Jennifer Smith
Chief Executive Officer (CEO)

Jennifer has a broad range of management experience and leadership skills with demonstrated achievements in financial planning, corporate governance, policy development and the delivery of services across both private and public sectors. 

Prior to joining the RTA, Jennifer held various executive and senior roles at Brisbane City Council. These roles included Assurance Delivery and Performance Manager, Financial Projects Manager and within Corporate Treasury. 

Jennifer holds a Bachelor of Business majoring in Accountancy from the Queensland University of Technology and is an accredited Workplace Executive Coach.  Jennifer is also a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Joanna van der Merwe
Chief Financial Officer (CFO)

Joanna Van Der Merwe leads the Financial and Assurance Services division, which includes finance, governance, legal, risk, compliance and enforcement, government relations, project management, strategy and business improvement. 

Prior to joining the RTA in September 2019, Joanna held various executive roles at Brisbane City Council as well as roles in the United Kingdom's private sector at FMCF and Consumer Electronics industries. 

Joanna holds a Bachelor of Business and is a Chartered Management Accountant and a member of CPA Australia. 

Samantha Watson
Chief Customer Experience Officer (CCXO)

Samantha Watson leads the RTA's Customer Experience function, which includes a diverse range of teams who offer extensive, differentiated services which cater to the differing needs of our customers.

Samantha is an experienced executive who has led improvement and transformation programs across a number of complex customer-focused organisational environments in government, not-for-profit, public and private sectors. She has extensive experience in strategically leading innovative change and improvements and has successfully delivered enterprise-strategic change in customer experience, digital and cultural spaces.

Samantha holds a double degree in Business and Organisational Psychology, is a certified professional manager in Service Journey Thinking and also holds qualifications in LEAN, Six Sigma, and project management and marketing disciplines. 

Natalie Townsend
Chief People Officer (CPO)

Natalie Townsend leads the People and Culture division, overseeing the RTA's human resources, training, organisational development, change management, media, communication, and education teams. 

Natalie brings extensive project experience across a range of activities, this includes rolling out the RTA's human resources information system, learning management system, and performance framework and related systems. She has also led organisational transformation activities and reform initiatives.  

Natalie holds a Diploma of Business, a Bachelor of Business with double majors in Management and Human Resource Management along with other accreditations in tools such as DISC and Talegent.  

Natalie is also a CAHRI member of the Australian Human Resources Institute. 

Greg Watts
Chief Digital Officer (CDO)

Greg Watts leads the RTA's Digital Business Centre, which supports the RTA's business systems, standard operating environments and applications, and information management processes. This includes the RTA's records management and the business intelligence teams which facilitate strategic direction and corporate decision-making. 

Greg is an experienced information and communication technology (ICT) executive  
with proven success in leading a range of digital and business transformation projects and programs. For more than two decades, Greg has led and partnered with expert, multidisciplinary teams to deliver business outcomes through digital strategy and governance, cyber security, enterprise architecture, cloud transformation, high-availability systems, and vendor and business applications management. 

Greg holds a Master of Business Administration, Bachelor of Commerce and is a Graduate Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. 

Jody Ovenden
Chief Transformation Officer (CTO)

Jody leads the RTA’s Transformation Office, which is responsible for driving a targeted and coordinated approach to the organisation’s transformation program, ensuring internal and external stakeholders are prepared for and supported through change.

Jody is experienced in leading end-to-end enterprise-wide transformation programs within private and public sector organisations globally and across Australia. With a focus on designing strategic and collaborative transformation change and communication programs, Jody has partnered with diverse teams and stakeholders to deliver and embed successful cultural, business and industry sector improvements to enhance performance and drive growth.

Jody is a Prosci-accredited organisational change manager, a member of the Change Management Institute and is completing a Master of Business Administration through QUT’s Enterprise Leadership Program.