Gwilliam to head Attorney General's department

Department of Local Government and Regional Development director general Cheryl Gwilliam has been appointed director general of the Department of the Attorney General, to take up her position on August 4.

The full text of an announcement from Attorney General Jim McGinty is pasted below

Senior public servant Cheryl Gwilliam has been appointed director general of the Department of the Attorney General.

Attorney General Jim McGinty said Ms Gwilliam had been a high-ranking public administrator in Western Australia for more than a decade and would bring to her new role a wealth of senior management experience.

"Since 2002, Ms Gwilliam has been director general of the Department of Local Government and Regional Development," Mr McGinty said.

"An economist and industrial relations specialist, she is a former chief executive officer of the State Supply Commission and previously served as a director of WA Government agencies in the fields of industry development and government purchasing.

"Cheryl has an excellent record in diverse areas such as policy development and implementation, local and regional service delivery, organisational change, partnerships and alliances, customer service and government operations.

"Her strengths in public administration will provide clear and solid leadership for the Department of the Attorney General, which was created following the disbanding of the Justice Department early last year."

The Department of the Attorney General administers the State's courts and tribunals system, runs the registration of births, deaths and marriages and provides administrative support to agencies such as the Public Advocate, Public Trustee and Prisoner Review Board.

The Department also plays a lead role in activating WA's Aboriginal Justice Agreement.

Ms Gwilliam will take up her new position on August 4.