SESSION 1
National Investigations Symposium 2027
WEDNESDAY 2 JUNE 2027: 11:00am - 12:30pm
Explore the speakers, presentations and panellists across the 3 streams:
STREAM 1A: CONTEMPORARY INVESTIGATIVE CHALLENGES
Mary Davitt
Associate Director Integrity
TAFE NSW
Values without virtue: why good people do bad things in good organisations
The Public Sector has values. Most organisations have values. But do values produce ethical behaviour? This presentation challenges the assumption that values, rules and compliance systems alone create integrity, examining why ‘good’ people can engage in misconduct within otherwise good organisations.
Drawing on behavioural and ethical theory, it explores how ethical fading, moral disengagement, rationalisation, organisational and social norms and delivery pressures can normalise misconduct. It considers the critical role leaders play in establishing accountability through what they reward, tolerate and challenge, and how accountability gaps can create permission for misconduct and undermine formal controls.
Using practical examples, the session examines why investigating individual wrongdoing without considering leadership, behavioural and cultural context risks treating symptoms rather than causes.
Delegates will leave with practical suggestions to identify drivers and organisational enablers of misconduct and translating investigation insights into stronger accountability, organisational virtues and cultures where integrity is practised, not merely proclaimed.
Aaron Bantoft
a/Director Investigations and Corruption Prevention
DEPARTMENT OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, NSW
Louise Lazzarino
Executive Director
Governance & Risk Assurance
DEPARTMENT OF CUSTOMER SERVICE, NSW
Investigation into the recruitment of family and friends
In 2026, the Department of Customer Service (DCS) conducted a Public Interest Disclosure (PID) investigation into allegations that a hiring manager had attempted to influence a recruitment panel to place an existing employee into a talent pool at a higher grade.
What initially appeared to be an isolated concern ultimately uncovered a broader pattern of irregular recruitment practices spanning several years. The investigation identified multiple instances involving the recruitment, promotion, and line management of family members and individuals with close personal connections to decision-makers.
This presentation examines how these practices remained undetected for an extended period and explores the warning signs that were overlooked throughout various recruitment processes. It will highlight critical control points where concerns could have been identified and addressed earlier, including declaration requirements, panel processes, governance oversight, and post-recruitment monitoring.
The session will provide practical insights into identifying, assessing, and managing conflicts of interest in recruitment and employment decisions, while highlighting the importance of robust governance frameworks in maintaining integrity and public confidence in merit-based recruitment.
STREAM 1B: EMERGING RISKS AND ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
Stephen Watson
Principal Investigator
ICAC NSW
Paul Apthorpe
Detective Sergeant
NSW POLICE
Cryptocurrency-facilitated crime and corruption
Operation Wyvern was a major investigation undertaken by the NSW ICAC, together with the NSW Police Force and NSW Crime Commission, into allegations of corruption involving Transport for NSW employees who allegedly awarded hundreds of millions of dollars in infrastructure contracts in exchange for kickbacks in cash, gold and cryptocurrency.
Stephen Watson from NSW ICAC will share insights and key learnings from Operation Wyvern, joined by Paul Apthorpe from the NSW Police Force Cybercrime Squad, who will explore how cryptocurrency is being used to facilitate crime and the
challenges it presents for investigators.
STREAM 1C: INVESTIGATING IN THE REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT
Sonia Muntillo
NSW Privacy Commissioner
INFORMATION AND PRIVACY COMMISSION
Workplace integrity, privacy and records access
Improper access to records for personal curiosity as public officials is a source of misconduct investigations and reflects a broader organizational culture challenge. Whether driven by curiosity, personal interest or other motivations, inappropriate access to personal records can be and often is a breach of privacy. When employees access records for unauthorised purposes, they not only breach privacy but also undermines our integrity as public officials, erodes public trust and confidence in our public institutions and conflicts with the core values of the public sector.
This discussion will explore the ethical, legal and practical responsibilities associated with protecting personal information and preventing unauthorised access to records. Panellists will examine how investigators identify and assess allegations of improper access, navigate competing legislative obligations, and the critical role of leadership in fostering an organisational culture that upholds ethical conduct, integrity and privacy
Jim Modrouvanos
CEO & Chief Investigator
OFFICE OF TRANSPORT SAFETY INVESTIGATIONS
Investigating what matters most: A risk based approach to maximising safety outcomes
The Office of Transport Safety Investigations (OTSI) is the independent transport safety investigator for NSW, conducting investigations into rail, bus and ferry incidents and accidents.
With more than 500 incident notifications received each year, OTSI must determine which investigations have the greatest potential to improve safety. This presentation explores OTSI’s risk-based approach to prioritising investigations, balancing high-profile incidents with emerging systemic issues that may otherwise remain undetected.
Drawing on examples including recurring bus fires, rollaways and light rail fire events, the session will show how investigators identify patterns and trends across notifications, including issues that reoccur while investigations are under way. It will examine how targeted investigation selection helps maximise safety benefits by focusing resources on occurrences with the greatest potential to prevent future harm.
Relevant to transport and other safety-critical sectors, this presentation will provide practical insights into recognising systemic risks, prioritising investigative effort and delivering meaningful safety outcomes.
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The NIS is a joint initiative of the NSW ICAC, the NSW Ombudsman and IPAA NSW
@2026 Institute of Public Administration Australia NSW Division Ltd