Secretary
Lisa Paul
Lisa Paul AO PSM is Secretary of the federal Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR) – the lead government agency providing national leadership in education and workplace training, transition to work and conditions and values in the workplace.
The department works in collaboration with the states and territories and has offices and agencies throughout Australia and overseas allowing an active, national and client-focused approach to how the department works with the Australian public.
DEEWR administers approximately $43.5 billion annually and has about 5500 staff in over 36 locations in Australia and 16 locations overseas.
Prior to this role, Lisa was Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training from 2004 to 2007.
She has more than 20 years public sector experience, including three Deputy CEO roles, which were in the Department of Education, Science and Training; the Department of Family and Community Services; and in the Health Insurance Commission. She has held senior positions in education, welfare, community services, health and housing, in state and Commonwealth governments and in central and line agencies.
Lisa has led some important whole-of-government work. For example, in 2002 she was asked to lead the Australian Government's domestic response to the Bali bombings, for which she was awarded a Public Service Medal.
In 2011 she 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 relations.
Speeches