Public Service staff from all States and Territories have been recognised by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth again this year in her Australia Day Honours List, rewarding many for their selflessness and commitment to duty and service for the Australian community.
Her Majesty’s awards for members of the Western Australian Public Service were decided under the Order of Australia and announced on the Queen’s behalf by his Excellency the Governor-General, General David Hurley.
Congratulating the recipients of the honours, General Hurley described the recent years as ‘challenging’ and said the presentation of the Australia Day awards provided a reminder of the ‘richness of spirit, selflessness and good’ in the Australian community.
Western Australian PS employees honoured by the Queen this year with the Public Service Medal (PSM), were:
PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PSM)
Anthony Michael KANNIS , PSM
METRONET
For outstanding public service to transport and infrastructure reform, particularly through METRONET.
Mr Kannis has worked in the public sector for over four decades in a range of roles including Deputy Chairperson of the Western Australian Treasury Corporation, the Western Australian Planning Commission’s Infrastructure Coordinating Committee, and as the Western Australian Government nominee on the Infrastructure Australia Board.
He is currently serving as Managing Director of METRONET.
During his time as Western Australia Police Executive Director Mr Kannis contributed significantly to the Frontline 2020 reform program. He also championed gender and equity reform in his portfolio, greatly increasing the number of women in senior positions.
As the Managing Director of METRONET, Perth’s largest investment in public transport, Mr Kannis has driven and implemented the agency’s robust governance framework, critical to the State Government’s economic response to COVID-19. Leading the project’s optimisation, he released projects to market 12 months ahead of schedule, creating a strong pipeline of work and jobs for Western Australia.
Mr Kannis has been a champion for accessible, universally designed transport and infrastructure through METRONET, promoting the benefits for the whole community, particularly people with disability, seniors and parents.
Mr Kannis is dedicated to building the future of Western Australia through his commitment to a strengthened economy and the development of well connected, diverse and affordable places that enable individuals and families to participate fully in their community.
Mark William SWEETINGHAM PSM
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
For outstanding public service to scientific research and development of the grains industry in Western Australia.
Dr Mark Sweetingham commenced in 1983 with the Department of Agriculture and Food in Western Australia and until recently served as the Deputy Director General at the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development.
He has demonstrated outstanding public service to scientific research and development of the grains industry in Western Australia.
He has played a vital role in influencing the grains industry in the state by combining his groundbreaking research and leadership at state and federal levels. He has held key managerial positions, been appointed to significant policy and advisory committees, and maintained an active contribution to grains research.
His continued success across a public service career of almost 40 years is attributable, in part, to his ability to work collaboratively and maintain effective relationships with diverse stakeholders from industry, government, tertiary and research institutions. He drove the establishment of the Australian Centre for Necrotrophic Fungal Pathogens and the Western Barley Genetics Research Alliance with Murdoch University; Centre for Grains Food Innovation with Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) and Curtin University; SoilsWest Research Alliance with The University of Western Australia; and Australia Export Grains Innovation Centre, of which he was the inaugural CEO.
Dr Sweetingham is steadfast in his dedication to being ethical and solutions-focused, and has garnered substantial respect from within and far beyond the public service.
Anna Maria WYATT PSM
Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries
For outstanding public service to improving education and health outcomes for Aboriginal people and the state of Western Australia.
Ms Wyatt has had over 45 years of service across the health, education and Aboriginal history sectors commencing as a primary school teacher in Kalgoorlie in1977.
She is currently serving as the Director, Aboriginal History at the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries.
Ms Wyatt has consistently demonstrated her passion, diligence and commitment to advancing the outcomes of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people in Western Australia. She has been acknowledged by the World Health Organisation for her unrelenting work in the development of teaching resources heightening the awareness of the impact of Otitis Media on the educational and life outcomes of Aboriginal children.
In her current position, she leads a service that provides Aboriginal families with access to their ancestral history to enable reconnection with country, family and community in a culturally sensitive and supportive environment.
Other achievements have included securing a healing space for Aboriginal people to access when reviewing confronting and traumatic historical material in the State Library; managing the research and publication of significant national and Western Australian truth-telling publications including Gnarla Boodja Mili Mili (My Country on Paper) the first map of its kind identifying traditional Aboriginal place names in an Australian capital city; reviewed and reformed a number of Aboriginal programs including the state-wide Aboriginal Patrols program as well as leading the team developing the business case for the Connecting to Country state-wide strategy.
In her work across the education sector, Ms Wyatt developed the Regional Education, Skills and Jobs Plan for the Kimberley region as part of the Building Australia’s Future Workforce package. She also facilitated the development of employment projects to assist Aboriginal people who had experienced long-term unemployment.
This work directly resulted in an increase in the number of apprentices and trainees gaining opportunities leading to long-term employment.
Likewise, in the health sector she worked to secure stronger outcomes for Aboriginal people by assisting to secure $2.4 million Commonwealth funding to upskill Western Australian Aboriginal health workers across the state.
Ms Wyatt has served on a number of state and national taskforces and committees in the areas of Aboriginal education and health and should be commended for her outstanding public service career, dedicated to improving education and health outcomes for Aboriginal people and the state of Western Australia.
