Dr Williams was appointed as a Commissioner in September 2013 and as Acting Chairperson in September 2014.
Dr Williams worked as an economist in the public sector for over 30 years. She currently sits on several boards related to public policy and undertakes small consultancies.
She was made a Member of the Order of Australia in January 2017 for contributions to economic and public policy, and in March 2018 was given the Alumni of Distinction Award (Faculty of Business and Economics) for her contributions to the University of Melbourne.
Dr Williams previously held senior executive positions in both the Victorian and Federal public services, including the Victorian Treasury and Finance, Premier and Cabinet and Industry departments, and the Federal Productivity Commission and Bureau of Immigration, Multicultural and Population Research.
Dr Williams is a Commissioner with the Commonwealth Grants Commission, chairs the Victorian Judicial Entitlements Panel and is a member of the Victorian Legal Services Board (VLSB). She also chairs the Audit Committees for the VLSB.
Dr Williams has degrees in economics from the University of Melbourne, the London School of Economics and Monash University. She is a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA), Principle Fellow and Board member of St Hilda’s College (University of Melbourne), and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.