Prime Minister of Australia Anthony Albanese has announced his recommendation to the Governor-General for the appointment of four new secretaries of Australian Public Service departments. Albanese said in a statement:
“I congratulate Mr Betts, Ms Adams, Ms James and Ms Wilkinson on their appointments. The appointment of Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources will be made shortly. Acting Secretaries will be appointed by Ministers as required.”
As per the released statement, Jim Betts will be appointed as Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. Mr Betts has extensive experience in the New South Wales and Victorian public services, including as Secretary of the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, Secretary of the Victorian Department of Transport, and CEO of Infrastructure NSW. He will bring to the Federal level a deep understanding of the priority challenges facing Governments in this space. Mr Betts’ appointment will commence on 11 July 2022.
Jan Adams AO PSM will be appointed as Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. Ms Adams is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and is currently Australia’s Ambassador to Japan. She has previously served as Ambassador to China, as a senior trade negotiator and as Ambassador for Climate Change. Ms Adams will commence her appointment on 1 July 2022.
Natalie James will be appointed as Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. Ms James has an extensive career in public service and employment and workplace relations. From 2005 until 2010, she was Chief Counsel to the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, becoming a State Manager of that Department in 2010. In 2013, she was appointed the Fair Work Ombudsman for the Commonwealth. Recently, Ms James has been a Partner at Deloitte Australia. Ms James will commence her appointment on 11 July 2022.
Jenny Wilkinson PSM will be appointed as Secretary of the Department of Finance. Ms Wilkinson, currently Deputy Secretary at Treasury, has held positions across several departments and agencies. This includes running the Parliamentary Budget Office, from July 2017 to January 2020. Prior to that, she held senior positions at Treasury, the Department of Industry, the Department of Climate Change, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Reserve Bank of Australia. Working in these roles, she has provided advice on a wide range of economic policy issues. She was awarded a PSM in 2021 for outstanding public service in the development of fiscal policy. Ms Wilkinson will take up her appointment on 9 August 2022, on Rosemary Huxtable’s retirement.
Additionally, David Fredericks PSM will be leaving his role as Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, to lead the newly created Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Mr Fredericks has extensive senior experience engaging on policy and Budget within the APS and ministers’ offices. As well as Secretary experience in both the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, and the Department of Environment and Energy, he has experience at the Deputy Secretary level at the Attorney-General’s Department and the Department of Finance. He has held senior Ministerial Adviser roles at both the Commonwealth and state levels. Prior to that he served in the Solomon Islands’ Ministry of Treasury and Finance.
Each of these appointments will be for five years.
Dr Gordon de Brouwer PSM will return to the Australian Public Service as Secretary for Public Sector Reform. Working to the Minister for the Public Service and in close partnership with Peter Woolcott AO, the Australian Public Service Commissioner, he will lead and implement a wide range of public sector reforms which will support my commitment to place greater value on the public service and to grow its capability.
Simon Atkinson and Kathryn Campbell AO CSC will conclude their Secretary roles with effect from 1 July 2022. I thank them both for their service to the Australian Public Service over many years. They have both brought great professionalism and deep experience to the range of roles they have held, and I wish them both the best. Ms Campbell will be taking up a senior appointment in the Defence portfolio in an AUKUS-related role.
APS Departments and Secretaries as at 1 July 2022
| Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet | Prof Glyn Davis AC |
| Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry | Mr Andrew Metcalfe AO |
| Attorney-General’s Department | Ms Katherine Jones PSM |
| Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water | Mr David Fredericks PSM |
| Department of Defence | Mr Greg Moriarty |
| Department of Education | Dr Michele Bruniges AM |
| Department of Employment and Workplace Relations | Ms Natalie James [from 11 July 2022] |
| Department of Finance | Ms Jenny Wilkinson PSM [from 9 Aug 2022] |
| Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | Ms Jan Adams AO PSM |
| Department of Health and Aged Care | Prof Brendan Murphy AC |
| Department of Home Affairs | Mr Michael Pezzullo AO |
| Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts | Mr Jim Betts [from 11 July 2022] |
| Department of Industry, Science and Resources | TBC |
| Department of Social Services | Mr Ray Griggs AO CSC |
| Department of Veterans’ Affairs | Ms Elizabeth Cosson AM CSC |
| Department of the Treasury | Dr Steven Kennedy PSM |
