Reconstruction Authority Vocational Advisory Group – first meeting update
1 August 2025
The Reconstruction Authority Vocational Advisory Group (VG) delegates met for the first time on Tuesday 29 July at ɫHouse where they participated in training to support them in their new roles and began important discussions on key issues raised by members, including loss of flex hours while deployed and the inconsistency of payment of overtime for some teams and not others.
These are critical matters that the ɫwill continue to pursue on your behalf.
At this meeting, the VG elected their committee, and the ɫis pleased to introduce your delegates, who will represent your voice going forward.
Chair Lani MCNeill and Women’s Contact Officer
Lani McNeill is the Manager, Social Recovery Coordination within Preparedness and Recovery Branch and has recently joined the ɫDelegates team as the Women’s Contact Officer.
Lani is committed to representing ɫmembers during her term as Chair of the VG and holds a Bachelor of Social Work with Honours and has been with NSW Reconstruction Authority and its predecessor agencies for 6 years, coordinating recovery efforts across numerous catastrophic events.
Lani has previously worked across non-government and government agencies in a range of fields including family assistance; out of home care for children and young people; acute mental health; chronic disease and supporting end of life care planning in both hospital and out-patient settings. “Our staff support NSW communities in their most challenging times and I am committed to ensuring our staff feel supported and valued throughout their employment”.
Vice Chair Pete Christie
Pete Christie is a Senior Coordination Officer in the North Coast Regional Delivery Team. He has been a ɫDelegate for five years, and a ɫMember for 20 years.
Pete worked in Community-based Intensive Psychiatric Rehabilitation prior to coming over to the NSW Government in 2005 working in Child Protection in 2008 he moved into Inner City Homelessness and Out of Home Care funding and program reform and undertook the additional duties as District Welfare Services Functional Area Coordinator in 2012. He has been with the NSW Reconstruction Authority and its predecessor agencies since 2016 working in State Disaster Welfare and Regional Delivery. Pete holds a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) and Post Graduate Diploma in Social Health (Psychology), as well as other qualifications.
Secretary Peter Cross
Peter Cross is a Coordinator in the Illawarra, Shoalhaven and South-East team, starting in line with the emergence of Resilience NSW in 2021. He has followed a less traditional path into the Disaster preparedness and recovery space, combining under and post graduate study with a love for outdoor adventure and travel; working with young people in education and youth at risk, as well as community development for 20 years in Australia and overseas. “I encourage all ɫmembers to contact any one of the four RA delegates for confidential support, advice and resolution assistance with any issue relating to your employment with the Reconstruction Authority. To ensure fairness and create change we have to be brave and not be silent”.
Assistant Secretary Adam Tran
Adam Tran is the Manager, Strategy, in the Hazard, Risk and Data Assurance Branch. He has been a ɫDelegate for over 10 years, and a ɫmember for over 23 years. Adam worked in Youth Justice for over 13 years, in counselling, casework, project and policy roles. He has been at the NSW Reconstruction Authority and its predecessor agencies for over 16 years, working in Recovery, Disaster Funding and Risk/Strategy roles. Adam has a Master of Social Work (International Social Development), well as a range of other qualifications.
Members meeting
ٲٱMonday 11 August 2025
Time 12:00pm-1:00pm
Microsoft Teams
Meeting ID: 436 466 612 549 1
Passcode: iG7so2My
Agenda
- Introduction to newly elected delegates
- Suspension of Flex
- Office Locations
- General Business
Contacts
ɫstaff
Shane Howes
Industrial Officer
Jo Aboud
Organiser