Matt Dunkley, Director of Children’s Services at East Sussex County Council is leaving the local authority after 21 years to take up a post in Australia.

Mr Dunkley, who was President of the Association of Directors of Children’s Services (ADCS) from 2011 to 2012, has been appointed Regional Director of Education and Early Childhood Services for South-western Victoria, based in Melbourne. He spent eight years as Director in East Sussex and will be moving on at the end of May.

He said: “It will be a huge wrench to leave the County Council after such a long time. I will always be immensely proud of what we have achieved as a Children’s Service. I know that the roots of that achievement run deep in the Council and will ensure it goes from strength to strength.”

East Sussex has appointed Ged Rowney as the interim Director of Children’s Services. He will take up the post in June. Chief Executive Becky Shaw said Mr Rowney, who is currently interim DCS in Barnsley, would manage the Children’s Services department for at least six months.

Mr Rowney has previously held the posts of Director of Children’s Services in both Wigan and Stoke-on-Trent, and Assistant Director in Brighton & Hove. He has worked as a senior consultant with both Capita and Serco and has a strong track record of delivering improved outcomes for children and young people.