After seven months current CEO of the NSW Reconstruction Authority (NSW RA), Simon Draper, will step aside and NSW Police Force Deputy Commissioner Mal Lanyon will once again step into the role from April 8 for a six month appointment. Mr Draper will remain in his role as Secretary of the Premier’s Department.
Deputy Commissioner Lanyon led flood recovery efforts in the Northern Rivers as the Northern NSW Recovery Coordinator in 2022 and has had an extensive career in the NSW Police Force, said Janelle Saffin, Parliamentary Secretary for Disaster Recovery in a press release.
‘I worked alongside Mal following the devastating floods in the Northern Rivers and am thrilled to be working with him again. There is no better person to lead this organisation, to ensure our state is prepared for disasters, and to help NSW recover after they strike.’
Since the 2022 Flood the Northern Rivers Reconstruction Corporation (NRRC) was plagued with issues around lack of response to the local community, and ineffective communication before it morphed into its current incarnation as the NSW RA.
Six month appointment
Greens MP and spokesperson for justice and regional NSW Sue Higginson said ‘The Reconstruction Authority and its previous versions, has been the subject of intense criticism, particularly in communities that are recovering from devastating disasters. It was short sighted of the government to not have appointed a sole CEO of the Reconstruction Authority and it was unrealistic to think the role could be undertaken by the Secretary of the Premier’s Department.’
‘It is a genuine shame that Deputy Police Commissioner Mal Lanyon will only be seconded to the role for six months. When he was temporarily appointed to be the Recovery Coordinator in the Northern Rivers following the 2022 floods, the situation markedly improved.
‘A series of former heads of the Authority have failed to grasp the level of trauma that has been experienced and the stability that is required in the role. We need a permanent move away from instability and towards a human focussed and stable role in the community.
‘Mal could be an ideal permanent CEO for the Reconstruction Authority. When he first arrived in the Northern Rivers, he took the time to sit down with parts of the community that had been completely forgotten or ignored, and he did all of this as he drastically improved the organisation of the on-ground recovery,’ said Ms Higginson.
‘Unfortunately, this temporary appointment means that communities recovering from disasters will continue to be exposed to the political convenience of temporary appointments rather than a serious investment in finding a stable and compassionate leader for a critical state authority.’
The Reconstruction Authority was established on 16 December 2022 to proactively reduce the impact of floods, fires and other major disasters, and to help communities across NSW recover from them faster. Many NSW residents live in disaster-prone
‘I’m thrilled that Mal Lanyon has been appointed as CEO of the NSW RA,’ Ms Saffin told The Echo.
‘While it is for a six months temporary role I’m sure we won’t let him go. He is fantastic as a recovery coordinator and he will use all the skill he has developed from across NSW.’
Minister for Emergency Services, Jihad Dib said, ‘The Reconstruction Authority will be in safe hands with Deputy Commissioner Lanyon, an experienced and accomplished leader with extensive experience in working hand-in-hand with communities in both disaster response and recovery. I look forward to working closely with Deputy Commissioner Lanyon in the coming months.’
