Our small, dedicated workforce of approximately 45 people makes preparing high quality policy costings, research and an election commitment report possible. To successfully undertake robust analysis, operate independently and have transparent processes we have staff with unique and diverse skills and experience.

These include expertise in:

• economics
• modelling, data analysis and programming
• fiscal policy analysis
• statistical analysis
• corporate service delivery.

Our Executive team

Stein Helgeby

Parliamentary Budget Officer

Stein Helgeby was appointed Parliamentary Budget Officer on the 18 November 2020. Prior to this, he was the Deputy Secretary of Governance and Resource Management, Department of Finance. Dr Helgeby joined Finance in February 2010 as the Deputy Secretary of the former Financial Management Group.

Before this, Dr Helgeby worked in the Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance where he was responsible for budget and financial management, long-term policy research, taxation, business tax reform and intergovernmental relations. He also worked in the Department of Premier and Cabinet on national reform and climate change issues.

Prior to joining the Victorian Public Service he held various Budget and corporate services senior executive positions within the then Commonwealth Department of Finance and Administration.

Karen Whitham

First Assistant Parliamentary Budget Officer

Karen is an economist with extensive experience in public financial management, economic policy, regulation and governance. She has worked in Commonwealth and Queensland Treasury, and Ministries of Finance in Canberra, Nauru and Kiribati, as well as for Barclays Bank in the UK.

Karen joins the PBO from the National Economic Planning Office in Kiribati, and retains an enduring interest in sun, surf and sand.

Gareth ‘Gus’ Tunks

Chief Operating Officer

Gus has been in the public/parliamentary service since 1997 and has worked at the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Department of Health, Department of Finance and, since late 2012, the PBO.

Gus’ career has increasingly focussed on supporting informed decision making and empowering those in accountability and oversight roles.

John Clark

Assistant Parliamentary Budget Officer

Dr Clark joined the PBO in 2019, following roles in Treasury, the Australian Tax Office and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

Dr Clark’s experience includes macroeconomic and tax analysis and forecasting, as well as budget accounting and the Australian National Accounts.

Lewis Conn 
Assistant Parliamentary Budget Officer

Lewis Conn joined the PBO in December 2022 and is responsible for leading the development of the data management, modelling and ICT capability of the PBO. 

Previously, he was the Chief Data Officer at the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, and has also held a range of senior roles at the Department of Finance, Australian Bureau of Statistics and the United Kingdom Office for National Statistics.

Chrysanthe Psychogios

Assistant Parliamentary Budget Officer

Chrysanthe has been with the Parliamentary Budget Office for two years, originally leading the workforce and systems planning for the 2022 Federal election and Election commitments report period. As APBOr she leads the Costing function for the PBO.

A member of the public service since 1999, Chrysanthe has worked in policy development, data analysis and program management in range of portfolios including health, finance and disaster recovery.