Graham Evans (public servant)

Graham Evans
AO
Secretary of the Department of Transport
In office
23 December 1993  20 February 1995
Secretary of the Department of Transport and Communications
In office
1 October 1988  23 December 1993
Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries and Energy
In office
24 July 1987  31 August 1988
Secretary of the Department of Resources and Energy
In office
1986  24 July 1987
Personal details
Born Graham Charles Evans
22 January 1943
Nationality Australia Australian
Alma mater University of Melbourne
Australian National University
Johns Hopkins University
Occupation Public servant

Graham Charles Evans AO (born 22 January 1943) is a former senior Australian public servant and policymaker.

Background and early life

Evans was born on 22 January 1943. He attended high school at St Patrick's College, Ballarat.[1] His university studies were at University of Melbourne, Australian National University and Johns Hopkins University.[1]

Career

From 1968 to 1981, Evans held positions in overseas postings.[1] His early public service career saw him variously working in positions in the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Treasury and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.[2]

Evans was appointed to his first Secretary role in 1986, as head of the Department of Resources and Energy (later Department of Primary Industries and Energy).[3][4]

Bob Hawke proposed Evans for the role of Secretary of the Department of Transport and Communications in 1988.[5][6] Evans continued on as Secretary of the Department of Transport when the Transport and Communications mega department was split into two.[7]

In 1992 Evans brought defamation proceedings to the ACT Supreme Court against John Fairfax Group over an article titled 'Cosy in the Corridors of Power' that had appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald in April 1990.[8] Evans claimed that the article implied his success in the public service was because of the patronage of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke.[9] His action was dismissed in the ACT Supreme court in February 1993 and his appeal was rejected in the Federal Court in May 1994.[10][11]

Evans retired from a 27-year career in the Australian Public Service in 1995, at which time he was appointed to the Board of Australia Post.[12] In 1995 he was also appointed the head of external affairs at BHP Billiton, a position which he held until 2005.[2]

Awards

In 1995 Evans was awarded an Order of Australia award, for service to micro-economic reform in the transport and communications fields.[13]

References

  1. 1 2 3 CP 653: Graham Charles EVANS AO, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 19 January 2014
  2. 1 2 Graham Evans, Victorian Competition & Efficiency Commission, archived from the original on 2 May 2013
  3. CA 3496: Department of Resources and Energy, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 19 January 2014
  4. CA 5990: Department of Primary Industries and Energy, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 19 January 2014
  5. Hawke, Robert (2 June 1988). "Unknown" (Press release). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013.
  6. CA 5992: Department of Transport and Communications, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 19 January 2014
  7. CA 7854: Department of Transport [V], Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 19 January 2014
  8. Burgess, Verona (6 December 1992). "Looking back on a career path". The Canberra Times (ACT). p. 9.
  9. "Defamation proceedings". The Canberra Times. 25 November 1992. p. 10.
  10. Campbell, Rod (28 May 1994). "Bureaucrat facing big legal bill after ruling". The Canberra Times (ACT). p. 3.
  11. Campbell, Rod (24 April 1993). "Fairfax will have to pay its own legal costs". The Canberra Times (ACT). p. 17.
  12. Keating, Paul (13 February 1995). "STATEMENT BY THE PRIME MINISTER, THE HON P J KEATING, MP APPOINTMENT OF DEPARTMENTAL SECRETARIES" (Press release). Archived from the original on 3 December 2013.
  13. "Service of Australians Rewarded". The Age. 26 January 1995. Archived from the original on 19 January 2014.
Government offices
Preceded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of Transport and Communications
Secretary of the
Department of Transport

1993 – 1995
Succeeded by
Peter Core
Preceded by
Peter Wilenski
Secretary of the
Department of Transport and Communications

1988 - 1993
Succeeded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of Transport
Succeeded by
Neville Stevens
as Secretary of the Department of Communications
Preceded by
Geoff Miller
as Secretary of the Department of Primary Industry
Secretary of the
Department of Primary Industries and Energy

1987 - 1988
Succeeded by
Geoff Miller
Preceded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of Resources and Energy
Preceded by
Alan Woods
Secretary of the
Department of Resources and Energy

1986 – 1987
Succeeded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of Primary Industries and Energy
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