Helen Williams Oration


( L-R: Ann Sherry AO, Helen Williams AC and Frances Adamson at the inaugural Helen Williams Oration in 2018)

Most IPAA divisions host an Oration as part of their annual calendar, to honour an individual and their contribution to the field of public administration. In 2018, IPAA ACT established the Helen Williams Oration in honour of Helen Williams AC, the first female to be appointed Secretary of an Australian Government department.

HELEN WILLIAMS AC


Image credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong, The Canberra Times


Helen Williams AC made history as the first female Secretary of a Commonwealth department when she was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education in 1985, aged 39. Helen joined the public service 15 years prior in 1970.

She went on to be the Secretary of several other portfolio departments: the Department of Tourism, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, and the Department of Human Services, before her retirement in 2009. She was also the Australian Public Service Commissioner from 1998 to 2002. For 17 years she was the only female departmental Secretary.

Helen was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in January 2019 for eminent service to public administration through senior advisory roles, and to policy reform and innovative program delivery. This follows her appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1993.

The inaugural oration was delivered by Ann Sherry AO, Executive Chairman of Carnival Australia on 23 August 2018. The event was held at the launch of the 'Women in Leadership Series', a collection of four events delivered in 2018, discussing the opportunities that exist and the challenges that are faced by women in public sector leadership roles. It celebrated the Australian Government achieving gender parity at the most senior level of the public service in April 2018, with nine of the 18 departmental secretary roles occupied by women.

HELEN WILLIAMS ORATIONS

2021
Dr Cathy Foley AO PSM

Chief Scientist of Australia
Thursday 29 September 2021
Live-stream 

View the Oration here.

2020
Christine Morgan

Chief Executive Officer
National Mental Health Commission
National Suicide Prevention Advisor to the Prime Minister

Tuesday 22 September 2020
National Portrait Gallery, Canberra
Live-stream 

View the Oration here here.

2019
Dr Megan Clark AC

Head
Australian Space Agency

Monday 4 November 2019
National Portrait Gallery, Canberra

View the 2019 Oration photos here.

2018
Ann Sherry AO

Executive Chairman
Carnival Australia

Thursday 23 August 2018
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Diplomatic Academy

View the 2018 Oration here.


 

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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

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Kingston ACT 2604

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