New Zealander Denise Cosgrove will take over as CEO of WorkSafe Victoria on November 12, replacing acting CEO Ian Forsyth.

She is currently GM Claims Management for the NZ Accident Compensation Corporation (ACC), which operates the country’s national personal injury insurance scheme.

“Ms Cosgrove has significant experience in accident compensation scheme management, including claims management, people leadership and strategy development,” WorkSafe Chairman David Krasnostein said.

Her three-year appointment begins as WorkSafe Victoria is offering employers record low compensation premiums, averaging 1.298% of wages. However, it is also a time of industrial unrest, with staff planning a stop-work meeting for next Monday.

Ms Cosgrove’s new role comes after the ACC was criticised in New Zealand for inadvertently disclosing private information on claimants, including rape and incest victims. She was involved in cutting costs and reducing benefits in the scheme.

Mr Forsyth took the acting CEO role after the resignation of Greg Tweedly in July. Mr Tweedly gave no official reason for leaving but it was widely interpreted as a protest at the State Government’s decision to begin taking dividends from WorkSafe.

Mr Forsyth will return to his position of Deputy CEO when Ms Cosgrove takes office.

Ms Cosgrove is the second female CEO for a Victorian compensation scheme, with Janet Dore having served at the Transport Accident Commission since 2008. The appointment ends speculation WorkSafe was being left leaderless pending a merger with TAC.