Mark Sullivan (public servant)

Mark Sullivan
AO
Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs
In office
26 October 2004  2008
Secretary of the Department of Family and Community Services
In office
2002–2004
Personal details
Born Mark Anthony Sullivan
Nationality Australia Australian
Spouse(s) Bronwyn[1]
Children Fiona and Ryan[2]
Alma mater University of Sydney
Occupation Public servant

Mark Anthony Sullivan AO is a former senior Australian public servant and policymaker.

Background and early life

Sullivan studied economics and accounting at University of Sydney.[3] Before graduating in 1973 the Australian Taxation Office offered him a cadetship, allowing him to finish his studies on pay.[3]

Career

After graduating, Sullivan joined the Tax Office, working in offices in Sydney, Parramatta and Canberra.[3] He went on to work in the Department of Social Security, SBS and the Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (later Immigration and Ethnic Affairs and then Immigration and Multicultural Affairs. In the immigration department, he was engaged in managing boat people arrivals in 1989 and 1990.[3]

Between 1999 and 2002 Sullivan was the Chief Executive Officer of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.[4][5] Then, in 2002, Sullivan was appointed Secretary of the Department of Family and Community Services.[6][7]

In 2004, the Howard Government rotated Sullivan from FaCS to the Department of Veterans' Affairs.[8] In 2008 Sullivan left his role at Veterans' Affairs to join the ACTEW Corporation as managing director.[9][10]

During his time at ACTEW, Sullivan led major water projects, including the Cotter Dam expansion project, with the aim to "drought-proof" Canberra.[11] Sullivan announced his retirement from the ACTEW Corporation in February 2014.[11]

Awards

In 2008 Sullivan was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for service as Secretary of FaCS.[12]

References

  1. Sullivan 2012, p. 94.
  2. The Secretary: Mr Mark Sullivan, Department of Veterans' Affairs, archived from the original on 24 August 2006
  3. 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 Malone 2006, p. 73.
  4. Burgess, Verona (5 March 2002). "Mark Sullivan - facing FACS". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). p. 4.
  5. Board of Directors, ACTEW, archived from the original on 29 September 2013
  6. CA 8615: Department of Family and Community Services, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 20 January 2014
  7. Howard, John (18 January 2002). "SENIOR APPOINTMENTS - DEPARTMENTAL SECRETARIES" (Press release). Archived from the original on 10 November 2013.
  8. Howard, John (22 October 2004). "Appointments of Secretaries" (Press release). Archived from the original on 19 December 2013.
  9. CA 2107: Department of Veterans' Affairs, Central Office, National Archives of Australia, retrieved 20 January 2014
  10. Cox, Lisa (3 June 2013). "Sullivan pockets $1m in bonuses". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 20 January 2014.
  11. 11.0 11.1 Jean, Peter; Cox, Lisa (11 February 2014). "Mark Sullivan to leave Actew". The Canberra Times (Fairfax Media). Archived from the original on 10 February 2014.
  12. SAS Insight Series: Australia's Largest Inland City—What does water security mean, Trans Tasman Business Circle, archived from the original on 20 January 2014

References and further reading

Government offices
Preceded by
Neil Johnston
Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs
2004 – 2008
Succeeded by
Ian Campbell
Preceded by
David Rosalky
Secretary of the Department of Family and Community Services
2002 - 2004
Succeeded by
Jeff Harmer