Dr Gordon John de Brouwer PSM is a senior Australian public servant serving as Australian Public Service Commissioner since 11 May 2023. Prior to this, he was the Secretary for Public Sector Reform from 2022 to 2023, and previously Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Energy from 2016 to 2017.

Gordon de Brouwer
Secretary for Public Sector Reform
Assumed office
22 June 2022
Preceded byPosition Established
Secretary of the Department of the Environment
In office
September 2013 – 19 July 2016
Preceded byPaul Grimes (as Secretary of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities)
Succeeded byHimself
Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Energy
In office
19 July 2016 – 17 September 2017
Preceded byHimself
Succeeded byFinn Pratt
Personal details
Born
Gordon John de Brouwer
NationalityAustralia Australian
Alma materAustralian National University
University of Melbourne
OccupationPublic servant

Career

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Academia

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De Brouwer was Professor of Economics in the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University, from January 2000 to March 2004. This included a period as Executive Director of the Australia-Japan Research Centre and Director of the School's Research Committee. De Brouwer was also a member of the University's research program on Japan’s Economy and Government and on Korea’s Economy and Government. De Brouwer remains an adjunct professor with the ANU.[1]

Public service

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De Brouwer was appointed Secretary of the Department of the Environment in September 2013 after previously serving in the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

De Brouwer was the Associate Secretary in the Domestic Policy Group at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet under the Rudd Government. In this position, de Brouwer provided departmental and cross-government policy advice to the Prime Minister on domestic policy and G20 matters and was also the senior official representing Australia’s interests in the G20. Dr de Brouwer played a key role in the development of Australia's $42 billion economic stimulus package.[2] Former secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Terry Moran, stated in his witness statement to the Home Insulation Royal Commission that de Brouwer was given primary responsibility for devising environmental initiatives and presenting them to Cabinet, including the Energy Efficient Homes Package that included the Home Insulation Program that resulted in the deaths of four installers. de Brouwer also led the Australian delegation to the 2009 United Nations Climate Change Conference.[3] de Brouwer was appointed as Australia's G20 sherpa by Kevin Rudd. It was reported in leaked diplomatic cables that De Brouwer lamented to his contacts in the US Embassy that PM&C foreign policy staff have been run ragged answering the PM's (Rudd's) queries and supporting his interaction with foreign officials.[4]

De Brouwer became the President of the Institute of Public Administration (IPAA) ACT Division on 9 June 2016 [5] until his retirement as Secretary, then took on the role as National President of IPAA in September 2019.[6]

De Brouwer was appointed Secretary for Public Sector Reform for a 2-year term on 22 June 2022 under Katy Gallagher as Minister for the Public Service.[7] However, less than a year later, on 11 May 2023 he was appointed Australian Public Service Commissioner.[8]

Awards and honours

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De Brouwer studied in Japan in 1987-89 and 1994 with support from the Monbusho and Japan Foundation scholarships.[9]

De Brouwer was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2011 for outstanding public service in the development of international economic policy, particularly in the formulation of the Australian Government's agenda to establish the G20 as the pre-eminent global economic forum.[10]

In 2015, de Brouwer was awarded the Legion of Honour by the French Government.[11]

In 2017, de Brouwer was awarded a National Fellowship of the Institute of Public Administration Australia.[12]

References

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  1. ^ "Dr Gordon de Brouwer - Researchers - ANU".
  2. ^ Grattan, Michelle (1 November 2008). "Capitals idea, as Rudd's shirtsleeve stormtroopers talk tall". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media.
  3. ^ Bolt, Andrew (10 December 2009). "Napoleon Rudd advances on Copenhagen". News Corp.
  4. ^ "US condemns Rudd". 7 December 2010.
  5. ^ "IPAA Baton passes to Gordon de Brouwer". The Mandarin. 8 June 2016. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  6. ^ "De Brouwer to take the reins as IPAA's National President". IPAA National Website. 30 September 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  7. ^ "Statement on the appointment of Dr Gordon de Brouwer". Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Retrieved 26 September 2022.
  8. ^ "Australian Public Service Commissioner". APSC. 11 May 2023. Retrieved 10 July 2023.
  9. ^ Speakers Presentations: Dr Gordon de Brouwer, Institute of Public Administration Australia (ACT Division), 2013, archived from the original on 12 April 2015
  10. ^ Search Australian Honours, Name: de BROUWER, Gordon John, Award: Public Service Medal, Australian Government, archived from the original on 26 July 2015
  11. ^ Ambassade de France en Australie added 2 new photos, During a ceremony at the Residence of France this evening, H. E. Ambassador Christophe Lecourtier conferred the rank of Knight in the Legion of Honour on Mr. Gordon de Brouwer, Secretary of the Department of the Environment. The ceremony took place in front of Mr. De Brouwer's family, colleagues, members of parliament including the Minister for the Environment Greg Hunt and representatives of the diplomatic community.
  12. ^ "IPAA ACT 2017 National Fellows". IPAA ACT. 15 November 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
Government offices
Preceded byas Secretary of the Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities Secretary of the Department of the Environment
2013 – 2016
Succeeded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Energy
Preceded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of the Environment
Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Energy
2016–2017
Succeeded by