Meet our new Chief Operating Officer: Josie Brown

We are delighted to welcome Josie Brown as our new Chief Operating Officer, who commenced with us on 28 September 2026.

Josie joins the organisation with an impressive track record of executive leadership spanning the Victorian public sector and the banking industry. With extensive experience leading operations, professional services, organisational transformation and strategic and legislative reform, she brings a wealth of expertise that will help shape the next chapter of our organisation's success.

A career dedicated to service and transformation

Josie spent almost two decades with State Trustees, including nine years as a member of the Executive Leadership Team reporting directly to the Chief Executive Officer.

Most recently, she served as Executive General Manager, Financial Administration, where she led a division of circa 250 staff supporting approximately 9,500 vulnerable clients. In this role, she was responsible for strategic planning, operational performance, financial management, governance, risk and compliance, workforce capability and major transformation initiatives.

Prior to this, Josie held executive leadership roles overseeing Client Services and Professional Services functions, leading multidisciplinary teams across legal, taxation, financial planning, property services and client services.

Commenting on her motivations, Josies says, "Working in an organisation that has real purpose and being able to affect change and make improvements to service delivery for clients is what motivates me to lead people and change."

Leading change that matters

Throughout her career, Josie has successfully led significant organisational reforms, including the implementation of new service delivery models, large-scale workforce redesign initiatives and major technology improvements.

One of her most notable achievements was leading State Trustees' implementation of the Guardianship and Administration Act 2019, delivering full legislative compliance while maintaining continuity of service for clients.

These experiences have strengthened her reputation as a practical and strategic leader who can navigate complexity while remaining focused on delivering meaningful outcomes.

"The key to being able to make improvements, is a willingness to critically assess what you do and how you do it. There is often a better and more efficient way, being open to new ways of working helps you and the organisation be progressive," says Josie.

A values-led approach

Colleagues who have worked with Josie describe her as a collaborative and values-driven leader with a strong focus on building capability, fostering engagement and supporting high-performing teams.

Her leadership style is pragmatic, grounded in strategic thinking, sound judgement and a genuine commitment to people. She is passionate about creating environments where teams can thrive while delivering excellent outcomes for those they serve.

"The most rewarding part of leadership is being able to support people to do their best work," she says.

Looking ahead

As Chief Operating Officer, Josie will play a key role in supporting the organisation's strategic priorities, operational excellence and future growth.

While she brings extensive experience and expertise, she is equally excited about listening, learning and building relationships across the organisation in her new role.

Reflecting on her new challenge, Josie says, "I am most looking forward to being able to use my past experience and skills here at the VGSO, while learning new things, supporting improvements and increasing my knowledge of the legal sector."

Please join us in welcoming Josie Brown to the organisation and wishing her every success as she begins this exciting new chapter.