Immigration Welcomes New Management Team
Media Release - DPS 9/96
The new State Director of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Ms Christine Sykes, has begun her three year posting in the Brisbane office following the retirement of John Mahoney after forty years service.
Ms Sykes joined the Department eight years ago after being the Community Services Planner with Fairfield City Council (in Sydney), to work in the Office of Local Government when that office was part of the Immigration Portfolio.
Subsequently, she was sponsored by DIMA to participate in the Senior Women In Management (SWIM) program which included placements with the Department of Finance and the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, where she remained for five years.
Over the last eight years, her experience has included working in the areas of Social Justice, Status of Women, Commonwealth State Relations and Multicultural Affairs.
The Department's Brisbane office has also welcomed the return of Peter Watters, to the new position of Deputy State Director.
Mr Watters left Brisbane for Canberra in 1987 followed by overseas postings in Manchester and Manila. Prior to returning to Brisbane he was the Department's Territory Director in Darwin for two and a half years.
Both said today they welcomed their appointments, and are confident that they, along with the Queensland staff, will meet the challenges of a busy office in a time of change.
Brisbane, 2 October 1996
Media contact: Maree Elliott - (07) 3360 5018