Nada Saade
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Immigration Policy Division Director
Department of Home Affairs
04.2023
- My role includes examining Immigration Detention policy and legislative issues and collaborating with stakeholders to design and implement effective solutions that align with government priorities and objectives
- This is against a backdrop of a significant shift in the Department's approach to immigration detention and status resolution since the NZYQ ruling of November 2023, overturning longstanding precedent that underpinned the lawfulness of immigration detention
- My role currently includes examining potential legislative and high level policy options to respond to potential outcomes of the YBFZ High Court matter.
Compliance and Case Resolution Division
Department of Home Affairs
04.2012
- Delivered on implementation of the Migration Amendment (Reform of Employer Sanctions) Act 2013 and assisted in guiding the overall change process
- I led the development of policy and procedures for the new sanctions framework to implement the infringement notices and civil penalties schemes in relation to illegal work
- I contributed to the development of external communication materials in relation to these reforms and engaged with internal and external (industry) stakeholders to manage impacts of the legislation on the community
- I worked collaboratively with Information Technology specialists on systems enhancements (VEVO and CCMDS system changes) to develop an information management capability to support implementation of these legislative reforms.
Status Resolution, Returns and Removals Policy
Department of Home Affairs
02.2022 - 08.2022
- I led the section in managing high level policy matters that touched on status resolution, returns and removals policy during a time of significant transition - in the lead up to a federal election and in the aftermath during a change of government
- My role in canvassing policy issues to brief government included conducting close consultation and collaboration with program and operational areas leveraging their focus on service delivery and policy implementation.
Counter Foreign Interference Policy
Department of Home Affairs
08.2021 - 01.2022
- My role included contributing to the development of a national strategy for countering misinformation and disinformation aimed at key industries, as part of a whole-of-government effort to raise awareness and build capacity to protect Australian critical infrastructure and intellectual property from foreign interference
- My role included collaborating across a number of government agencies, including security and central agencies to identify risks and mitigations and to translate this into communication information in order to raise industry awareness of risks and stimulate the development of counter foreign interference capabilities.
Audit and Assurance Branch
Department of Home Affairs
07.2018 - 04.2021
- I led the Section in administering the Policy and Procedure Control Framework (PPCF)
- The PPCF is a governance arrangement for guiding the development and maintenance of policy and procedural documentation across the organisation
- The PPCF acts as an element of the Department's internal control measures for achieving lawful and consistent business practices that are in keeping with our legislative obligations under various laws, including requirements under the Public Service Act 1999 and Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013
- I managed enhancements to the PPCF program, including strengthening guidelines and instructions on developing departmental policy and procedural documents, formulated related communications and training materials, and oversaw ICT enhancements to our intranet policy register, the PPCR (a central library of departmental holdings of official policy and procedural documents)
- I successfully delivered on the suite of enhancements to the PPCF program achieving quality results.
Administrative Compliance Management Section
Department of Home Affairs
07.2018 - 12.2019
- My role included administering the Organisational Compliance Management Framework which aims to support Home Affairs in developing and maintaining effective compliance management controls that support staff in exercising their delegated powers lawfully and appropriately, in line with legislative requirements
- I led the process for testing compliance management arrangements employed by a variety of programs across the organisation in order to examine their effectiveness
- My role included providing advice, guidance and developing tools to assist business managers enhance their controls for managing internal compliance
- I led the development of communication and training products for guiding departmental staff understand the importance of their legislative obligations
- This included raising awareness on integrity requirements and identifying resources to support staff in discharging their responsibilities and duties appropriately.
Complex Assessment and Cancellation Branch
Department of Home Affairs
03.2017 - 02.2018
- I managed the Controversial Visitors caseload and assessment process delivering quality advice to the Minister on high profile and complex cases
- Controversial Visitor assessment involves regular consultation with and briefing to Media Operations and the Minister's Office in a fast-paced work environment
- I led visa decision making on high-risk cases involving persons of interest, national security, political sensitivities and foreign policy implications
- I managed consultation with intelligence and law enforcement stakeholders and other government agencies on sensitive cases
- I achieved sound decisions on highly sensitive matters exercising good judgement and demonstrating my experience in applying relevant legislation and policy
- I guided the overall assessment process to support lawful, evidence based and quality decisions by my team.
Human Trafficking and Criminal Justice Visas Section
Department of Home Affairs
08.2014 - 02.2017
- As an Acting EL2 over a substantial period, I managed the section and the Human Trafficking and Criminal Justice Visa programs ensuring quality visa decisions and effective delivery of work objectives
- During my time in the Section, I managed delivery of reforms to the Human Trafficking Visa Framework in order to enhance visa arrangements and access to government support services for trafficked people
- Managing the Criminal Justice Visa framework entailed oversighting and exercising effective visa decisions on a high-risk caseload and managing risks in the interest of community protection, including national security.
Secretariat - Minister's Council on Asylum Seekers and Detention (MCASD)
Department of Home Affairs
08.2010 - 03.2011
- I held a management role within the Secretariat function for the MCASD
- The Council comprised high calibre non-government members in an advisory capacity to the Minister on refugee and detention matters
- The Secretariat function included managing resources and administrative matters, overseeing meeting preparations, managing communications, compiling Ministerial and other briefings and facilitation of actions for Council members
- I attended MCASD General and Sub-group Meetings, drafted minutes of meetings and facilitated information sharing between Council members and departmental Senior Executives.
Migration and Visa Policy Division - Labour Market Branch
Department of Home Affairs
12.2007 - 06.2010
- My role in the Skilled Migration Program involved the provision of legislative and policy advice and program management and implementation
- I contributed to policy development, the legislative change process and shaping the strategic policy direction of the program in line with market labour forces
- I consulted with the Department's service delivery network and other stakeholders (including external agencies) on skilled migration issues
- I addressed Ministerial representations and compiled Ministerial Submissions and briefs addressing complex policy and program issues
- My policy experience includes managing matters relating to eligible New Zealand citizens.
South-East Asia, International Division
Department of Home Affairs
09.2003 - 11.2007
- My role involved advancing the Department's international engagement agenda through facilitating dialogue and fostering a bilateral immigration relationship with foreign counterpart agencies
- Dialogue and cooperation focused on regional border security matters and combating identity fraud, irregular migration and terrorism
- My role also included developing and guiding a strategic direction for the document examination program
- This program is a capacity building tool used for combating global identity fraud
- This role included extensive stakeholder engagement across departmental functions, with international posts, across government agencies and with embassy representatives and diplomats
- Duties involved international and inter-state travel.
Education
Timeline
Immigration Policy Division Director
Department of Home Affairs
04.2023
Status Resolution, Returns and Removals Policy
Department of Home Affairs
02.2022 - 08.2022
Counter Foreign Interference Policy
Department of Home Affairs
08.2021 - 01.2022
Audit and Assurance Branch
Department of Home Affairs
07.2018 - 04.2021
Administrative Compliance Management Section
Department of Home Affairs
07.2018 - 12.2019
Complex Assessment and Cancellation Branch
Department of Home Affairs
03.2017 - 02.2018
Human Trafficking and Criminal Justice Visas Section
Department of Home Affairs
08.2014 - 02.2017
Compliance and Case Resolution Division
Department of Home Affairs
04.2012
Secretariat - Minister's Council on Asylum Seekers and Detention (MCASD)
Department of Home Affairs
08.2010 - 03.2011
Migration and Visa Policy Division - Labour Market Branch
Department of Home Affairs
12.2007 - 06.2010
South-East Asia, International Division
Department of Home Affairs
09.2003 - 11.2007
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