NSW Ombudsman and executive team

NSW Ombudsman

Paul Miller PSM

Bachelor of Economics, Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Master of Laws, Masters of Business Administration, Masters of Arts (Philosophy), Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW.

Paul was appointed Ombudsman in May 2021 for a term of 7 years.

Paul joined the NSW Ombudsman's office in April 2019 as Deputy Ombudsman and Community and Disability Services Commissioner, and was acting Ombudsman from August 2020.

Executive team

Our executive team leads the office's individual business units. The Chief Deputy Ombudsman and Chief Operating Officer report directly to the Ombudsman.

Monica Wolf

Chief Deputy Ombudsman and Community Services Commissioner

Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma Education Studies, Graduate Certificate Public Policy, Graduate Certificate Public Sector Management

Monica was appointed Chief Deputy Ombudsman in August 2021. As Chief Deputy Ombudsman Monica leads a division that fulfils the NSW Ombudsman’s core statutory functions. This includes monitoring, investigating and promoting improvements in the performance, accountability and compliance of public sector agencies and community services providers, and resolving matters in the public interest.

Monica has held a number of executive roles in the organisation. This includes Deputy Ombudsman, Projects and Systemic Reviews. In these roles, her responsibilities included leading teams responsible for reviewing child deaths, policy and systemic projects, and complaints.

Monica worked with the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse for 2 years, leading teams in both investigations and policy. In 2019, Monica completed the NSW Leadership Academy Leading Executives Program.

Chris Clayton

Chief Operating Officer

Bachelor of Commerce, Graduate Diploma of Chartered Accounting, Graduate Certificate in Internal Auditing, Chartered Accountant

Chris was appointed Chief Operating Officer in August 2021. In this role, Chris directs and coordinates the internal operational activities in accordance with policies, goals and objectives set by the Ombudsman. His priority is to support the achievement of the NSW Ombudsman’s strategic objectives. He does this through ensuring effective management frameworks, communications, governance, and corporate systems and processes.

Before joining the Ombudsman’s Office, Chris had an extensive career at the Audit Office of NSW, where he held a range of executive positions. This included supporting the Auditor-General to oversee audit quality, provide audit-related technical support, innovate audit practices, and corporate governance functions.

Leanne Townsend (currently on parental leave)

Deputy Ombudsman, Aboriginal Programs

Bachelor of Arts in Sociology, Master of Arts

A proud Aniwan woman from Uralla, North West NSW, Leanne was appointed Deputy Ombudsman in March 2022. She joined the Ombudsman after 9 years as Chief Executive Officer of the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy. Prior to that, she was CEO of the NSW Reconciliation Council.  Her experience also includes Indigenous Advisor to Her Excellency Quentin Bryce, and Senior Public Affairs Officer, and Executive Officer with the Commonwealth Department of Families, Community Services & Indigenous Affairs.

As Deputy Ombudsman (Aboriginal Programs), Leanne leads the Aboriginal Programs Branch. This Branch monitors and assesses prescribed Aboriginal programs under Part 3B Ombudsman Act 1974 and engages with stakeholders to promote improvements in delivery of services and programs to Aboriginal people and communities.

Jacqueline Fredman

Deputy Ombudsman, Complaints and Resolution

Executive Master of Public Administration, Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts

Jacqueline was appointed Deputy Ombudsman in April 2022. She was a senior executive in the Commonwealth public sector for the previous 9 years, including Chief Corporate Officer (and previously Divisional Registrar) at the Administrative Appeals Tribunal. She has previously worked as the Manager, Assessments at the ICAC. As a lawyer, she has worked in private practice and as a member of the NSW Bar.

As Deputy Ombudsman (Complaints & Resolution), Jacqueline leads the Complaints and Resolution Branch, responsible for handling and resolving complaints and inquiries relating to public authorities and community services.

Helen Wodak

Deputy Ombudsman, Monitoring and Review

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Law

Helen has been working with our office since 2013, when she joined as Principal Investigator in the former Community Services Division. Helen then headed our Public Interest Disclosures team, before being appointed as Acting Deputy Ombudsman, Projects and Systemic Reviews Branch in August 2021. Prior to joining our office, Helen worked with the NSW Department of Attorney General and Justice, and with the Northern Aboriginal Justice Agency in Darwin.

As Deputy Ombudsman, Monitoring and Review, Helen leads and directs the Monitoring and Review Branch. This branch is responsible for statutory functions related to the review of the deaths of children and convening the NSW Child Death Review Team; and monitoring and inquiring into the delivery of community services.

Sanya Silver

Deputy Ombudsman, Investigations and Major Projects

Bachelor of Arts (First Class Honours), Graduate Certificate in Business (Public Sector Management), Diploma of Government (Investigation).

Sanya was first appointed Acting Deputy Ombudsman in October 2021 and was later appointed to the position of Deputy Ombudsman, Investigations and Major Projects in January 2023 to lead the newly established Investigations and Major Projects Branch.

Prior to this role, Sanya has been in several senior complaint-handling and investigation management roles within our office. Most recently she was Investigation Manager of the Investigation Team established in 2019 to lead complex and systemic investigations across the Ombudsman’s public sector and community services jurisdictions.

Louise Lazzarino

Deputy Ombudsman, Systems Oversight

Bachelor of Art (International Studies), Bachelor of Laws, Master of Laws, Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW.

Louise commenced as an Assistant Ombudsman in July 2022, and was later appointed to the position of Deputy Ombudsman. Louise leads the Systems Oversight branch which is responsible for the statutory functions relating to the oversight of the public interest disclosures scheme and the mandatory disease testing scheme.

Most recently, she was the Director of Enforcement and Prosecutions at the State Insurance Regulatory Authority. She previously held the position of Manager, Oversight Investigations at the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission, and was an Assistant Director with the Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Office of the Migration Agents Registration Authority in a variety of investigations and complaint handling areas.

Leonie Muldoon

Director, Enabling Services

Master of Laws, Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Bachelor of Arts, Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW

Leonie joined the NSW Ombudsman in January 2023. A lawyer by profession Leonie was a partner at a large international law firm in their banking and finance practice before taking up a range of corporate management/leadership roles. She held diplomatic positions in Japan, India and Singapore carrying responsibility for trade, investment and international education. Most recently she headed the South Australian Department of Trade and Investment. As Director, Enabling Services, Leonie manages teams spanning: data analytics; marketing and communications, media, quality assurance; and training and community engagement. She also carries responsibility for a number of the technology and operational transformation projects at the Ombudsman’s Office.

Megan Smith

Legal Counsel

Bachelor of Science (Psychology) (Hons), Bachelor of Laws (Hons), Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW

Megan has been the Ombudsman’s Legal Counsel since February 2016. Before this, she was a solicitor at a large commercial law firm. Megan has also co-authored a textbook on equity. Megan is the principal legal adviser to the Ombudsman. She manages the provision of legal services to the office and litigation involving the Ombudsman. She also oversees the internal governance and risk unit and policy development and governance.

Josh Faulkner

Director, Corporate

Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management

Josh joined the NSW Ombudsman in August 2023 to lead the corporate services directorate.

He has an extensive career within the NSW Government spanning more than 14 years and has led teams in corporate communications, human resources and organisational development. Most recently he worked as a senior executive at the Department of Customer Service where he headed the Employee Experience team.

As Director, Corporate Services, Josh leads the finance, human resources, information communications technology, project and change management teams and is the executive sponsor for a number of technology, transformation and people projects.