications; and Deputy Director-General at the Office of National Intelligence.

Damien holds an honours degree in economics from the University of Adelaide.