Queensland’s Public Trustee appointed

Acting Public Trustee, Samay Zhouand, has been appointed to the role of Queensland’s Public Trustee for a period of three years, Attorney-General and Minister for Justice Shannon Fentiman announced today.

Mr Zhouand brings extensive experience in public administration and the Queensland legal system to the role, in which he has been acting since 2019.

Minister Fentiman said Mr Zhouand had been undertaking considerable reform within the organisation since acting in the role, and this work would now continue under his leadership.

“During his time as Acting Public Trustee, Mr Zhouand has worked tirelessly to implement new customer-focused strategies within the Public Trustee,” Minister Fentiman said.

“He has successfully steered the organisation through the COVID-19 pandemic, ensuring customers had continued access to the essential services provided by the Public Trustee, and positioned the organisation for the post-pandemic economic recovery.”

As well as this, he has established customer and government reference groups to increase stakeholder trust, transparency and engagement, and implemented a new framework for fees, charges and governance.

Mr Zhouand was the successful candidate from a field of both internal and external applicants who went through an extensive recruitment process for the three-year appointment, which included a panel of experts preparing a recommendation for the Attorney-General.

Prior to taking up the role of acting Public Trustee, Mr Zhouand held senior executive positions with Queensland Corrective Services and the former Department of Community Safety.

He also has extensive experience working as a solicitor within Crown Law and various government departments and was admitted as a Barrister-at-Law in 2002.

“Mr Zhouand demonstrates a commitment to advancing the public interest and confidence in our system of government through ethical decision-making, and the Public Trustee and its customers will continue to benefit from his strong leadership,” Minister Fentiman said.

“I congratulate Mr Zhouand on his appointment as Queensland’s Public Trustee.”

ENDS

Media Contact: Penni Pappas – 0438 747 540