Jeff Harmer

Jeffrey Allan 'Jeff' Harmer AO (born 19 September 1949) is a former senior Australian public servant. He was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training in 2003 and served in a series of Secretary-level roles until his retirement in December 2010.

Jeff Harmer
AO
Secretary of the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
In office
2007–2011
Secretary of the Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs
In office
2006–2007
Secretary of the Department of Family and Community Services
In office
2004–2006
Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training
In office
2003–2004
Personal details
Born
Jeffrey Allan Harmer

(1949-09-19) 19 September 1949
New South Wales
NationalityAustralia Australian
Alma materUniversity of New South Wales (BA (Hons), DipEd, PhD)
OccupationPublic servant

Life and career

Jeff Harmer was born on 19 September 1949 in country New South Wales.[1][2] He attended Gundagai High School and then graduated from the University of New South Wales, attaining a Bachelor of Arts (with honours) and a Diploma of Education, and then was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Urban Economic and Urban Geography.[2]

Harmer began his Commonwealth Public Service career in 1978 at the Department of Environment, Housing and Community Development,[1][3] starting on an 18-month contract.[4]

Between 1998 and 2003, Harmer was head of the Health Insurance Commission (now Medicare Australia), after having served in various senior public sector positions, including as a Deputy Secretary at the Department of Social Security and at the Department of Housing and Regional Development. Harmer was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education, Science and Training in February 2003 and the following year, Harmer became instead Secretary of the Department of Family and Community Services.[2]

Harmer retired from the public service in December 2010 after a public sector career that spanned over three decades.[5][6]

In retirement, Harmer has served on the committee for Reform of the Australian Government's Housing Assistance Programs and the advisory group for the National Disability Insurance Scheme. In September 2016, he was recruited to also chair an advisory committee on private health insurance policy, reporting to the health minister Sussan Ley.[7]

Awards

Jeff Harmer was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Canberra in September 2012.[1]

In 2009, Harmer was named the inaugural Federal Government Leader of the Year by the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia.[8] Harmer has also been awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 and in 2010 was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.[1]

References
  1. Comino, Kristyn (2 October 2012), "Public service leader receives honorary doctorate", Monitor Online, University of Canberra, archived from the original on 6 November 2012
  2. Howard, John (26 February 2003). "Appointment Of Secretary Of The Department Of Education, Science And Training" (Press release). Archived from the original on 10 January 2014.
  3. Gillard, Julia (21 December 2010). "Departmental Secretaries" (Press release). Archived from the original on 1 January 2014.
  4. Malone, Paul (November 2006), "Chapter 13: The People's Choice – Jeff Harmer, Department of Families, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs", Australian Department Heads Under Howard: Career Paths and Practice (Collected articles from the Canberra Times), ANU E Press and ANZSOG, ISBN 1 920942 83 1, archived from the original on 27 September 2013
  5. Macklin, Jenny (21 December 2010). "Retirement of Dr Jeff Harmer AO" (Press release). Archived from the original on 10 January 2014.
  6. "Conference Speakers: Dr Jeff Harmer AO". Australian Housing and Urban Research Institute. 2012. Archived from the original on 10 January 2014.
  7. Gardner, Jessica (8 September 2016). "Jeffrey Harmer to advise Health Minister Sussan Ley on private health insurance". Australian Financial Review. Fairfax Media.
  8. Past winners, Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia, 2013, archived from the original on 10 January 2014
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