Executive profiles
Special Manager
Stephen O'Bryan KC
Born and educated in Melbourne, Victoria, Mr O’Bryan is a lawyer with over 40 years’ experience. He holds Bachelor of Laws and Master of Laws degrees from the University of Melbourne. Following articles at law firm Phillips Fox and Masel, he was associate to former High Court justices the late Sir Keith Aickin KBE QC and Sir Daryl Dawson AC KC. He joined the Victorian Bar in 1983 and took silk in 2003.
Mr O’Bryan has extensive experience in the fields of administrative, commercial, trade practices, state revenue, criminal asset confiscation and regulatory law. He has appeared in Royal Commissions, boards of inquiry and coronial inquests as well as various investigations and proceedings commenced by state and federal regulators. His experience includes a range of civil matters involving Victoria Police and the Australian Federal Police, the Office of Public Prosecutions and many other Victorian and Commonwealth government agencies.
Between 2013 and 2017 he served the full non-renewable term as founding Commissioner of Victoria’s Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC). As IBAC Commissioner, he was an independent officer of Parliament and was responsible for its strategic leadership. Following his term at IBAC, Mr O’Bryan returned to the Victorian Bar doing mainly advisory and alternative dispute resolution work. He also in this period voluntarily served on the governing bodies of not-for-profit entities that operate substantial businesses.
Deputy Special Managers
Operations and Strategy
Christine Howlett PSM
Ms Howlett is a highly experienced senior executive in public policy, strategy and governance roles, with expertise in leading multi-disciplinary teams in independent commissions of inquiry and regulatory agencies.
Throughout her career, Ms Howlett has specialised in work to prevent public harm and promote regulatory compliance. Key roles have included leading strategy and research to prevent corruption and police misconduct with the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission, and Royal Commissions into Victoria Police and the NSW Police; counter organised crime and money laundering with the National Crime Authority; improve child protection and human services with the NSW Department of Family and Community Services; and to prevent deaths in custody with the Australian Institute of Criminology.
Ms Howlett has been awarded a Master of Arts (Criminology by Research) and Bachelor of Arts (Combined Honours) from the University of Melbourne, as well as management qualifications from the Australian Graduate School of Management. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and has completed a Churchill Fellowship.
In 2024, Ms Howlett was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in preventing social harm and exceptional contribution to public sector integrity.
Governance, Risk and Assurance
David McEvoy
Recently retired from professional services having practised for over 25 years as a Restructuring Partner with PwC and PPB Advisory, Mr McEvoy is a highly experienced corporate advisor with particular expertise in financial diagnostics, risk analysis and stakeholder management. Over the course of his career Mr McEvoy has conducted many significant restructuring and turnaround projects across a range of sectors, including infrastructure, media and healthcare.
Mr McEvoy holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons) and a Diploma in Professional Accounting from University College Dublin and is a Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and New Zealand and a Member of Australian Restructuring Insolvency and Turnaround Association.
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