The state government has taken the unusual step of appointing a career public servant from the health department as Western Australia’s next agent general for a term of just nine months.
Angela Kelly is the deputy director general of the Department of Health and has more than 25 years’ experience in WA’s public health system.
Ms Kelly will commence in the role next month and will undertake a period of induction before being deployed to London.
She replaces John Langoulant, whose three-year term finishes next month.
The role of agent general is arguably the most important and certainly the best paid international posting for the WA government and normally goes to a well-known and high-profile individual.
Mr Langoulant has a salary package of $534,000 including allowances and lived in an apartment that cost taxpayers $308,000.
He also qualified for substantial travel benefits.
Liberal leader Libby Mettam has pledged to review the role should her party win the next state election.
A spokesman for Premier Roger Cook told Business News the nine-month appointment was designed to get through the next state election cycle, with a state election to be held on March 8 2025.
Business News has asked if Ms Kelly’s package will be the same as Mr Langoulant’s but has not received a response at the time of publication.
Mr Cook said Ms Kelly was suited for the role.
“As a well-respected and experienced senior executive within the WA government, Ms Kelly is the right choice for this position, to promote our state’s key industries across the region,” he said in a statement.
Her experience includes a period of time in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet where she assisted in guiding the state’s planning and response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
