Chris Wheeler
Deputy Ombudsman, NSW Ombudsman

Chris Wheeler has been Deputy NSW Ombudsman since 1994. He has 25 years experience in complaint handling and investigations, as well as extensive experience in management and public administration.

Among other things, he has direct oversight of the responsibilities conferred on the NSW Ombudsman under the Freedom of Information Act and Protected Disclosures Act. He also has responsibility to lead and coordinate the preparation of publications issued by the NSW Ombudsman to guide and improve the performance by public officials of their duties.

Mr Wheeler is a member of the research team for the national Whistling While They Work project, looking at ways to improve the management and protection of internal witnesses. He is also the Project Sponsor of the Dealing with Unreasonable Complainant Conduct project currently being undertaken by the eight Australian Parliamentary Ombudsman, looking at better ways to manage unreasonable complainant conduct.

He is a town planner and lawyer who has previously worked in a variety of positions in state and local government in NSW and Victoria. He also worked for some years as a solicitor in the private sector.

Mr Wheeler holds a Bachelor of Town and Regional Planning at Melbourne University, a Master of Town and Country Planning at Sydney University, and a Bachelor of Laws at University of Technology, Sydney.