CEO Profile

Leigh Garrett is the Chief Executive Officer of Offenders Aid and Rehabilitation Services (OARS SA) and CEO of the Centre for Centre for Restorative Justice.

Leigh commenced work with OARS SA in January 1994 and has had extensive experience in the criminal justice arena. As well as his leadership role with OARS SA, he has been a member of the Correctional Services Ministerial Advisory Council, President and Executive Member of the SA Crime Prevention Council, CEO of the SA Centre for Restorative Justice and a Board member of SACOSS. He is also currently a Member of the Minister's Strategic Housing Advisory Committee, advising the Hon Jennifer Rankine MP on matters relating to housing and homelessness in South Australia.  During his work at OARS SA Leigh was honored to receive a National Award as Not-For-Profit CEO of the Year in 2002.

He has a degree in Education, a Post Graduate degree in Occupational Health & Safety Management and a Master of Business Administration degree from the International Graduate School of Management, University of SA.  Leigh is also a Fellow of Australian Institute of Management and a Certified Practicing Manager.

Leigh has previously worked in the Department for Correctional Services as Chief Management Analyst, responsible for the systematic review, planning and evaluation of the Department’s services. This period was preceded by various roles managing research projects in the Department for Correctional Services. He has also worked in the Dept of Recreation and Sport and Dept of Road Transport.

His professional career began at Minda Inc where he was responsible for the Developmental Physical Education and Leisure services for people with intellectual disabilites. He was a pioneer in the development of leisure services and developmental physical education for people with intellectual disabilities in Australia.