Brendan Thomas

MAJOR ACHIEVEMENTS

Thomas has built an impressive career spanning more than two decades in public service, leading transformative reforms across Australia’s criminal and civil justice systems. As a Wiradjuri man, he has played a pivotal role in addressing the over-representation of Indigenous Australians in the justice and child protection systems, while also spearheading initiatives in crime prevention, sentencing reform, victim support and restorative justice practices throughout New South Wales. 

Now as CEO of AUSTRAC, Thomas is applying his extensive leadership experience to help protect Australia’s financial system from criminal exploitation. Under his stewardship, AUSTRAC strives to continue setting global benchmarks for partnerships between regulators, industry and law enforcement through initiatives like the Fintel Alliance.  

EMPLOYMENT

Brendan’s career began in the early 2000s when he took on the role of Executive Officer at the NSW Aboriginal Justice Advisory Council. In this formative position, he led research and advocacy into the complex relationship between Aboriginal communities and the criminal justice system – work that would shape his ongoing commitment to reducing the over-representation of Indigenous Australians in the justice system. 

Building on this foundation, Brendan rose steadily through the NSW public sector, serving in various crime prevention and justice-focused leadership roles. As Director of the Crime Prevention Division and later Assistant Director General for Crime Prevention and Aboriginal Programs at the NSW Attorney General’s Department, he was instrumental in designing and implementing crime prevention strategies, community justice initiatives and programs aimed at improving outcomes for Aboriginal people.  

From 2008, Brendan spent nearly a decade as Assistant Director General and then Deputy Secretary at the NSW Department of Justice. In these senior roles, he led landmark reforms in sentencing, domestic violence policy, restorative justice and victim support services. He was also an influential member of multiple key boards, including the Australian Criminology Research Council, the Australian Institute of Criminology and the NSW Crime Commission Board, where he provided strategic oversight on complex criminal and civil justice issues. 

In 2017, Brendan was appointed CEO of Legal Aid NSW, a position that further demonstrated his commitment to access to justice for all Australians. During his four-and-a-half-year tenure, he oversaw the delivery of legal services to the community, expanded outreach to vulnerable groups and strengthened Legal Aid’s role in addressing systemic barriers faced by Indigenous communities. 

Brendan’s focus on community wellbeing and structural change continued when he returned to the NSW Department of Communities and Justice as Deputy Secretary in 2021. There, he championed initiatives to reduce the over-representation of Indigenous Australians in both the criminal justice and child protection systems. 

Finally, in January 2024, Brendan stepped onto the national stage as CEO of AUSTRAC. Leading Australia’s primary financial intelligence agency and AML/CTF regulator, he now oversees an organisation at the forefront of protecting Australia’s financial system from money laundering, terrorism financing and other forms of organised crime. As part of this role, Brendan sits on key national security and law enforcement forums, including the ACIC Board, the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce CEO Board and the Criminal Justice and Law Enforcement Forum. His leadership also connects AUSTRAC with the broader National Intelligence Community, aiming to ensure that the agency’s intelligence powers are leveraged to maximum effect. 

In his early months at AUSTRAC, Brendan has emphasised the importance of strong partnerships across government, industry and international stakeholders. He has highlighted the success of the Fintel Alliance – a collaboration that brings together AUSTRAC, industry and law enforcement to share intelligence and dismantle criminal networks. Under his leadership, AUSTRAC continues to pursue robust regulation, taking action where necessary to try and close gaps exploited by organised crime while helping regulated businesses build resilience.