Katharine Purton
Summary
Dedicated public servant professional with over 15 years experience across all levels of Government, I can confidently provide high level strategic support and advice, prioritise different demands and responsibilities in a high paced, demanding and politically sensitive environment. Dependable and quick-learning team player with effective communication and organization skills. Driven and resourceful administrative professional assisting with work of high-achieving executives. Track record of supporting professional needs providing strategic advice and navigating risk of behalf of the executive. Successfully manages high-volume workloads in rapidly changing environments. History of performing well under pressure and experienced in fast-paced environments adapting well to changing situations.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Project Officer, Investigations
Office of the Chief Investigator, Transport Safety
07.2023 - Current
- Provide highly confidential senior project support to a team of 8 senior team members, investigating public transport and marine safety matters
- Coordinate and manage annual reporting requirements to Office of the Victorian Information Commissioner (OVIC), including facilitating and developing the Protective Data Security Plan for the Office of the Chief Investigators annual attestation
- Project management – Manage projects including development and updating of procedures
- Assist with development of internal audit tools and conduct internal audit functions of Chief Investigators office.
Senior Executive Assistant
Office of the Chief, Commonwealth Games Transport Integration
02.2022 - 07.2023
- Lead and manage all the corporate activities for the Chief, Commonwealth Games Transport Integration including divisional business planning and support
- Manage and coordinate high level secretariat support services to 4 working groups and Tier 1 Steering Committee
- Manage the group’s compliance with Corporate and legislative requirements including gifts, benefits and hospitality reporting, accommodation services, staff health and well-being, corporate communications, and data integrity
- Provide high level Executive support management to the Chief, Commonwealth Games Transport Integration including diary, emails, committee, and board papers
- Manage human resources workforce activities through support in the management of workforce planning activities, including recruitment, workforce training and staff movements.
Senior Executive Assistant
Office of the Deputy Secretary, COVID19 Response and Resilience
12.2021 - 05.2022
- Coordination of all information to and from the Deputy Secretary ensuring effective and efficient use of the Deputy Secretary time
- Managed and developed effective relationships with internal and external stakeholders including DTP Senior Leadership Group, Ministers, Ministerial Advisors and Departmental Secretaries, ensuring sound advise and support for stakeholder satisfaction
- Managed the procurement of goods and services for the Office of the Deputy Secretary
- Established and maintained high level confidential executive support
- Managed and coordinated highly complex diary and email for the Deputy Secretary.
Regional Strategy Coordinator
Barwon Regional Partnership
01.2021 - 09.2021
- Lead the establishment and successful operation of the second term Barwon Regional Partnership, including delivery of a complex meeting cycle and engagement schedule
- Manage and facilitate discussions between Partnership members and other government agencies to achieve agreed outcomes for the region
- Support the Barwon Regional Partnership members to drive and deliver agreed outcomes for Regional Victoria
- Prepare all Ministerial correspondence and event briefings on behalf of the partnership, Executive Officer and Deputy Secretary for the Minister of Regional Development
- Manage, coordinate, and deliver the 2021-2022 Budget Submission to Government on behalf of the Partnership.
Executive Assistant
Office of the Deputy Secretary, Rural and Regional Victoria
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Coordinate and manage the workflow and approvals for all eBriefings, PPQ’s, Cabinet Submissions and other time critical approvals for the Office of the Deputy Secretary and Regional Director’s office
- Provide Secretariat support to the Rural and Regional Victoria Executive Leadership Team
- Manage the smooth operation of the Deputy Secretary and Regional Director’s office and provide high level executive assistant support
- Coordinate and oversee the return-to-work requirements for the Barwon South West office
- Coordinate the management and governance of the Regional Development Victoria Barwon South West COVID 19 Response and Recovery meetings with Local Government CEO’s, Federal Government teams and other identified key stakeholders
- Produce a range of written material, including briefings, correspondence, and meeting papers for Ministers and the RRV Executive.
Executive Assistant
Executive Director, Ministerial and Portfolio Services
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Ongoing acting roles as the Senior Executive Assistant in the following offices: Office of the Hon Jaclyn Symes MLC, Office of the Secretary
- Coordinate and manage the workflow and approvals for all ebriefings, PPQ’s, Cabinet Submissions and other time critical documents
- Provide back up support to the Ministerial and Portfolio Services Business Manager
- This includes raising purchase orders, monitoring contracts, procuring short term contracts, monitoring contract risks, and assisting with the Audit and Integrity committee
- Provision of project support to the Incoming Government Project Team
- Support the Executive Director with Integrity and Protected Disclosure matters.
Communications Advisor
Mr Tony Pasin MP, Federal Member for Barker
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Management and creation of media releases – Community related issues
- Creation of content and management of monthly e-newsletters to constituent database – 10,000 recipients
- Provide election campaign promise feedback to constituents on behalf of the Member
- Travel within the electorate and to Canberra with the Member to assist with Constituent and policy support
- Assist in the development of the Electorate incumbency plan
- Daily communication with internal and external stakeholders – Coalition staff, Minister’s office, Prime Minister’s office, community groups, schools, constituents.
Procurement Business Partner
Barwon Region Water Authority
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Assist with all Barwon Water Contracts and Tenders for Business related services
- Provide support on purchasing rules to all employees across Barwon Water
- Manage the Signing under Seal process for all Barwon Water tenders and contracts
- Manage and coordinate vendor creation, maintenance and verification process as required
- Oversee the processing, verification and issue resolution of centralised Barwon Water electricity billing and reporting for over 300 sites
- Coordinate, manage and reconcile the corporate purchasing cards
- Oversee banking for Barwon Water purchasing cards
- Provide advice on various purchasing card rules and regulations.
Executive Governance Support Officer
Glenelg Shire Council, Portland
01.2007 - 01.2015
- Provide Secretariat services to Councillors and Senior management team for monthly Ordinary Council Meetings
- Prepare and distribute Ordinary Council Meeting agenda and minutes for subsequent approval by the Council using established procedures
- Implement action required following Council and other meetings as requested
- Provide high level, accurate, timely and strategic communication assistance to the Mayor and Councillors
- Respond to various constituent enquiries on behalf of the Mayor and Councillors, including drafting letters and responding to event invitations
- Diary management on behalf of the Mayor and Councillors calendar of events
- Undertook the role of Freedom of Information Officer (FoI) and Information Privacy (IP) Officer including the provision of advice and response to FoI and IP enquiries and applications
- Maintained and collated the Public Register for each financial year and responded to requests to view the Register
- Maintained and updated the relevant Delegations of Authority and presented these to Council when required for approval
- Plan and coordinate Councils Australia Day and ANZAC Day civic celebrations
- Management and planning of Citizenship ceremonies for the Glenelg Shire, including liaising with eternal State Government departments and other key stakeholders
- Assisted in the development of Council land and building leases and licences and coordinated the management of current leases and licences
- Liaised with the Mayor, Councillors, Chief Executive Officer, and other Senior Management in arranging meetings, appointments, and official duties.
Education
Successfully completed VCE -
Ballarat High School
Skills Training Australia -
Diploma of Community Services
Deakin University (currently studying part time, due for completion 2028). -
Bachelor of Psychological Science
Skills
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Strong Organisational Abilities
- Strategic Planning
- Schedule Management
- Stakeholder Relations
- Effective problem solving
- Excellent interpersonal abilities
- High-level confidentiality
- Calendar Management Proficiency
- Adaptable to change
Clearance
AGSVA (Australian Government Security Vetting Agency) Baseline Security Clearance - 2023
References
Referees will be provided upon request.
Timeline
Senior Project Officer, Investigations
Office of the Chief Investigator, Transport Safety
07.2023 - Current
Senior Executive Assistant
Office of the Chief, Commonwealth Games Transport Integration
02.2022 - 07.2023
Senior Executive Assistant
Office of the Deputy Secretary, COVID19 Response and Resilience
12.2021 - 05.2022
Regional Strategy Coordinator
Barwon Regional Partnership
01.2021 - 09.2021
Executive Assistant
Office of the Deputy Secretary, Rural and Regional Victoria
01.2019 - 01.2021
Executive Assistant
Executive Director, Ministerial and Portfolio Services
01.2018 - 01.2019
Communications Advisor
Mr Tony Pasin MP, Federal Member for Barker
01.2016 - 01.2018
Procurement Business Partner
Barwon Region Water Authority
01.2015 - 01.2016
Executive Governance Support Officer
Glenelg Shire Council, Portland
01.2007 - 01.2015
Successfully completed VCE -
Ballarat High School
Skills Training Australia -
Diploma of Community Services
Deakin University (currently studying part time, due for completion 2028). -
Bachelor of Psychological Science
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