Premier appoints new chief of staff

Premier Colin Barnett has formally announced his new chief of staff will be (Peter) Willie Rowe, who has recently wound down his lobbying business Third House in anticipation of taking on the new role.

He replaces Brian Pontifex, who retired from the role last month to become Australian ambassador to the Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development in Paris.

Mr Rowe will step down as chair of ScreenWest, the state’s screen funding and development agency, and as president of the Australian Federation of AIDS Organisations with immediate effect.

He has previously served as chief of staff to former mines ministers George Cash and Kevin Minson, and former works minister Mike Board during the 1990s.

Mr Rowe then took on senior government relations and corporate communications roles with Western Power and private consultancies.

He graduated from the University of Western Australia in 1980 with a Bachelor of Arts and completed a Bachelor of Commerce in 1985.

Mr Barnett said he was delighted Mr Rowe had chosen to join his office after spending more than 20 years serving in government, the private sector, and community-based and not-for-profit organisations.

Mr Rowe will begin his new role next Monday.

Its the second major change in the premier's office this year after resources adviser Geoff Wedgwood moved to listed company Mineral Resources.