Mr Scott Ashby

Scott Ashby is the Chief Executive of the Department of Water, Land and Biodiversity Conservation (DWLBC) in the South Australian Government. DWLBC provides leadership in natural resource management and enables industry, community and government to develop and manage land, water and biodiversity resources in a way that balances economic, social and environmental outcomes in South Australia. He is also a South Australian Commissioner on the Murray Darling Basin Commission.

His previous role was as Deputy Chief Executive, in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet (DPC), South Australian Government. Here he led DPC's involvement in national water reform, including most recently at COAG and through his membership of the First Ministers' Senior Officials Group on Dry Inflow Contingency Planning.

As Deputy Chief Executive, DPC, Scott oversighted Divisions delivering policy and operational outcomes in the areas of social inclusion, aboriginal affairs and reconciliation, the arts, the University City Program, the Adelaide's Thinkers in Residence program, the Bragg Initiative, State Records, Government Publishing and the Department's corporate services.

Scott has worked in the South Australian and Victorian public sectors since 1991, gaining experience in a wide range of policy areas. Before moving back to South Australia, he was Executive Director, Strategic Policy in the Victorian Department of Primary Industries and held a number of Executive positions in the Department of Natural Resources and Environment.

His executive experience in these roles included responsibility for policy areas addressing natural resource management, environment protection, water management, greenhouse and climate change, forestry, minerals and petroleum development, gene technology, science policy, economic development, and intergovernmental relations.

Scott holds a Graduate Diploma of Business Administration, a Graduate Diploma in Social Sciences, and a Bachelor of Arts (Honours). He is also a Fellow of Leadership Victoria - Williamson Community Leadership Program.

Previous Executive Positions

• Deputy Chief Executive, Departmental Affairs, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Government of South Australia.
• A/Chief Executive, Public Sector Performance Commission, Government of South Australia.
• Deputy Secretary, Policy Implementation, Department of the Premier and Cabinet, Government of South Australia.
• Executive Director, Strategic Policy, Strategic Policy Division, Department of Primary Industries, Victorian Government.
• A/Deputy Secretary, Department of Primary Industries, Victorian Government.
• Director, Policy Co-ordination, Portfolio and Corporate Management Division, Department of Primary Industries, Victorian Government.
• A/Executive Director, Minerals and Petroleum, Minerals and Petroleum Victoria, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victorian Government.
• Director, Policy Co-ordination, Policy Co-ordination Division, Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Victorian Government

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