Media Release by The Hon Jane Prentice MP

Government welcomes new NDIA Chief

Joint Media Release with:

  • The Hon Jane Prentice MP
    Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services

    • The Hon Christian Porter MP, Minister for Social Services
    • The Hon Jane Prentice MP, Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services

The appointment by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) of a new CEO has been welcomed by the Turnbull Government.

Social Services Minister, Christian Porter, congratulated Mr Rob De Luca on his appointment as Chief Executive Officer of the NDIA, announced today by the Chairman of the NDIA, Dr Helen Nugent AO.

“Mr De Luca will guide the National Disability Insurance Scheme during this critical transition to full roll out across Australia over the next three years,” Minister Porter said.

“From 2012 until recently, Mr De Luca was Managing Director of Bankwest, a significant, demanding and customer-focused job. During Mr De Luca’s time as Managing Director, BankWest invested significantly in improving the experience for its one million customers. This included opening new store formats which made services available to customers seven days a week. As well as realigning the institution’s customer focus, under his leadership BankWest won the AIM WA WestBusiness Pinnacle Award for Corporate Social Responsibility Excellence in 2016 and WGEA Employer of Choice for Gender Equality.

“Mr De Luca has the depth and breadth of experience required to ensure the NDIS realises its full potential for all Australians.

“It is encouraging that a leader in our community of Mr De Luca’s standing and ability is committed to leading the NDIA during this critical transition to full scheme. Mr De Luca deeply understands the importance of improving social and economic outcomes for participants in a way that delivers a quality participant experience.”

Assistant Minister for Social Services and Disability Services, Jane Prentice, said Mr De Luca would no doubt make a significant and lasting contribution to the NDIS’s goal of improving the lives of participants, while ensuring its financial sustainability.

“Mr De Luca’s appointment by the NDIA Board sees the appointment of a Chief Executive Officer with the specialist skills to successfully roll out this ground-breaking reform as it moves towards full implementation over the next three years,” Minister Prentice said.

Mr De Luca will commence his three year term on 28 August 2017, following Mr David Bowen’s retirement as CEO that was foreshadowed in March this year.

Minister Porter paid tribute to outgoing CEO, David Bowen.

“I would like to acknowledge the enormous and significant contribution over the past five years of David Bowen as the inaugural CEO of the NDIA,” Minister Porter said.

“David’s dedication, professionalism and leadership of the NDIA have been critically important in helping to deliver on the promise of the NDIS to change the lives of people with disability, their families and carers.”

“The Government greatly appreciates David’s unwavering commitment to establishing and implementing the best possible NDIS of which all Australians can be proud and we wish David and his family all the best for the future,” Assistant Minister Prentice said.

The NDIA led an open and merit-based selection process to identify a suitable candidate to be appointed the new CEO. The selection process identified Mr De Luca as the pre-eminent candidate for the role of CEO and he has been appointed by the NDIA Board in accordance with section 160 of the National Disability Insurance Scheme Act 2013.