Lisa Paul

Lisa Paul AO PSM
Secretary of the Department of Education and Training
In office 23 December 2014 – 29 January 2016
Secretary of the Department of Education
In office 18 September 2013 – 23 December 2014
Secretary of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations
In office 3 December 2007 – 18 September 2013
Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training
In office 26 October 2004 – 3 December 2007
Personal details
Born	Lisa Marian Paul United States
Nationality	Australian
Alma mater	Australian National University (BA)
Occupation	Public servant

Lisa Marian Paul AO PSM is a former senior Australian public servant and policymaker. She was the Secretary of the Department of Education and Training until February 2016.^[1][2]

Background and early life

Lisa Paul was born in the United States, the daughter of two teachers.^[3] When she was young, Paul and her family moved to Christchurch, New Zealand and then to Adelaide, South Australia following her father's job opportunities.^[3] Paul holds an Arts degree she obtained from the Australian National University.^[3]

Career

Paul's first public service role was in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT) Government Housing Trust,^[3] her career in the ACT public sector included the time during the ACT's transition to self-government.^[4]

Paul led the Commonwealth's domestic response to the 2002 Bali bombings while a Deputy Secretary in the Department of Family and Community Services.^[5]

Paul was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training in October 2004.^[6][7] The Department was split into two in 2013 after the Abbott Government took power and Paul was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education.^[8] She was also named to head the new Department of Education and Training when the Department was formed in December 2014, encompassing much of the previous department.

In December 2015, Paul announced her intention to leave her role at the Department of Education and Training in February 2016.^[9]

Awards

In October 2003 Paul was awarded a Public Service Medal for her role as Chair of the Commonwealth Bali Interagency Taskforce.^[10]

In June 2011 Paul was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to public sector leadership in key policy and program implementation, particularly through driving reform in education, employment and workplace.^[11] Also in 2011 she was named Federal Government Leader of the Year.^[12]

Notes

1. Thomson, Phillip (4 December 2015). "Lisa Paul to leave Department of Education and Training as APS reshuffle continues". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 4 December 2015.
2. Grattan, Michelle (4 December 2015). "Education department secretary Lisa Paul quits". The Conversation Media Group. Archived from the original on 4 December 2015.
3. Malone 2006, p. 46.
4. THE AUSTRALIAN HISTORY SUMMIT, 17 AUGUST 2006: BIOGRAPHICAL DETAILS OF SUMMIT PARTICIPANTS, 2006, p. 8
5. Malone 2006, p. 45.
6. "Lisa Paul and the Department of Education". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). 5 December 2005. p. 11.
7. Howard, John (22 October 2004). "Appointments of Secretaries" (Press release). Archived from the original on 19 December 2013.
8. Towell, Noel (18 September 2013). "Three public service department heads sacked by Abbott government". The Singleton Argus (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 4 December 2015.
9. "Education secretary Lisa Paul to exit public service". The Mandarin (Private Media). 4 December 2015.
10. "Search Australian Honours: PAUL, Lisa Marian", itsanhonour.gov.au (Australian Government)
11. "Search Australian Honours: PAUL, Lisa Marian", itsanhonour.gov.au (Australian Government)
12. "Lisa Paul's work recognised". The Australian (News Corp Australia). 19 October 2011. Archived from the original on 10 May 2012.

References and further reading

• Malone, Paul (2006), "Chapter 8: Californian Dreamer – Lisa Paul, Department of Education, Science and Training", Australian department heads under Howard : career paths and practice (PDF), Canberra, Australia: The Australian National University, pp. 45–49, ISBN 1-920942-83-1, archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2013