A NSW government executive denies retrospectively trying to justify a lucrative package for a senior UK trade role now under parliamentary scrutiny.
Stephen Cartwright's appointment as NSW Agent-General to London is being examined after it emerged he sought a salary of $800,000 - almost double the initial offering - and landed the role despite ranking below other candidates.
Investment NSW managing director Kylie Bell on Friday was questioned whether via "some alchemy" a decision to amend Mr Cartwright's package was made soon after he arrived in London in January.
"Then you embark on a benchmarking exercise to justify the decision," Labor's Daniel Mookhey suggested.
"You did that, after the decision was already made and it was done retrospectively to justify that decision. Do you wish to reply to that?"
Ms Bell said: "In my view, that's not true, no."
The Investment NSW boss was questioned at the parliamentary probe that was created after former deputy premier John Barilaro was appointed in June to a $500,000-a-year US trade commissioner role.
Mr Barilaro resigned from the job two weeks later, citing intense media scrutiny amid criticism over the appointment's propriety.
The scope of the upper house probe was later expanded to look at all appointments to overseas trade roles and has recently focused on Mr Cartwright.
The inquiry has previously been told that after tense and protracted contract negotiations, Mr Cartwright accepted a base salary of $487,000 with $113,000 in perks, earning more than the state's five other trade commissioners.
A month after he arrived in London, the state also agreed to pay his rent, expected to cost taxpayers about $105,000.
Soon after, Mr Cartwright began emailing Investment NSW CEO Amy Brown requesting financial help for his children's school fees, the inquiry has also heard.
Ms Bell defended the UK office's performance, saying this year it had supported 175 Australian businesses and led to $2 million in export contracts.
"At the moment the team is well exceeding their targets," she told the inquiry.
Quizzed over whether senior trade roles were ministerial or public sector appointments, Ms Bell said "these are senior public servant roles".
She said Mr Cartwright reported to her, not the relevant minister, and noted there had been no discussions around converting them to ministerial appointments.
Ms Bell, who first appeared before the committee in August, was on the selection panel in charge of hiring Mr Barilaro for the New York role, after he left politics in October 2021. She was also Mr Cartwright's line manager and responsible for his performance.
The inquiry continues.
