The NSW State Insurance Regulatory Authority (SIRA) CEO Carmel Donnelly will leave the organisation in the next few months to become chairman of the state's Independent Pricing and Regulatory Tribunal (IPART).

Ms Donnelly, who has led SIRA for almost four years, will continue to work with the board and leadership team to prepare for a smooth handover to the incoming CEO before taking up her new role by July 1.

Ms Donnelly led implementation of NSW 2017 compulsory third party scheme reforms and has stepped up scrutiny of the workers’ compensation schemes managed through icare.

The agency says she has strengthened SIRA’s regulatory approach to protect customers and held insurers accountable through increased public reporting, supervision and enforcement.

Retired Supreme Court Judge Robert McDougall is due to complete an independent review of the icare workers’ compensation scheme in conjunction with a scheduled five-year review of legislation covering the scheme by the end of April.

The NSW Parliament Law and Justice Committee, which Ms Donnelly appeared before last year as icare came under fire, is also completing its 2020 review of workers’ compensation.

“Over the next few months, Ms Donnelly will continue SIRA’s regulatory program and consideration of upcoming reports from the Law and Justice Committee and the McDougall Review,” SIRA says.

The regulator says Ms Donnelly has prioritised employee wellbeing and engagement and been a champion for diversity during her time as CEO.