Appointment of acting Ageing and Disability Commissioner

Wednesday, 27 March 2024

The outgoing NSW Ageing and Disability Commissioner, Robert Fitzgerald, will end his term as Commissioner from tomorrow, 28 March 2024.

During his time as the Ageing and Disability Commissioner, Mr Fitzgerald has worked tirelessly to safeguard and promote the rights of older people and adults with disability across our state.

In particular, he has been a champion for vulnerable people and their right to live free from abuse in their home and in their community.

On behalf of the NSW Government, we thank Mr Fitzgerald for his important work serving as the inaugural Commissioner and wish him well in his new role as the Age Discrimination Commissioner with the Australian Human Rights Commission.

From Monday 1 April, Kathryn McKenzie will take on the role of NSW Acting Commissioner until the end of June 2024.

Ms McKenzie is the current Director of Operations at the Ageing and Disability Commission (ADC) and has been with the agency since its establishment in 2019.

Prior to the ADC, Ms McKenzie held senior positions at the NSW Ombudsman, including as Director of Disability where she managed the teams responsible for the Official Community Visitors scheme, disability-related complaints, investigations, death reviews, and led the standing inquiry into abuse and neglect of adults with disability.

Ms McKenzie is well placed to lead the ADC in the interim, until a permanent Commissioner is appointed.