Executive leadership
Read about our executive leadership team at the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business.
Chris Lamont
Director-General
Before being appointed Director-General for the Department of Customer Services, Open Data and Small and Family Business, Chris Lamont was the NSW Small Business Commissioner. In this role he was instrumental in the design of over $8 billion in financial assistance programs to support small business during the COVID-19 pandemic, along with targeted financial assistance to support recovery following natural disasters.
Chris has extensive experience in both the public and private sectors. He has held senior positions in federal, state and local governments, working in policy development and advocacy where he helped deliver major reforms and national programs.
In the private sector he has led not-for-profit and commercial businesses across a range of industries including construction, facilities management and health care.
Having grown up in regional Queensland, Chris has a particularly strong interest in supporting regional communities.
Irene Violet
Deputy Director-General
Corporate Services
Irene has more than 20 years' experience working in state and federal governments, largely focused on service transformation and delivery. Most recently, Irene was the Deputy Director-General, Corporate Services at the Department of Energy and Climate.
Irene has a keen interest in ensuring programs are people-centric and that digital technologies are leveraged to enhance customer and employee experience. She has led policy and programs in communities, digital economy, employment, small business and training.
Irene has also led Queensland Shared Services, modernising and optimising the shared services used by agencies and departments. She has also held previous senior executive roles, with responsibilities for corporate services, customer services and specialist advisory teams, and has been a member of the Workplace Health and Safety Board of Queensland.
Steven Koch
Deputy Director-General
Customer, Small and Family Business
Steve has over 25 years of public sector experience, leading service delivery, program management and regulatory functions.
He is passionate about the economic and social outcomes that government services and programs provide, particularly the impact for individuals, and is a strong advocate for diversity and inclusion.
Steve has a strong background in small and family business as well as employment and training, having held executive roles in departments responsible for these sectors over the past decade. He grew up in a number of regional towns across Queensland and has an appreciation for the important role that small and family businesses as well as Government service delivery have in our communities.
He holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Business Management from the University of Queensland and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors – Company Directors Course.
Andrew Spina
Deputy Director-General
Data and Digital Government
Andrew has provided digital leadership in the Queensland public sector for more than 40 years, particularly in the delivery of major digital transformation, digital service delivery and shared government services.
Andrew has undertaken a number of Deputy Director-General and Chief Information Officer roles, providing strategic digital leadership within the Queensland Government Customer and Digital Group in Transport and Main Roads and in the Departments of Communities, Science, Information Technology and Innovation and Public Works and Housing.
Andrew’s commitment to digital excellence and his enduring influence has been focused on shaping a digitally proficient and service-oriented Queensland Government.