Service NSW chief Damon Rees has announced his departure. 

Mr Rees is calling time on a long stint at the groundbreaking government agency. 

Services NSW was formed out of a revamp of the state’s old Roads and Traffic Authority (RTA), but with the key advance of bringing in other agencies’ transactional systems into a single customer touchpoint.

Mr Rees has helped steer these developments since 2017, using his experience from previous roles in technology, delivery and systems development, and integration roles at Woolworths, Westpac and Macquarie bank.

Service NSW’s ‘super app’ functions as a digital wallet, transaction and messaging point, identity and credential vault, a secure COVID check-in tool, and was even used to send out stimulus vouchers for small businesses.

While other states and the federal government continue to issue typically clunky apps with limited functionality, the Services NSW model has become something of an international standard, observed and emulated by agencies around the world. 

“From our first centre 10 years ago, we now help with over 250 million customer needs each year,” he said this week. 

“From our focus on transactional services, we’re now grounded in care and empathy, and have earned the trust to help our customers with ever greater needs.

“I have loved every minute of my time as part of this truly special team and I’m proud knowing that our state enjoys an experience of accessing the services and support of Government that is without equal globally.

“To my teammates in SNSW, thank you for everything you do and all you have taught me. I will be cheering from the sidelines as you continue to grow the impact of our wonderful organisation in ways we haven’t yet imagined.

“And finally, a special thanks to our frontline teammates who provide a level of care, empathy, and support for customers that makes all the difference. You turned up every day through the depths of COVID-19 to support your customers and teammates, and you answer the call every time Disaster strikes and help is needed. To keep your company has been humbling,” Mr Rees said.

He says he will leave the public sector to found a start-up services firm that is “practitioner-led, purpose-driven, and customer-obsessed”.