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DGS leadership team

Learn about the DGS leadership team. The Department of Government Services (DGS) Executive Leadership Team (ELT) comprises the Secretary, deputy secretaries and Chief Operating Officer. The ELT ensures services are shaped around customer experience and promotes a culture of putting customers first.

Jo de Morton, Secretary of Government Services

Jo de Morton, Secretary of Government Services

Jo is Secretary, Department of Government Services. Prior to this role, she was the founding CEO of Service Victoria. She took it from a technology startup to an award-winning digital platform for government services. Under her leadership, Service Victoria played a crucial role supporting the Victorian Government response to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Before this, Jo was the CEO responsible for establishing the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC). She has held deputy secretary roles at Department of Premier and Cabinet and Department of Primary Industries.

Jo has consistently demonstrated a commitment to customer service delivery and government service reform. She was named one of the Top 50 Public Sector Women in 2021 by the Institute of Public Administration Victoria.

Lisa Gandolfo, Deputy Secretary

Lisa Gandolfo, Deputy Secretary Consumer Affairs and Local Government.

Lisa Gandolfo is Deputy Secretary Consumer Affairs and Local Government.

Lisa has more than 20 years’ experience in the Victorian Public Sector, working in public policy roles in the Department of Justice and Community Safety and the Department of Education. Lisa has led transformation projects, such as the Victorian Child Information Sharing Scheme and Child Link.

Gayle Porthouse, Deputy Secretary

Gayle Porthouse, Deputy Secretary, Organisational Strategy, Governance and Performance

Gayle Porthouse is Deputy Secretary, Organisational Strategy, Governance and Performance.

Prior to this, Gayle was Deputy Secretary, Corporate and Government Services at the Department of Treasury and Finance. She was responsible for the efficient delivery of financial, people, information, legal, planning, procurement and technology services. She was also responsible for the management of whole-of-Victorian Government services provided to departments and agencies.

Gayle has more than 30 years’ experience in the public service across several government departments, including Department of Premier and Cabinet. During this time Gayle has led significant reform activities across the public sector.

She was named one of the Top 50 Public Sector Women in 2018 by the Institute of Public Sector Administration Victoria.

John Batho, Deputy Secretary

John Batho, Deputy Secretary, Digital and Government Services.

John Batho is Deputy Secretary, Digital and Government Services.

Prior to DGS, John was Deputy Secretary, Consumer Affairs, Liquor, Gaming and Dispute Services in the Department of Justice and Community Safety. John led important regulatory reforms to the State’s Casino, gaming and liquor laws.

John also has experience as Acting Deputy Secretary, Fairer Victoria (DPC), where he led whole-of-government initiatives to promote diversity, fairness and inclusion. Earlier in his career, John held a variety of roles in the VPS, spanning social policy, legal, governance, intergovernmental relations and industrial relations.

Lisiane Barao Macleod, Chief Operating Officer

Lisiane Barao Maclead, Chief Operating Officer

Lisiane Barao Macleod is Chief Operating Officer and leads the Operations group.

Prior to DGS, Lisiane was Chief Software Engineer at Services Australia, responsible for all aspects of technology development and implementation. She was instrumental in the development of myGov, and managed large legacy platforms including Centrelink, Medicare and Child Support and government enterprise resource platforms (ERPs).

Lisiane also has experience leading customer experience, service design and innovation initiatives. She was awarded a Public Sector Medal in 2023 for her leadership for Services Australia’s technology response and for providing guidance to Australian jurisdictions on the creation of electronic vaccination certificates during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Governance

Updated 6 November 2025

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