APS Head of the Digital Profession

Chris Fechner is the Head of the Digital Profession. Chris leads the Digital Profession to build the digital capability of the Australian Public Service (APS) to deliver government services fit for the digital age.

As Head of the Digital Profession, Chris:

  • helps the APS understand its current digital capabilities and work on strategies to uplift those capabilities
  • advises the APS on trends in the digital space
  • works with the APS on strategies to attract digital talent and prepare for future challenges.

Chris is the Chief Executive Officer of the Digital Transformation Agency. Chris started his two-year term as Head of the Digital Professional Stream in January 2023.

Chris has extensive experience in state government services, focusing on large scale digital and ICT reform and transformation programs as well as implementing contemporary investment, contestability, and governance frameworks.

Before joining the APS, Chris was the Queensland Government Chief Customer and Digital Officer throughout 2020 and 2021. Mr Fechner was previously the Chief Digital and Product Officer at Service NSW. Prior to that, Mr Fechner held a number of senior positions across the NSW and Queensland governments as well as in freight and rail organisations.

Chris holds an Executive Masters of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Applied Science and Computing, both from the Queensland University of Technology.