Meredith Watson

• Lead implementation of general governance policies, including security clearances, conflict of interest disclosures, and record-keeping practices
• Maintain division-wide communication platforms such as the intranet and SharePoint sites
• Facilitate regular divisional meetings
• Assist in maintenance of division and branch-level organisation charts to ensure clarity in reporting lines
• Coordinate recruitment processes, including induction for new staff and offboarding for departing employees
• Lead divisional business planning activities to align with organisational goals and priorities
• Monitor and report on key risks affecting the division, ensuring timely mitigation strategies
• Manage budgeting and financial forecasting processes, ensuring alignment with divisional goals
• Oversee procurement activities, contract management, and the processing of invoices to ensure smooth operations
• Prepare briefings to Chief Counsels and Chief Operating Officer
• Lead mandatory reporting to the Office of Legal Services Coordination

• Manage/Coordinate Legal & Audit (LAD) reporting including:

o COO/DEPSEC office Forward Work Plan (FWP)

o Secretary’s Office Tracker

o Quarterly Financial Compliance reporting

• Manage/Coordinate items for DVA Interdepartmental Committees

o FWP for EMB, FSSC, ARC and RC/MRCC

o Action item updates and register for EMB, ARC, FSSC and RC/MRCC

o Coordination of papers

o Coordination of legal review of RC/MRCC Commission Submissions

o Annual Report

• Quality Assurance of correspondence and legal products prior to CC clearance
• Lead coordination of Senate Estimates
• Engaged with and mentored LAD office support staff, consistent with APS Act and other Commonwealth law requirements to ensure staff have a healthy, happy and productive work environment
• Lead the development, evaluation and implementation of administrative practices, systems and procedures to optimise efficiency and support the achievement of divisional business outcomes.
• Worked closely and collaboratively to maintain productive working relationships with LAD Division staff and external stakeholders.

• Provided high-level administrative support to the Chief Counsel and division, ensuring timely provision of legal advice, correspondence, and reports.
• Coordinated governance and corporate reporting, maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines. Liaised with internal and external stakeholders, fostering clear communication and collaboration.
• Managed office tasks, supporting the Executive Officer as needed and ensuring efficient workflow.
• Prepared and quality-checked documents, adhering to departmental standards.
• Produced regular reports and coordinated responses to stakeholder requests, ensuring timely outcomes.

• Coordination of Questions Time Briefs
• Coordination and quality assurance of Parliamentary products
• Reporting to senior management and the Department along with liaison with the Minister's Office
• Contribute to the maintenance of associated guidelines, providing advice in relation to these guidelines
• Assist with reviewing and implementing improvements to systems and processes
• Outlook shared mailbox management

• Provided secretariat support to meetings, including scheduling and co-ordinating meetings, minute taking, and preparing briefings for senior management
• Provided administrative support including travel coordination, processing invoices, basic budget tracking, and communicating budget status to members and departmental stakeholders
• Day-to-day management of the National Consultation Framework including mailbox management and other operational duties

• Coordination of Senate Estimates Briefs and Questions on Notice
• Quality assurance of Parliamentary products
• Coordination of Question Time Briefs
• Reporting to senior management and the Department and Liaison with the Minister’s Office Processing of ministerial briefs and submissions
• Management of the PSU mailbox

• Mailbox assessment, allocation & triage
• Progression of items in the PDMS distribution list
• Liaison between Minister’s Office and business areas
• Coordination of incoming and outgoing referrals
• Quality Assurance of Ministerial Correspondence

• Undertake quality assurance activities
• Track and monitor workflow of divisional tasking’s
• Assist, mentor and engaging with other Coordination Officers and Executive Support staff across DVA
• Provide support to the First Assistant Secretary and Coordination team
• Development of appropriate systems, procedures and controls to enhance accuracy, timeliness and presentation of workflow across the work area
• Filing and record management functions in accordance with departmental policy
• Coordination of divisional input to internal and external committee meetings (including DVA Commissions)

• Coordination of DVA Learning & Development (L&D) event management including liaising with external facilitators, the APSC and the Secretary’s Office
• Support with coordination of other corporate L&D events
• Management of Studies Assistance Program
• Respond to queries and issues allocated to me in the L&D mailbox
• Assist the HR Help Desk in trial of L&D management of DVAtrain related issues and queries