The Secretaries of Federal Departments

On ABC’s Insiders program on Sunday, Prime Minister the Hon Anthony Albanese MP announced that Greg Moriarty AO, Secretary of the Department of Defence, would be appointed Australia’s Ambassador to the United States. The Prime Minister lauded Mr Moriarty as “an outstanding Australian public servant” who has “served both Labor and Coalition governments”.

The appointment of a public servant to the ambassadorship of Australia’s most important ally, traditionally a role filled by senior political figures, demonstrates the importance and experience of departmental secretaries in the functioning of government.

In Australia, secretaries are the most senior public servants within federal government departments. In addition to overseeing their respective departments, secretaries work closely with relevant portfolio ministers.

The Australian Public Service Code of Conduct requires secretaries to conduct themselves in an apolitical manner to implement the policy initiatives of the government of the day.

There are currently 16 secretaries within the Federal Government, with the majority of terms being five-year appointments.

This Nexus APAC insights article provides a brief snapshot of each of the current secretaries and their backgrounds.

Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet

Dr Steven Kennedy PSM

The Secretary of Prime Minister and Cabinet has three functions: chief bureaucratic adviser to the Prime Minister, head of the lead central agency of the Australian government, and leader of the Australian Public Service.

Dr Kennedy has held this role since June 2025. Previously, Dr Kennedy served as Secretary of the Department of the Treasury (since 2019), and was previously Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development (2017 to 2019).

In a public service career spanning over 30 years, Dr Kennedy has held a series of senior positions across numerous departments. Dr Kennedy was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2016 for outstanding public service in the area of climate change policy.

Department of the Treasury

Ms Jenny Wilkinson PSM

Ms Wilkinson was appointed Secretary of the Department of the Treasury in June 2025. Before taking on this role, Ms Wilkinson served as the Secretary of the Department of Finance. She was previously Deputy Secretary, Fiscal Group, at the Department of the Treasury.

During her career in the public service, Ms Wilkinson has held senior positions at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Industry, the Department of Climate Change, and the Reserve Bank of Australia. She was also the Parliamentary Budget Officer from 2017 to 2020.

In these roles, she has advised on a broad range of economic policy matters. Most notably, Ms Wilkinson was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2021 for her contributions to fiscal policy development, particularly for playing a key role in the formulation of the Government’s economic response to COVID-19 and the implementation of JobKeeper.

Attorney-General’s Department

Ms Katherine Jones PSM

Ms Jones was appointed Secretary of the Attorney-General’s Department in August 2021. Prior to this, Ms Jones was Associate Secretary of the Department of Defence, Deputy Secretary in the Department of Finance, and Deputy Secretary in the Attorney?General’s Department.

In her previous role with the Attorney?General’s Department, Ms Jones was responsible for national security, criminal justice and emergency management. She also led the international crime cooperation division and the social inclusion division, which oversaw policy and programs concerning Indigenous justice, native title, legal assistance and human rights.

Ms Jones is the Indigenous Champion for the Australian Public Service. In 2017, she was awarded the Public Service Medal for her outstanding contribution in the field of national security.

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Ms Jan Adams AO PSM

Ms Adams was appointed Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in July 2022. She was previously responsible for managing two of Australia’s most significant international relationships as the Australian Ambassador to Japan (2020-2022) and China (2016-2019).

Ms Adams first joined the Department in 1999 as Assistant Secretary, APEC Branch. Prior to joining the Department, Ms Adams advised the Minister for Trade and Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, and held roles in the OECD secretariat in Paris and at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

In 2016, Ms Adams was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to international relations through the advancement of Australia’s diplomatic and free trade relationships, particularly with the United States of America, South Korea, Japan and China. In 2007, she was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in pursuing Australia’s international objectives on trade and the environment.

Department of Defence

Mr Gregory Moriarty AO

The longest-serving departmental secretary, Mr Moriarty was appointed Secretary of the Department of Defence in September 2017 and was re-appointed for a further 5-year term in September 2022.

Prior to his appointment as Secretary, Mr Moriarty was Chief of Staff to former Prime Minister the Hon Malcolm Turnbull. He also served in the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, including as Ambassador to Indonesia and Ambassador to Iran.

Mr Moriarty first worked in Defence from 1986 to 1995, primarily in the Defence Intelligence Organisation. He also served in the Headquarters of the United States Central Command in the Persian Gulf during Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm.

Mr Moriarty will commence as Ambassador to the United States on 1 April 2026.

Department of Veterans’ Affairs

Ms Alison Frame

Ms Frame commenced as Secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs in January 2023. Previously, Ms Frame was Deputy Secretary, Social Policy in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Ms Frame has over 17 years of experience as a senior executive in both the Commonwealth and the NSW governments. During her time in NSW Government, Ms Frame led policy and program work in housing and property, child protection, family and domestic violence as the head of the Office for Women in NSW, and Indigenous policy.

Department of Home Affairs

Ms Stephanie Foster PSM

Ms Foster as appointed Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs in 28 November 2023. She joined the Department in October 2022 as Associate Secretary Immigration, leading the delivery of Immigration Operations, Immigration Policy, Refugee Policy and Programs, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs, Legal and Service Design and Delivery Programs.

Prior to this, Ms Foster was Deputy Secretary Governance at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in December 2017, where she was responsible for the effective operations of the Executive Branch of Government, management of Cabinet and Cabinet Committees, advancing the government’s legislative program.

Ms Foster was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2008 for her policy support to Australian Defence Force deployments overseas, and the French Officier de l’Ordre National du Merite in 2010 for her work to develop defence relations between France and Australia.

Department of Health, Disability and Ageing 

Mr Blair Comley PSM

Mr Comley was appointed Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care in July 2023. Mr Comley previously served as  Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, and Secretary of the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Prior to these positions, Mr Comley held senior leadership positions in Treasury. He also has significant private sector experience as a strategy consultant advising governments, not for profits, and corporates.

In 2012, Mr Comley was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in the development of public policy, particularly in the areas of carbon pricing and emissions trading, tax policy design and debt management.

Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

Mr Mike Kaiser

Mr Kaiser commenced as the new Secretary of the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water in July 2025.

Mr Kaiser previously held several departmental leadership roles in Queensland Government including Director-General of the Department of Resources, Director-General of the Department of State Development, Infrastructure, Local Government and Planning, Queensland Coordinator General, and Director-General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet.

Unlike the other secretaries, Mr Kaiser began his career in politics rather than the public service. Mr Kaiser served as an ALP Party Organiser in Queensland from 1990 to 1993, and was subsequently elected ALP State Secretary, a position he held from 1993 to 2000. Mr Kaiser was also elected to the Queensland Legislative Assembly as the Member for Woodridge in 2000.

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

Ms Tania Rishniw

Unlike the other departments in this list, the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations does not yet have a confirmed secretary. With the departure of Ms Natalie James in January 2026, Ms Tania Rishniw was appointed Acting Secretary.

Ms Rishniw was appointed as Deputy Secretary, Employment and Workforce at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations in September 2023.

Prior to joining the Department, Ms Rishniw worked for over 20 years in social, environmental and economic policy, holding senior positions in the Department of Health, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Department of Finance, Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, and Department of Environment.

Department of Social Services

Mr Michael Lye

The Secretary of the Department of Social Services is responsible for policy and program delivery in the areas of social security, families and communities and disability employment services. Mr Lye commenced in the role in December 2024. Mr Lye was previously Deputy Secretary responsible for Ageing and Aged Care at the then Department of Health and Aged Care.

Previously, Mr Lye was the Deputy Secretary responsible for disability and carers policy at the Department of Social Services, where his responsibilities included disability and carers policy and programs, the National Disability Strategy, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Disability Employment Services.

Department of Education

Mr Tony Cook PSM

Prior to his appointment as Secretary, Mr Cook held the position of Deputy Secretary of the Higher Education, Research and International Group within the Department of Education. Prior to commencing with the department, Mr Cook was the Director General of the Department of Education, Queensland.

In October 2013, Mr Cook was made Honorary Fellow of the Australian Council for Education Leaders. In January 2014, he was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in driving school policy and funding reform in Australia. Before joining the public service, Mr Cook was a public school teacher.

Department of Industry, Science and Resources

Ms Meghan Quinn PSM

Ms Quinn was appointed Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources in August 2022. Prior to her appointment, Ms Quinn spent over 30 years at the Commonwealth Treasury undertaking a number of senior roles, including as Deputy Secretary of the Markets Group, and the Macroeconomic Group, and was central to the preparation of the Australia in the Asian Century White Paper in 2012.

Ms Quinn also held roles at BHP and the Bank of England. She was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in the development of climate change policy in 2009.

Department of Finance

Mr Matt Yannopoulos PSM

Mr Yannopoulos commenced as the Secretary of the Department of Finance in September 2025. Previously, Mr Yannopoulos was the Associate Secretary at the Department of Defence, where he deputised for the Secretary and oversaw the Department’s service delivery and reform functions.

Before joining Defence, Mr Yannopoulos was Deputy Secretary Budget and Financial Reporting at the Department of Finance, where he was responsible for providing policy and financial advice to the Government on expenditure and non-taxation revenue policy issues.

In January 2019, Mr Yannopoulos was awarded a Public Service Medal for his substantial achievements as Deputy Secretary, Senior Responsible Officer for the Child Care Reform Implementation at the Department of Education.

Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Ms Victoria Anderson

Ms Anderson was appointed Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in December 2025. Prior to her appointment, Ms Anderson served as Deputy Secretary of the Small Business, Corporate and Law Group at the Department of the Treasury.

Ms Anderson had also held senior roles in the Department of Education, Skills and Employment and the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. She led the delivery of the Government’s Jobs and Skills Summit in 2022, and worked with the states and territories on national schools reform and management of COVID-19 in schools.

Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts

Mr Jim Betts

Mr Betts was appointed Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts in July 2022. Mr Betts oversees a department with a broad portfolio, but his specialty lies in transport and infrastructure.

Prior to becoming Secretary, Mr Betts was a partner at strategy consultancy EY Port Jackson Partners, having previously led the NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment as Secretary.

From 2013 to 2019, Mr Betts was Chief Executive Officer of Infrastructure NSW for six years where he led the development of two State Infrastructure Strategies, oversaw the state’s infrastructure program, delivered significant state infrastructure projects and developed a state plan for the construction sector.

Mr Betts also worked in the Victorian public service as Secretary of the Victorian Department of Transport and Director of Public Transport.