Lois Boswell is the chief executive of the South Australian Department of Human Services which brings together a range of responses to support vulnerable people and to help build resilient communities. Her portfolio oversees strategic policy and reform in areas relating to disability, youth justice, family services, community investment and concessions. Lois is also an adjunct professor with the University of South Australia.

Lois is an experienced executive who has influenced many areas of public policy including development, planning, disability, mental health, equity, environment, child protection, further education and consumer affairs. In 2013, she was recognised by the Governor of South Australia and inducted into the Women’s Honour Roll.

Her diverse background includes positions such as executive director of Cabinet Office, deputy chief of staff to SA Premier Weatherill, social impact assessor for the Regional Forest Agreements, Consumer Trader and Tenancy Tribunal member, Community Legal Centre manager and chief of staff to three government ministers.

Lois was formerly the inaugural chief executive of the Lifetime Support Authority, South Australia’s personal injury scheme providing long-term treatment, care and support for people who have received serious lifelong disabilities from motor vehicle crashes.

In the Department of Treasury and Finance, Lois led the compulsory third party insurance reform project to change tort law damages, reduce premiums and create the new no-fault care system as part of the move towards a National Injury Insurance Scheme.

Lois has also led the development of influential South Australian planning strategies, including the 2011 update of South Australia’s Strategic Plan and the 30-Year Plan for Greater Adelaide, which received national recognition as the most advanced integrated Australian city plan.

Lois is a lawyer and the recipient of a LexisNexis Legal Research Prize for Torts. She also holds a Masters of Applied Science in Social Ecology, for which she received the University Prize for Outstanding Research.

Appointed Director, South Australia August 2021.