Esther Kwiet
Sydney,Australia
Summary
A seasoned senior public executive, I bring over 15 years of experience from the NSW public service, notably with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. My leadership has steered large teams through strategic changes, achieving key outcomes. Expert in regulatory prosecutions and risk management, I excel in high-pressure environments, demonstrating exceptional legal acumen and team collaboration skills.
Overview
16
16
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Deputy Solicitor of Public Prosecutions (Legal Operations)
New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
06.2023 - Current
- Operational management of the Drug Court Groups (Sydney, Parramatta, Dubbo and Toronto), Public Sector Prosecutions, Specialised Prosecutions and the Witness Assistance Unit (total approx 160 staff
- Oversight of a budget of approximately $18.7million including $1.6million private bar briefing budget
- Responsibility and management of the ODPP’s two special interest groups, including prosecutions referred by ICAC, HCCC, SafeWork and LECC, requiring a high level of specialised legal knowledge
- ODPP Right to Information Officer, responsible for responding to requests received by the ODPP under GIPA, PIPPA, subpoenas, Coronial s53 Orders, and Special Commissions of Inquiry summons, as well as all other information access requests.
- ODPP representative on the Parent Police Liaison Group, Disclosure Working Group, and Informers Disclosure Working Group.
- First Nation executive lead, member of the First Nations Affinity Group, and Diversity and Inclusion Council.
- Sponsor or co-sponsor of various strategic projects across the ODPP.
- Ensuring the corporate objectives of the ODPP are met, including risk management protocols. Working actively with the Audit and Risk Committee to develop a risk matrix and maturity rating for the ODPP.
Principal Legal Adviser
New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
11.2020 - 05.2023
- Providing high-quality legal advice to the Director and Deputy Directors on all matters referred to the Director’s Chambers for consideration, including charge negotiations, terminations, sanctions, extraditions, appeals, and other complex legal issues, including matters to prosecute and which matters to refer for other sanctions, such as disciplinary action.
- Managing staff in the Director's Chambers, including administrative staff, senior lawyers, and counsel, as well as the ODPP's Media Unit.
- Providing policy, strategic, and governance advice to all parts of the ODPP. Leading several strategic projects.
- Representing the ODPP on internal and external committees. Develop and maintain strong relationship with impotent stakeholders
- Leading strategic planning across the offense to improve services and act on staff feedback (for example, results from the most recent PMES).
Legal Adviser and Senior Legal Adviser (Director’s Chambers)
New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
09.2017 - 10.2020
- Providing clear, concise, and authoritative written advice on complex matters of law and policy, particularly in relation to legislative amendments.
- Delivering systems into the Director's Chambers to increase the efficiency of the unit delivers the best possible results. Managing the change process sis by side.
- Working in a busy, high volume work environment with strict time constraints and continually changing priorities
- Being available to ODPP staff to provide guidance on legal and policy issues that may arise in the course of their prosecutions.
- Drafting policies for the ODPP including the Media Policy and the Review Policy. Engaging in policy consultation with external agencies, particularly in relation to law reform.
- Being briefed to appear in jury trials in the District Court.
Manager (Legal) (DPO VIII)
New South Wales Ombudsman
03.2016 - 12.2016
- Providing high quality legal advice on the sufficiency of evidence gathered by Operation Prospect and the availability of criminal charges
- Providing high quality legal advice on Administrative and other area of civil law to the Ombudsman and Deputy Ombudsman
- Providing advice on complex legal and public policy matters
- Managing legal and administrative staff, including direct reports and providing second reports on legal matters for consideration by the Principal Legal Officer, Deputy Ombudsman and Ombudsman
- Managing staffing issues, including disciplinary matters, OHS matters, recruitment, work load allocation and management, practice reviews and conflict between staff members
- Developing rostering and work allocation policies within the team to ensure timeframes were adhered to
- Conducting procedural fairness including undertaking reviews and legal analysis of submissions provided by affected persons
- Preparing briefs of evidence and instructing Counsel in private hearings held pursuant to section 19 of the Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW)
- Conducting interviews pursuant to section 18 of the Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW)
- Drafting submissions for the Acting Ombudsman which included recommendations on findings of facts and whether adverse findings should be made against affected person under the Police Act 1990 (NSW) or the Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW)
- Provision of legal advice to Principal Investigators on a variety of legal issues including the admissibility of evidence, procedural requirements under both the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) and the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) and the use of coercive powers under the Ombudsman Act 1974 (NSW) and the Royal Commissions Act 1923 (NSW)
Senior Investigator (Legal)
New South Wales Ombudsman
01.2016 - 03.2016
- In 2016, I undertook a secondment at the New South Wales Ombudsman to assist with the resolution of Operation Prospect
- Operation Prospect is a complex investigation into the conduct of officers attached to the NSW Police Force, the NSW Crime Commission and the Police Integrity Commission (as it then was) primarily between 1998 and 2002
- The legal work I performed focused primarily on Administrative law and the application of the principles of procedural fairness
- I also provided advice on other civil law issues and complex policy issues arising because of such a historical and protracted investigation
- Operation Prospect culminated in the tabling of a public report before the NSW Parliament in December 2016
Level 2 Lawyer
New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
05.2012 - 01.2016
- Maintaining a practice of special interest, high-profile, and sensitive prosecutions, including prosecutions of serving NSW police officers, corrective services officers, and members of Parliament.
- Providing advice on the sufficiency of evidence to the Director on matters referred by the NSW Police Force, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, and Regulatory Agencies.
- Appearing in summary hearings in various courts throughout NSW, including remote and regional courts.
- Mentoring junior staff, including reviewing work, observing in court, and providing delegated approval when required.
- Facilitating office-wide training for more junior staff.
Level 1 Lawyer
New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
07.2010 - 04.2012
- Maintaining a full local court practice, screening briefs, negotiating pleas, and liaising with defense.
- Appearing in District Court short matters, Supreme Court bail lists, as well as undertaking committal and summary prosecutions in the Local Court.
- Preparing pre-committal advice on the sufficiency of evidence regarding charges laid by police.
- Working closely with Crown Prosecutors, police, and Witness Assistance Services to provide a trauma-informed and timely service to victims.
Legal Clerk (Legal Development Program)
New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
07.2009 - 06.2010
- Preparation of court documents and submissions for District Court and Supreme Court short matters, including severity appeals, all ground appeals, call-ups, sentences, and release applications, and appearing in District Court short matters.
- Instructing Crown Prosecutors and Trial Advocates in trials and sentences in the District Court.
- Maintaining carriage of substantive trial practice, preparing these matters for trial, and briefing Crown Prosecutors and Trial Advocates.
- Conducting legal research.
Research & Legal Officer
NSW Attorney General’s Department
02.2009 - 07.2009
- In depth research on various legal and legal policy issues including current Law Reform Commission proposals and projects
- Preparing submissions and correspondence for the Attorney General and Director General
- Drafting Cabinet minute advices and submissions
- Liaising and meeting officers from various government agencies and interstate Attorney General’s Departments
- Attending NSW Parliament second reading speeches and providing support to the Attorney and other policy officers
- Proof reading and reviewing draft legislative amendment bills
- Conducting meetings with stakeholders for various policy reform projects, for example HREOC representatives
Legal Clerkship
NSW Attorney General’s Department
11.2008 - 01.2009
- In December 2008, I was fortunate enough to be the only applicant chosen for the highly competitive 10-week clerkship position at the NSW Attorney General’s Department.
- The clerkship involved working on many large-scale projects, including NSW sexual assault and child pornography legislation, reviewing the uniform evidence laws, and developing a possible uniform spent convictions scheme.
- I was also required to prepare a comparative analysis of legislation in different jurisdictions, participate in Standing Committee of Attorney’s General (SCAG) working group projects and prepare correspondence, submissions and Cabinet minute advices for the Attorney and Director General
- At the conclusion of the clerkship, I commenced working as a research officer with the division
Education
Executive Development Program (including 360 Degrees And Coaching) -
The Director of Public Prosecution And ILEC
07-2024
Senior Executive Enhancement Program -
Public Services Commission
01-2023
Senior Managment And Communication Course -
Manara Consulting
01-2022
Harvard Manage Mentor (including Management Modules) -
Harvard Business School
01-2021
Bachelor of Laws (Hons)/Bachelor of Arts - Communication (Social Inquiry)
University of Technology Sydney
01.2009
Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor (Honours) - Communications (Social Inquiry)
University of Technology Sydney
01.2009
High School Certificate -
Pymble Ladies’ College
Skills
- Experienced senior public executive with over 15 years of experience in the NSW public service
- Demonstrated ability to manage and lead large drives, strategically changing to achieve strategic outcomes
- Experience managing a large budget and exercising financial delegation
- Highly specialized knowledge of regulatory and criminal prosecutions, adept at providing high-quality legal advice, and reaching determinations as to how a matters will proceed
- Demonstrate expertise in risk management, having worked with the ODPP's Audit and Risk Committee and developing strategic risk registers with the aim of improving overall risk maturity
- Adept at complaint handling processed and managing heavy workloads under time pressure
Certification
- Completed Practical Legal Training (PLT) with Distinction average - 2009
- Admitted as as a Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW -2009
- Director’s Service Excellence Award in Management - 2022
- Nominee for Director’s Service Excellence Award in Management - 2024
References
Sally Dowling SC
Director of Public Prosecutions
Phone: 92858888 Email: sdowlingSC@odpp.nsw.gov.au
Craig Hyland
Solicitor for Public Prosecutions
Phone: 9285 8760 Email: chyland@odpp.nsw.gov.au
Michelle England SC
7 Garfield Barwick Chambers
Phone: 0422 364 465
Timeline
Deputy Solicitor of Public Prosecutions (Legal Operations)
New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
06.2023 - Current
Principal Legal Adviser
New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
11.2020 - 05.2023
Legal Adviser and Senior Legal Adviser (Director’s Chambers)
New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
09.2017 - 10.2020
Manager (Legal) (DPO VIII)
New South Wales Ombudsman
03.2016 - 12.2016
Senior Investigator (Legal)
New South Wales Ombudsman
01.2016 - 03.2016
Level 2 Lawyer
New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
05.2012 - 01.2016
Level 1 Lawyer
New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
07.2010 - 04.2012
Legal Clerk (Legal Development Program)
New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions
07.2009 - 06.2010
Research & Legal Officer
NSW Attorney General’s Department
02.2009 - 07.2009
Legal Clerkship
NSW Attorney General’s Department
11.2008 - 01.2009
Executive Development Program (including 360 Degrees And Coaching) -
The Director of Public Prosecution And ILEC
Senior Executive Enhancement Program -
Public Services Commission
Senior Managment And Communication Course -
Manara Consulting
Harvard Manage Mentor (including Management Modules) -
Harvard Business School
Bachelor of Laws (Hons)/Bachelor of Arts - Communication (Social Inquiry)
University of Technology Sydney
Bachelor of Laws/Bachelor (Honours) - Communications (Social Inquiry)
University of Technology Sydney
High School Certificate -
Pymble Ladies’ College
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