Stewards on the Couch with Damien Walker
On Wednesday 26 March, IPAA Queensland hosted the second of our Stewards on the Couch series for 2025, welcoming a full and engaged room to an insightful and down-to-earth conversation with Damien Walker, Director-General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet. Facilitated by Gemma Hodgetts, the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Health and Wellbeing Queensland, the session explored Damien’s leadership journey, his career in public service, and his vision for Queensland’s future.
With more than two decades of experience in senior leadership roles across many jurisdictions, Damien shared thoughtful and reflections on strategy, industry development, and public policy – highlighting the importance of stewardship and purpose-driven leadership in today’s ever-evolving public sector landscape. His openness about challenges, pivotal career moments and personal growth resonated strongly with our attendees.
ABOUT damien Walker
Mr Damien Walker was appointed the Director-General of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in late 2024.
Most recently Damien was the former Chief Executive of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in South Australia, a role held since early 2022.
His distinguished public sector career spans more than two decades of senior leadership roles across multiple jurisdictions with a focus on strategy, industry and public policy.
He was formerly Director-General of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, in the Queensland Government. In his various Director-General roles, he drove economic growth and job creation and successfully led Queensland’s delivery of the 2018 Gold Coast Commonwealth Games.
His background also includes senior executive roles in the South Australian Government in infrastructure planning and delivery, investment facilitation, contract management and reform implementation.
Damien has also served on a number of boards in the areas of economic development, trade and investment.
Above all, Damien is passionate about gender equity in the workplace and the prevention of domestic and family violence. He is also driven to deliver initiatives to create opportunities for First Nations people.
Damien holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Planning, and further academic qualifications in property and planning.
ABOUT GEMMA HODGETTS
Gemma Hodgetts is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Health and Wellbeing Queensland, leading strategic initiatives to improve health outcomes across the state with extensive experience in senior leadership, policy, and governance roles across the Departments of Health, State Development and Community Safety. Gemma plays a key role in driving engagement and delivering innovative strategies to support healthier communities.
Gemma is one of IPAA Queensland’s Council members, contributing her expertise to support the professional development of Queensland’s public sector. She holds a Master of Business Administration and is a graduate of the Australian Insititute of Company Directors. Gemma is also an Adjunct Senior Fellow in the Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences at the University of Queensland.
ABOUT THE STEWARDS ON THE COUCH SERIES
Stewards on the Couch is a regular and highly popular feature of IPAA’s annual event program, where one or more chief executives is joined by a respected journalist or facilitator ‘on the couch’ for an informal, conversation-style interview.
These events provide the IPAA community an opportunity to learn more about the influences, priorities, and core values of stewards leading public purpose work along with the key challenges and opportunities facing their organisation and/or sector. Guests are invited to stay for networking and refreshments after the interview.