IPAA ACT President

IPAA ACT is governed by an elected Council of twenty members, including a current departmental Secretary as President.

Katherine Jones PSM
Secretary, Attorney-General's Department
IPAA ACT President

Katherine Jones PSM took up the position of IPAA ACT President on 3 May 2022. Katherine is Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department, commencing in this role in August 2021.

Prior to her appointment as Secretary, Katherine was the Associate Secretary of the Department of Defence. She was appointed to that position in June 2020, where her portfolio included oversight of the Chief Information Officer, Chief Finance Officer, Deputy Secretary of Defence People and Deputy Secretary of Estate and Infrastructure. In addition, Katherine was responsible for Defence enterprise planning, performance and risk management functions, and the integration of all corporate enabling services which included the delivery of the Defence Transformation Strategy and the Defence Data Strategy.

Before joining the Department of Defence, Katherine was the Deputy Secretary for Business Enabling Services in the Department of Finance. She held that role since October 2017. Katherine has practical experience in delivering shared services in government and was responsible for delivering whole of government digital systems to support collaboration and customer service, including the innovative GovTeams platform.

Katherine has also held senior positions in the Attorney-General’s Department including as the Deputy Secretary responsible for National Security, Criminal Justice and Emergency Management, the head of the International Crime Cooperation Division and the head of the Social Inclusion Division with responsibility for policy and programs across Indigenous justice, native title, legal assistance and human rights.

In 2017, Katherine received a Public Service Medal for her outstanding contribution in the field of national security.

She has a Bachelor of Arts from La Trobe University and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of New South Wales. Before joining the public service in 1999, Katherine spent more than a decade in educational and academic publishing as a sponsoring editor and publisher at the McGraw Hill Book Co.

Former Presidents

IPAA ACT thanks our past presidents for their leadership and dedication in promoting excellence and professionalism in public administration.

Dr Steven Kennedy PSM
Secretary, The Treasury
President, 2019-2022

Frances Adamson AC FIPAA
Secretary, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
President, 2017-2019

Dr Gordon de Brouwer PSM FIPAA
Secretary, Department of the Environment and Energy
President, 2016-2017

Glenys Beauchamp PSM FIPAA
Secretary, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
President, 2013-2016

Andrew Metcalfe AO FIPAA
Secretary, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
President, 2010-2013

2010 and earlier

IPAA ACT has a rich heritage, dating back to the 1950's when the organisation was originally formed. Presidents have included Sir John Crawford for the period 1955-1957, after whom the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy was named. From the mid 1990's onwards, it has been convention to have a Secretary occupy the position of President.

2008-2010

Ian McPhee AO PSM FIPAA

Auditor-General of Australia

2006-2008 

Lisa Paul AO PSM FIPAA

Secretary, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations

2004-2006

Michael Taylor AO FIPAA

Secretary, Department of Transport and Regional Services

2002-2004 

Robert Cornall AO FIPAA

Secretary, Attorney-General’s Department

2000-2002

Ken Matthews AO FIPAA

Secretary, Department of Transport and Regional Services

1998-2000

Andrew Podger AO FIPAA

Secretary, Department of Health and Aged Care

1996-1998

Dr Allan Hawke AC​ FIPAA

Secretary, Department of Transport and Regional Services

1994-1996

Lionel Woodward AO FIPAA

CEO, Australian Customs Service

1992-1994

Pamela O'Neil FIPAA

Former Sex Discrimination Commissioner

1990-1992

John Taylor AO FIPAA

Auditor-General of Australia

1989-1990

David Shand

First Assistant Secretary, Department of Finance

1987-1989

Dr Claire Clark FIPAA

Assistant Secretary, ACT Administration (prior to ACT self-government)

1985-1987

Norman Fisher AO FIPAA

Deputy Commissioner, Public Service Board

1983-1984

Dr Roy Cameron CB FIPAA

Australian Statistician, Australian Bureau of Statistics

1981-1983

Philip Flood AO FIPAA

Chief Executive for Special Trade Negotiations

1979-1981

Justice Rae Else-Mitchell

Chairman, Legal Aid Commission ACT

1976-1978

Professor Lindsay Curtis AO

Deputy Secretary, Attorney-General’s Department

1975-1977

Don Steele Craik

Auditor-General of Australia

1973-1975

Dr Roger Wettenhall

Canberra College of Advanced Education

1971-1973

Walter Ives

Secretary, Department of Primary Industry

1969-1970

Sir Peter Heydon

Secretary, Department of Immigration

1967-1969

E E Chrichton

Commonwealth Public Service Board

1965-1967

G E Pettit

Organisation unknown (click here if you know more)

1963-1965

Rober Hyslop

Assistant Secretary, Department of Defence

1961-1963

Professor Robert Parker

Head of Political Science, ANU

1959-1961

F L McCay

Organisation unknown (click here if you know more)

1957-1959

Professor Fin Crisp

Head of Political Science, ANU

1955-1957

J G Crawford

Secretary, Department of Commerce and Agriculture

1953-1954

W E Dunk

Chairman, Commonwealth Public Service Board

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IPAA ACT acknowledges the Traditional Owners and Custodians of country throughout Australia, and their continuing connection to land, sea and community. We pay our respects to their Elders past, present and emerging.

Contact IPAA
IPAA ACT

ABN: 24 656 727 375
Phone: (02) 6154 9800
Unit 4A, 16 National Circuit,
Barton ACT 2600

Postal Address

PO Box 4349
Kingston ACT 2604

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