Annual Report 2016-17

17 Overview of the Commission Our executive team The executive team is responsible for our operations and ensuring we achieve our statutory goals. Mr Murali Sagi PSM BEng GradCertPSM MBA FACS MIEAust Dip Law (LPAB) — Deputy Chief Executive Mr Murali Sagi works in close partnership with the Chief Executive, providing leadership and ensuring that internal governance, planning, policies and systems enhance the Commission’s capability and capacity. He contributes to the development and implementation of strategic decisions and provides guidance as a member of the Executive, to achieve the Commission’s objectives and service outcomes. In addition, he is responsible for information management, corporate services and deputises for the Chief Executive in his absence. Mr Sagi commenced employment with the Commission in 1992 and has over 25 years of experience in managing complex programs and policy challenges in both the government and private sectors. He has provided technical assistance to many organisations including AusAID, United Nations, Asian Development Bank and the Commonwealth Secretariat, London, for capacity-building projects in the legal sectors of Indonesia, West Bank and Gaza, Cambodia, India, Sri Lanka and Papua New Guinea. Mr Sagi is a qualified engineer, computer specialist, management professional and a lawyer. Mr Sagi was awarded the Public Service Medal in the 2007 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for outstanding service to the Judicial Commission, particularly in the provision of information technology. He was also named as the “Chief Information Officer – Government” of the year at the 2003 National IT&T awards and is a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society. Mr Ernest Schmatt PSM Dip Law (BAB) — Chief Executive Mr Ernest Schmatt is responsible for all of the Commission’s operations. He has input into all aspects of the Commission’s work, from financial management to research, complaints, information systems management and education activities. Mr Schmatt held senior legal and management positions in the public sector before his appointment, in October 1987, as the first Deputy Chief Executive of the Judicial Commission. In March 1989, he was appointed to the position of Chief Executive of the Judicial Commission. He was admitted to the Bar in 1979 and is a solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW and the High Court of Australia. Mr Schmatt was awarded the Public Service Medal in the 1997 Queen’s Birthday Honours List for service to public sector management and reform, public sector industrial relations and judicial education in NSW. Mr Schmatt was elected to the Board of Governors of the International Organization for Judicial Training (IOJT) in 2009 and to the Executive Committee (now Board of Executives) of the IOJT in 2011. He was re-elected to this position in 2013 and 2015. Since 1994, he has been a member of the Advisory Board of the Commonwealth Judicial Education Institute and serves on the management committee of the Asia Pacific Judicial Reform Forum. Mr Schmatt is also an Honorary Associate of the Graduate School of Government, the University of Sydney. He has been involved in judicial capacity- building programs in China, Indonesia, Cambodia, Sri Lanka, Malaysia, the Philippines, Turkey and Papua New Guinea.