The dedication, commitment and talents of present and past members of the Australian Public Service (APS) were recognised by her majesty the Queen on Australia Day last week with a range of awards in her Australia Day Honours list.
Announced by the Governor-General, His Excellency Sir Peter Cosgrove, awards presented to public sector staff ranged from the highest honour – Companion in the Order of Australia (AC) – to the highly prized Public Service Medal (PSM).
Among the staff to be recognised with awards under the Order of Australia program for 2019 were:
COMPANION IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AC
Justice Michelle Marjorie GORDON AC
High Court of Australia
For eminent service to the judiciary, and to the law, to legal education and judicial administration, as a role model, and to the community.
Justice Gordon has been a Justice of the High Court since 2015
Justice Geoffrey Arthur NETTLE AC
High Court of Australia
For eminent service to the judiciary, and to the law, to criminal and civil appeals reform, to legal education, and to professional standards.
Justice Nettle has been a Justice of the High Court since 2015
Helen Rodda WILLIAMS AO AC
Retired
For eminent service to public administration through senior advisory roles, and to policy reform and innovative program delivery.
Ms Williams was Secretary of the Department of Human Services from 2007 to 2009, Secretary of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts from 2002 to 2007 and Public Service Commissioner from 1998 to 2002.
OFFICER IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AO
Kathryn Jane CAMPBELL CSC AO
Department of Social Services
For distinguished service to public administration through senior roles with government departments, and to the Australian Army Reserve.
Ms Campbell has been Secretary of the Department of Social Services since 2017 and was Secretary of the Department of Human Services from 2011.
Justice Jennifer Ann COATE AO
Family Court of Australia
For distinguished service to the law, and to the judiciary, to legal administration, and to child and youth justice.
Justice Coate has been a Judge of the Family Court of Australia since 2013.
Mark Thomas FRASER CVO OAM AO
Office of the Governor General
For distinguished service to the Crown as Official Secretary to the Governor-General, and to international relations.
Mr Fraser was Official Secretary to the Governor-General from 2014 to 2018.
Brian James LACY AO
Department of Infrastructure, Regional Development and Cities
For distinguished service to the public administration of Australia’s Indian Ocean territories, to industrial relations, and to the law.
Mr Lacy was Administrator of Christmas Island and the Cocos (Keeling) Islands from 2009 to 2012.
Romilly Jane MADEW AO
Infrastructure Australia
For distinguished service to the construction sector as a change agent and advocate for sustainable building practices.
Ms Madew was recently appointed Chief Executive of Infrastructure Australia.
Margaret Ackary STONE AO
Inspector General of Intelligence and Security
For distinguished service to public administration, particularly to national security, to the judiciary, and to legal education.
Ms Stone has been the Inspector General of Intelligence and Security since 2015.
MEMBER OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AM)
Judge Sylvia Ruth EMMETT AM
Federal Court of Australia
For significant service to the law, to the judiciary, and to professional legal associations.
Judge Emmett has been a Judge of the Federal Circuit Court of Australia since 2004
Jonathan Eric FAINE AM
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
For significant service to the broadcast media as a radio presenter, to the law, and to the community.
Mr Faine has been a radio announcer with the ABC for 23 years
Pamela FAYLE AM
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
For significant service to international relations through senior diplomatic roles, and to the community.
Mrs Fayle was Deputy Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in the early 2000s and served overseas as Ambassador to Germany, Switzerland, Liechtenstein and the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).
Alan KOHLER AM
Australian Broadcasting Corporation
For significant service to the print and broadcast media as an editor, journalist and finance commentator.
Mr Kohler has been Finance Presenter and Business Correspondent for ABC Television News since 2002.
Bruce Herbert LEAVER AM
Parks Australia
For significant service to conservation and heritage preservation, to public administration, and to the community.
Dr Christopher John PIGRAM AM
Geoscience Australia
For significant service to public administration, particularly through scientific leadership roles.
Dr Pigram was Chief Executive Officer of Geoscience Australia from 2010 to 2017.
Peter Charles YOUNG QC AM
Family Court of Australia
For significant service to the law and to the judiciary, to higher education, and to the horse racing industry.
Mr Young was a Judge of the Family Court from 2002 to 2013.
MEDAL OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (OAM)
Colleen Mary GRAHAM OAM
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
For service to public administration.
Mrs Graham is Executive Assistant to the Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade and has served in similar roles overseas in the United States, Belgium, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
PUBLIC SERVICE MEDAL (PSM) PSM
Leilani Rozzanna BIN-JUDA PSM
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
For outstanding public service in promoting the inclusion of Indigenous heritage in Australia’s cultural and foreign policies.
Ms Bin-Juda has been an active proponent and champion of Australia’s Indigenous heritage both domestically and internationally. She was Manager of the Cultural Program at the Australian Pavilion at Shanghai World Expo in 2010, as an adviser on economic governance in the Solomon Islands, and as a diplomat promoting gender and sports diplomacy in Papua New Guinea.
Her personal commitment and motivation, ability to build rapport and working relationships with diverse international and domestic stakeholders, her understanding of working with traditional owners, and her innovation in bringing a modern approach to promoting Indigenous heritage have enhanced international understanding of modern Australia.
As Australia’s first Torres Strait Islander appointed to Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s Torres Strait Treaty Liaison Office, Ms Bin-Juda has deftly managed a range of highly sensitive issues relating to Australia’s proximity to Papua New Guinea, including biosecurity risks and health security matters, illegal activities such as people and drug smuggling, fisheries, and community expectations about shared management of the environmental and marine resources.
Elsy BRAMMESAN PSM
Department of Health
For outstanding public service in the protection of the health, welfare and interests of people living in aged care facilities.
Ms Brammesan leads a team of inspectors of aged care services ensuring they are meeting the required standards of care. When potential non-compliance is identified, Ms Brammesan leads her team to build a clear picture of the problem to inform decision-making.
She stands out for her dedication, determination and exceptional skills in navigating this difficult space where regulatory requirements have real and emotional impacts on people’s lives.
She is highly collaborative in her approach, methodically working through problems, providing personal reassurance to residents and their families and finding innovative solutions to meet their needs. At the same time, she facilitates employment opportunities for the staff also impacted.
Joseph Ernest CASTELLINO PSM
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
For outstanding public service in leading fiscal policy analysis and advice to the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Mr Castellino served in the highly demanding position of head of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Fiscal Policy Branch. In this role he worked across the Department, and with the other central agencies, to provide advice on each spending and revenue measure brought to the Expenditure Review Committee of Cabinet.
He has played a key role in the delivery of the six most recent Commonwealth Government Budgets and Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlooks, and has led the preparation of advice to the Prime Minister on all new police proposals considered as part of the Budget since 2013.
He exemplifies sound judgement, collegiality and commitment and has earned the respect of successive Prime Ministers and other members of the Cabinet, establishing himself as a trusted adviser and key official in the Expenditure Review Committee of the Cabinet.
He has provided policy leadership and is recognised across the Commonwealth as an expert in Government finances and assessing policy proposals in terms of their value for money and effectiveness.
Andrea COLLINS PSM
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
For outstanding public service through the improvement of outcomes for Indigenous people.
Ms Collins began working in the Indigenous Affairs portfolio in 1969 and has spent her career contributing to better outcomes for Indigenous people. Her enthusiasm, ability to build trust and influence in Indigenous communities, and within Government agencies, has significantly contributed to the delivery of government services.
She plays a significant leadership role in linking community with the Government and her professional expertise, and lived experience as an Aboriginal women, means she is able to create culturally safe and inviting spaces which allow the voice of community to be heard by Government officials.
Ms Collins’s commitment to Indigenous Affairs is also reflected in her personal life as she has founded several Indigenous organisations, been actively involved in many committees, and established the Central Queensland National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee.
Dr Gary Stuart DOLMAN PSM
Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics
For outstanding public service in the leadership of research and contribution to national economic reform in the areas of infrastructure, transport and regional economics.
Dr Dolman has built the Bureau of Infrastructure, Transport and Regional Economics (BITRE) into a very effective organisation which is nationally and internationally recognised as a leader in data analysis and portfolio research and economic reform.
He is a distinguished leader in economic analysis, and data collection and provision, which materially impacts on all Australians through informing decision making and investments to address long term transport needs, boost productivity through the more efficient movement of people and goods, support regulatory reform and the robust assessment of infrastructure funding.
Dr Dolman has led innovation in the way in which data is collected and provided at a time of significant change in the economy and in the collection of data. This work has culminated in the 2018 release of a National Infrastructure Data Collection and Dissemination Plan leading to improved outcomes in analysis and decision making for infrastructure project funding.
Dr Clinton Bruce FOSTER PSM
Geoscience Australia
For outstanding public service in the application of geoscientific information and data to reduce carbon dioxide emissions.
Dr Foster is internationally recognised for his expertise and passion for applying geoscience to the problem of reducing atmospheric emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2) through carbon capture and storage.
This work has placed Australia at the forefront of international efforts to meet global emission reduction targets, and significantly and permanently enhance the Australian Government’s reputation as a leader in applying evidence to address the global challenge of successfully storing CO2.
Dr Foster has acted as a strategic and trusted adviser to Governments, been a passionate science leader in both Australia and internationally, and also a valuable mentor of many young scientists.
John Peter LONSDALE PSM
Treasury
For outstanding public service through improving the stability, efficiency and competiveness of Australia’s financial system and increasing the robustness of Australia’s foreign investment framework.
As General Manager of the Financial System Division of The Treasury in 2010, Mr Lonsdale led the development of the Competitive and Sustainable Banking System reform package which improved outcomes for consumers and supporting smaller lenders to compete with the major banks.
He was Head of the Secretariat to the Financial System Inquiry in 2014 where he led a team comprising both public and private sector specialists to deliver the most comprehensive review of Australia’s financial system in nearly 20 years.
As Deputy Secretary of Markets Group in The Treasury he prosecuted the need for the substantial reform agenda set out by the recommendations of the Financial System Inquiry, as well as supporting the Government in designing the 2017 Budget banking package.
Since 2015 he has also been central to the changes to increase the robustness of Australia’s foreign investment framework, in particular, the creation of the Critical Infrastructure Centre (CIC).
Jonathan James PALMER PSM
Australian Bureau of Statistics
For outstanding public service as the Deputy Australian Statistician, and through contributions to the international statistical community.
Mr Palmer has been an outstanding leader at the Australian Bureau of Statistics.
Over the past decade he has built ABS’s capability and innovation in the context of markedly reduced resources, contributing to changes in the way the ABS operates and responds to the opportunities and challenges facing statistical offices operating in the 21st century.
He led the taskforce that designed and delivered the Australian Marriage Law Postal Survey in less than 100 days. This was a complex, challenging, sensitive and highly contentious task that relied on many different components being delivered to a very high standard.
Mr Palmer has also been instrumental in mentoring a number of Chief Statisticians from developing nations across the Pacific and helping build capability in the South Pacific Commission. Beyond the Pacific region, he has contributed his information and communication technology and management expertise to statistical agencies in other countries, including New Zealand.
Lois Margaret RANSOM PSM
Department of Agriculture and Water resources
For outstanding public service through the strengthening of Australia’s plant biosecurity system.
Mrs Ransom has devoted her career of over 30 years to strengthening Australia’s plant biosecurity system. She has worked at both the State and Federal levels of Government, as well as internationally.
In Australia she has played a leading role in driving national coordination of plant biosecurity activities, resulting in the development of a number of national biosecurity strategies, including: the National Plant Biosecurity Strategy; the National Fruit Fly Strategy; the National Plant Biosecurity Diagnostic Strategy; and the National Plant Biosecurity Surveillance Strategy.
Mrs Ransom’s work spans the biosecurity continuum of pre-border, border and post border and has led to a substantial legacy of strengthening Australia’s systems for effectively managing the risk that exotic plant pests and diseases pose to our plant based industries, the environment, and community amenities.
Cathryn Monica REID PSM
Australian Government Solicitor
For outstanding public service through the provision of legal advice and contributions to the strategic management of major Commonwealth infrastructure, marine and aviation projects.
During her time at the Australian Government Solicitor, Ms Reid has brought outstanding legal skills to enable the development of complex negotiation positions, settle difficult commercial positions, and develop legislation. She has worked on some of the largest Commonwealth commercial transactions, and been vital to the successful delivery of many Commonwealth public policy reforms.
In the 2000s she led teams advising on a series of significant Commonwealth infrastructure, maritime and aviation projects. These projects included the privatisation of Qantas, CSL Limited and the Federal airports as well as Antarctic aviation projects and CSIRO’s RV Investigator. Most recently Ms Reid has led a team of lawyers working on the Western Sydney Airport.
Richard Geoffrey RICHARDSON PSM
For outstanding public service in the area of Indigenous policy and programs.
Mr Richardson has dedicated his career of over 40 years to influencing all levels of Government to better understand the needs of Indigenous Australia, and improving outcomes for Indigenous people.
His ability to establish and maintain strategic relationships with Indigenous leaders and other key stakeholders, (nationally and internationally), to deliver the Australian Government’s policy agenda, and to collaborate on initiatives to support sustained outcomes in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, is highly regarded across the Commonwealth.
He has also been a key leader in Indigenous policy, program delivery, and in embedding cultural understanding in the Australian Public Service
He has a deep respect for Indigenous cultures and he has ensured that the voices of Indigenous people are heard in policies and programs that affect them and encouraged and led a generation of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people to strive for a career in the Australian Public Service.
Matthew Vincent YANNOPOULOS PSM
Department of Education and Training
For outstanding public service through the leadership and delivery of reform to payments for Child Care.
Mr Yannopoulos has demonstrated outstanding service and exemplary leadership skills in a long career of developing and delivering strategic policy reforms. He most recently led the program to deliver the new Child Care Subsidy, the cornerstone of the New Child Care Package, and one of the most significant changes to Australia’s child care system in 40 years.
He delivered an extraordinary outcome on a high priority, high profile, complex project. The project was managed across a number of departments and needed unified governance, and a shared sense of purpose and direction to be successful. His leadership in resetting the governance arrangements was so effective it is being held up by central agencies as a model for all cross-Government projects.
Mr Yannopoulos’s efforts and achievements in improving the lives of Australian families is most noteworthy.
AUSTRALIAN POLICE MEDAL (APM)
Detective Superintendent Jason Nicholas KENNEDY APM
Detective Superintendent Kennedy commenced with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) in February 1991 as part of the AFP Undergraduate Program. On completing the Program he undertook recruit training at the AFP College graduating as a Constable before commencing in ACT Policing.
The majority of his career has been dedicated to operational roles within ACT Policing where he worked in numerous portfolios and operations. These have included General Duties, Traffic Operations, Criminal Investigations, Homicide Investigations, Collision Investigation and Reconstruction, Community Safety, Ministerial, Station OIC and District Superintendent. He is currently the Superintendent responsible for the ACT Policing Futures Program.
He is dedicated to Community Policing, and the wider AFP, and his commitment to the community of the Australian Capital Territory is most noteworthy.
Detective Superintendent Terry VENCHIARUTTI APM
Superintendent Venchiarutti commenced with the Australian Federal Police (AFP) on its inception in 1979 on transfer from the then Commonwealth Police. He served in the Eastern Region of Sydney.
His dedication to policing, both nationally and internationally, has seen him deployed as the AFP’s Senior Liaison Officer to Italy in 1994 and to the Netherlands in 2000. He was promoted to Sergeant whilst working in National Operations in Sydney and was subsequently promoted to the rank of Superintendent in 2005.
During his career he has worked on a number of significant AFP investigations, including Operations DYKE, PENDENNIS-EDEN and OCTANS. He has worked in numerous policing roles throughout the AFP, including Airport Policing, Organised Crime, Counter-Terrorism and was a visiting fellow at the Australian Institute of Police Management.
Superintendent Venchiarutti has been a committed officer throughout his career spanning 40 years and has brought great credit on himself and that of the Australian Federal Police.
AUSTRALIAN FIRE SERVICE MEDAL (AFSM)
Nigel Leonard BURNELL AFSM
Mr Burnell joined the Department of Civil Aviation (a precursor organisation to the Aviation Rescue and Fire Fighting Service (ARFFS), a division of Airservices Australia), in 1970. He has maintained continuous service with ARFFS for the past 49 years.
He has served as a Fire Commander since 2003 and, during his time within ARFFS, he has seen duty at many ARFFS Stations, including Brisbane, Coolangatta, Rockhampton, Mt Isa, Proserpine, Cairns, and at his current station in Mackay where he has been stationed since 1987.
He has held numerous roles including Station Officer, Fire Commander and Training Officer. He has been a Training Officer since 1979 and has delivered both core firefighting skills training and specialist aviation firefighting training courses. This includes the development of staff undertaking Certificate Ill through to Diploma training, both theory and practical.
Over his 48 year career Mr Burnell has shown exemplary service and professional leadership. His commitment and dedication to the development and support of staff throughout ARFFS, combined with his sustained and ongoing operational leadership is of great credit to him and to Airservices Australia.
