26 September 2023

Queen honours Her Majesty’s PS

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Commitment, dedication and excellence in public service have been recognised and rewarded in the Queen’s Birthday Honours released by the Governor-General yesterday (11 June).

Among those to be recognised were Companions, Officers and Members in the Order of Australia as well as deserving recipients of the Public Service Medal (PSM.)

Among those to be honoured were:

COMPANION (AC) IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Catherine Margaret BRANSON AC

Federal Court of Australia

For eminent service to the judiciary as a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia, to the law as an advocate for human rights and civil liberties, to judicial administration and professional development, and to governance roles in tertiary education.

The Hon Catherine Branson was a Judge of the Federal Court of Australia between 1994 and 2008 and President of the Australian Human Rights Commission from 2008 to 2012.

OFFICER (AO) IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Robyn Caroline KRUK AO

Department of the Environment

For distinguished service to public administration, particularly through mental health reform, to environmental protection and natural resource management, and to food standards.

Ms Kruk was Secretary of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities from 2010 to 2011 and Secretary of the Department of Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts from 2009 to 2010.

Bruce James MILLER AO

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

For distinguished service to public administration through diplomatic roles and bilateral trade agreements, and to fostering cultural and strategic partnerships with Japan.

Mr Miller was Australia’s Ambassador to Japan from 2011 to 2017.

MEMBER (AM) IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

Judge Stuart Gordon DURWARD AM

Australian Army

For significant service to the law and the judiciary, to the provision of legal services to the Australian Defence Force, to education, and to the community.

Judge Durward has been a Brigadier and Deputy Judge Advocate General for the Australian Army, since 2014.

Jane Ward SMITH AM

Australian Film Television and Radio School

For significant service to the broadcast media industry, particularly to film and television, through administrative roles, and to the community.

Ms Smith was Inaugural Head of the Centre for Screenwriting at the Australian Film Television and Radio School from 2008 to 2010. She was also General Manager, International Development at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) from 1993 to 1996.

Marie Louise SYLVAN AM

Consumer affairs

For significant service to business, particularly to consumer rights, investment and health agencies, and to conservation.

Ms Sylvan was Chief Executive Officer at the Australian National Preventative Health Agency from 2011 to 2014; Commissioner of the Productivity Commission from 2008 to 2011; and Deputy Chair of Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) from 2003 to 2008.

PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PSM)

Peter Bruce CLARK PSM

AUSTRAC

For outstanding public service through contributions to the stability and security of the Australian and international financial sector.

Mr Clark is Deputy Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC) and has made an enduring legacy in building and fostering relationships with international regulators and financial intelligence units, non-government organisations and multilateral institutions.

These relationships have improved domestic and global regulatory efficiency and effectiveness, contributed to global knowledge and understanding of regulatory risks, and built regional and global capability against money laundering and terrorism financing.

Janis Louise COCKING PSM

Department of Defence

For outstanding public service to Defence science and technology.

Dr Cocking has driven the strategic innovation agenda for Defence Science and Technology, in her role as Chief of the Science Strategy and Program Division, Defence Science and Technology Group, Department of Defence.

The key impact of her work has been on saving millions of dollars and enhancing capability through improved availability and safety of ships, submarines, aircraft and land vehicles.

Natasha DAWES PSM

Department of Human Services

For outstanding public service in leading and delivering Medicare initiatives.

Mrs Dawes has led and delivered complex new policy proposals, and budget costings, for the Medicare program and has made a remarkable contribution to public service delivery. She has delivered the Government’s agenda in periods of rapid changes in Government policy with a determination to find new and innovative solutions that meet the expectations of stakeholders and the Department of Human Services’ service delivery reform agenda.

Jane Elizabeth GALLAGHER PSM

Department of Veterans’ Affairs

For outstanding public service in the areas of nursing services to veterans.

Ms Gallagher has made an outstanding contribution to clinical support for veterans through travelling to commemorations and to improving the quality and efficacy of nursing services available to veterans. Her leadership has enabled over 260 Australian War veterans to safely attend over 22 commemorations in 11 different countries. The majority of these veterans were elderly and suffered a range of health issues that posed a significant risk to their wellbeing.

Gary Michael JOHNSTON PSM

Geoscience Australia

For outstanding public service through improving national and international scientific program delivery in satellite positioning and geodesy.

Mr Johnston’s leadership in his role as Branch Head, Geodesy and Seismic Monitoring at Geoscience Australia has enabled the improved adoption of satellite Positioning, Navigation and Timing technology across Australian industry, research and government sectors.

Since 2015 he has chaired the International Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) Service (IGS) which supports many applications, including precise navigation, machine automation, and surveying and mapping.

Mark Stephen KONZA PSM

Australian Taxation Office

For outstanding public service and leadership in tax administration.

Mr Konza has been instrumental in protecting the integrity and revenues of the Australian and global tax systems through his efforts at the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and with counterpart tax authorities. He designed and led the first joint compliance work on multinationals in the digital economy, and has established more effective international collaboration and cooperation.

Allan James McKINNON PSM

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

For outstanding public service through significantly enhancing Australia’s national security.

Mr McKinnon has tirelessly contributed to the enhancement of Australia’s national security for the better part of a decade. He most recently oversaw the establishment of the new Home Affairs Portfolio, and simultaneously led the Government’s response to, and implementation of, the Independent Intelligence Review 2017. These changes collectively represent the most significant reforms to national security architecture in decades.

Sandra Maree RAGG PSM

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

For outstanding public service in leadership and policy-making in the cyber security arena.

Ms Ragg has excelled in leadership and policy-making in cyber security, and has made an outstanding contribution to Australia’s security and wellbeing. She has undertaken outstanding cyber security policy development, and provided advice throughout the Australian Public Service, across all jurisdictions, and to medium and large private sector organisations.

Padma Priya RAMAN PSM

Australian Human Rights Commission

For outstanding public service in leading significant cultural, technological and governance change at the Australian Human Rights Commission.

Since 2010 Ms Raman has provided outstanding service and exceptional leadership as Executive Director of the Australian Human Rights Commission through some very challenging periods. She has been an exemplary public servant, providing fearless advice to the Commissioners and President, and remaining strongly focused on staff and the professional service provided by the organisation as Australia’s national human rights institution.

Lisa Catherine RAUTER PSM

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

For outstanding public service in establishing the ground-breaking initiative innovationXchange.

Ms Rauter was the inaugural head of innovationXchange (iXc). She was responsible for realising the Foreign Minister’s vision for the iXc and played a leading role in taking it from concept to reality.

Under her leadership, the iXc has challenged traditional thinking about foreign policy and foreign aid, developed and utilised new problem solving tools, and brokered new partnerships.

Clayton John TREVILYAN PSM

Department of Human Services.

For outstanding public service through the creation of more inclusive and accessible workplaces for APS employees with a disability.

Mr Trevilyan has driven strategic direction in relation to workplace accessibility and inclusion, and promoted the availability and implementation of associated policy, guidelines, workplace employee plans and support initiatives in the Department of Human Services. In 2010 he established the Accessibility Support Unit (ASU) which provides advice and assistance to over 500 departmental employees requiring assistive technology to support them in the workplace.

AUSTRALIAN POLICE MEDAL (APM)

Detective Sergeant Jeanette Helen BOLAND APM

Detective Sergeant Boland began her policing career in the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in 1987 and in 2012 was appointed Team Leader, Sydney Counter Terrorism Community Liaison Team.

Since then she has been at the forefront of proactive work undertaken with vulnerable youth within the principles of Countering Violent Extremism and has built and fostered relationships between the AFP and Muslim communities and her vision and commitment has contributed to enhancing Australia’s national security.

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