Official Secretary and Chief of Staff

Biography

Brian L. Davies Esq LVO substantively assumed the position of Official Secretary and Chief of Staff to Her Excellency the Governor on 24 November 2012. He had previously held this Office from 14 October 1996 until 3 July 2009 and served both Governor Samuels and Governor Bashir. As the Chief Advisor, he is responsible for the provision of advice and support in relation to the Governor’s constitutional, ceremonial and communal roles. In addition, he performs the role of Clerk of the Executive Council.

Mr Davies commenced his Public Service career in the Police Department, after which he spent some time in Treasury Sub-Departments. Following appointment to the Public Service Board of New South Wales in 1979, he subsequently was tasked for various special assignments including as a Member of a Team Review of Land Board Offices in New South Wales; Secretary of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Certain Committal Proceedings Against K E Humphreys, with Royal Commissioner The Honourable Sir Laurence Street AC KCMG, Chief Justice; Secretary/Research Officer for the Evaluation of the Commonwealth-State Joint Task Force on Drug Trafficking with Consultant, former Commissioner of Police for New Zealand, Mr R J Walton CMG OBE QPM ED

In 1985, he moved to the Supreme Court of New South Wales as Executive Officer and shortly thereafter, Deputy Chief Executive Officer, with responsibility for the day to day operations and matters affecting Judges and their staff, in what was and is the largest Supreme Court in Australia. He was responsible through the Chief Executive Officer to Chief Justice Street and subsequently Chief Justice, The Honourable Murray Gleeson AC.

In 1994, he was invited, as Executive Director,  to establish  The  Royal Commission into the New South Wales Police Service, with Royal Commissioner The Honourable Justice J R T Wood. This became the largest Royal Commission in New South Wales history.

Mr Davies was admitted as a Barrister of the Supreme Court of New South Wales in 1979; holds office as a Justice of the Peace and was appointed as a Lieutenant of The Royal Victorian Order (LVO) by Her Majesty The Queen, for services to The Crown, in 2007.

With his partner of nearly 30 years, he has three daughters and one grandson.