Meet the New NDIA CEO, Graeme Head AO
The Australian Government has announced that Mr Graeme Head AO will be the new National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) CEO. This is an important moment for the NDIA as it prepares for major reforms. Mr Head will begin his three-year term on Monday, 24 November 2025
The NDIA Board, led by Chair Kurt Fearnley AO, selected the new NDIA CEO after a careful national search. The board was looking for steady leadership as the scheme continues to change and evolve.
Experience and expertise of the new NDIA CEO
The new NDIA CEO brings many years of public sector experience to the role. People in the disability sector may remember him as the first NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commissioner between 2018 and 2021.
Mr Head has also worked across several senior roles in the New South Wales and Australian governments. Most recently, he served as Secretary of the New South Wales Department of Customer Service, where he focused on improving access to information and providing better support for the public. This experience aligns closely with the NDIA priorities of simpler processes and improved participant experience.
Before entering government leadership, the new NDIA CEO began his career as a nurse at Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. This is one of the busiest emergency departments in the country. In a 2024 Financial Review interview, Mr Head explained that this early experience shaped his approach to leadership.
He said that the fast-paced hospital environment taught him to manage unexpected change, make sound clinical decisions and continuously reprioritise based on what was happening around him. He described how his habits of paying attention, adapting and responding quickly were learned from skilled colleagues working in that emergency setting.
Caption: Graeme Head, now appointed as the new NDIA CEO, attends Opera Australia’s Aida with journalist and media leader, Ita Buttrose, at the Sydney Opera House on 18 July 2018. (Photo by Don Arnold/WireImage)
What the new NDIA CEO means for the NDIS
As the new NDIA CEO, Mr Head will oversee the daily work of the agency and guide the next stage of NDIS reforms.
He takes over from Rebecca Falkingham PSM, who has led the agency since October 2022 through major adjustments, and he steps in at a time when the NDIS is facing real uncertainty.
The NDIS is shifting after the review, and many participants, families and service providers feel unsure and worried about what the future holds.
He will need to work closely with the NDIA board to steady and improve a scheme that supports more than 751,000 Australians with a permanent and significant disability. With rising costs and questions about long-term sustainability front-of-mind, along with processes that are often confusing and inconsistent, the job is considerable.
Many people fear that upcoming reforms may limit choice, control or access to supports, especially for children and for those who rely on less common therapies. Poor communication, unclear timelines and sudden changes have deepened this worry.
Providers too are also under real strain, with low prices and unclear reform directions forcing some to question whether they can continue. Across the sector there is a strong feeling that the balance has tipped too far towards cost control and not enough towards the lived experience of people with disability.
Reactions to the appointment of the new NDIA CEO
Minister for Health and Aged Care, Mark Butler, welcomed the announcement.
“I am pleased to welcome Mr Head as Chief Executive Officer of the NDIA. His leadership will be crucial as we deliver the reforms needed to strengthen the NDIS and ensure it continues to improve the lives of Australians with disability.
“I also thank Ms Falkingham for her important contribution during a time of major transformation. I wish her every success for the future.”
NDIS Minister Jenny McAllister also praised his appointment.
“Graham Head will provide the strong and experienced leadership that NDIS participants expect. His career speaks for itself and his expertise will be essential as we continue to reform the Scheme.”
Mr Head shared his excitement about becoming the new NDIA CEO.
“I am very excited to be given the opportunity to play this significant role in the NDIA as key reforms to the Scheme are being shaped and rolled out.”
Looking ahead
The appointment of the new NDIA CEO has come at a crucial time. The NDIS is undergoing major reform, expectations are high, and there is significant pressure on the agency to improve participant experience and long-term sustainability. Only time will tell how Mr Head will steer the organisation through this period of change, but his mix of public sector experience and clinical background offers a strong foundation for the challenges ahead.
Lifely welcomes Mr Head’s appointment and looks forward to working with him and the NDIA Board as the agency continues to strengthen the NDIS. We remain committed to supporting a sustainable and effective Scheme that empowers regional and rural people with disability to live independently, access meaningful employment and participate fully in their communities. Together, we can continue building a future where every Australian with disability receives the high-quality and person-centred supports they deserve.
