ICPA Announces Appointment of David Brown as Acting President
Mr Brown will lead the Association in this role until the 2026 ICPA Annual General Meeting, when an election will be held for the position.
His appointment came about following the sudden death of President Peter Severin last month.
Mr Brown brings a wealth of experience to this role, currently serving as the Chief Executive of the South Australian Department for Correctional Services.
Since his appointment as Chief Executive of the South Australian Department for Correctional Services in September 2012, Mr Brown has overseen a significant period of growth and reform.
He has strengthened security and emergency management standards, renewed the State’s focus on offender rehabilitation and education, and built community partnerships to improve reintegration outcomes.
Under his leadership, the South Australian Department for Correctional Services successfully achieved an ambitious goal of reducing reoffending by 10%. This achievement came through increased investment in rehabilitation programs, strengthened alternatives to custody, and improved prison services. South Australia currently has the lowest recidivism rate in the nation.
Throughout his distinguished career, Mr Brown has held numerous senior management positions across Australia and has been committed to the work of ICPA for many years.
"We are very confident in David’s ability to guide our Association during this transition period," said Vice President Kim Ekhaugen on behalf of the ICPA Board of Directors.
"His extensive experience in corrections and his commitment to our vision and mission make him exceptionally qualified for this role. We believe he will provide steady leadership as we continue our important work in advancing professional corrections worldwide."
On accepting the appointment, Mr Brown said: "I am honoured to act as President for the Association. The Board and I are committed to continuing the stewardship of ICPA.”
Mr Brown also spoke to Peter Severin’s ongoing legacy.
“We were all shocked and deeply saddened by Peter’s sudden passing. Peter was deeply committed to ICPA’s mission to promote and share good correctional practice across the world. I look forward to collaborating with all ICPA members and partners to continue this mission, and I am thankful to the Board for this opportunity.”
As the Association looks to the future, it will continue to honour the dedication and investment of Mr Severin, including through ICPA's upcoming 27th Annual Conference, where members will gather to celebrate these contributions and chart a path forward for the Association as we continue to promote professional corrections that contribute to safer communities worldwide.