Our people

We are an agency of about 50 staff, ranging across multiple disciplines. Meet our leadership team and program managers to learn more about who we are. Need to get in touch? Contact us.
Annette O'Callaghan Annette O'Callaghan, Parliamentary Counsel — Commencing her legislative drafting career in 1993, Annette is the first female to hold the role of NSW Parliamentary Counsel. She has worked as a legislative drafter in New South Wales, Queensland and Victoria, and was the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel immediately prior to joining PCO. Annette runs PCO’s Government Bills Program and is also the Secretary of the Australasian Parliamentary Counsel’s Committee. Learn more about this program.
Mark Cowan Mark Cowan, Deputy Parliamentary Counsel — Mark leads a team of legislative drafters and assists the Parliamentary Counsel in managing PCO’s Government Bills program. He joined the office as a legislative drafter in 2001. Learn more about this program.
Richard Hurford Richard Hurford, Deputy Parliamentary Counsel — Richard leads a team of legislative drafters and is responsible for PCO’s non-Government Bills program. He joined the office as a legislative drafter in 1997. Learn more about this program.
Jason Emmett Jason Emmett, Deputy Parliamentary Counsel — Jason joined the office as a legislative drafter in 2018 from the Office of the Queensland Parliamentary Counsel. His role includes managing our Statutory Instruments program. Learn more about this program.
Abbie Hartley Abbie Hartley, Deputy Parliamentary Counsel — Abbie leads a team of legislative drafters and is responsible for the delivery of the Environmental Planning Instruments program. Abbie joined the office as a legislative drafter in 2008.
Mark Reid Mark Reid, Chief Operating Officer — Mark leads the editing, access, ICT and corporate services teams, assisting the Parliamentary Counsel to optimise PCO resources while complying with legislative frameworks. Mark joined PCO as Chief Finance Officer in April 2022.