IPAA National Fellow Queensland: Rachel Hunter PSM
IPAA Queensland is privileged to announce that Ms Rachel Hunter PSM, Director-General of the Department of Premier and Cabinet has been awarded the IPAA National Fellowship for 2022.
With a career in public purpose leadership spanning more than thirty years, Ms Hunter has made a significant contribution to the practice of public administration and the development of the profession through leading innovation and improvement in government policy and public sector reform in Queensland.
During her time as Director-General of the Department of Justice and Attorney General, the first non-lawyer to hold the position, Ms Hunter led a review of the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions in 2003-2004 which led to significant reforms to the operational effectiveness and of public prosecution, service coordination and integration of prosecutions with related services across the state.
President of the IPAA Queensland Council, Ian Stewart AO APM states “Ms Hunter is a worthy recipient of such a prestigious award, one that recognises her multiple achievements in the public service over her committed career.”
“We are delighted to have nominated Ms Hunter PSM, and to see her being awarded such an important accolade.” Mr Stewart says.
Over the course of her career, Ms Hunter strengthened the department’s public administration capabilities.
One example of this work is in 2015, she delivered “The Hunter Review” of the Department of Health’s structure, governance arrangements and high-level organisational capability. The Hunter Review has been influential in shaping structural decision making and functional alignment at a sector-wide level, and continues to set a benchmark for organisational strategy across the sector.
Ms Hunter contributed to the study of public administration in Australia, authoring a chapter on improving governance in education for the book “Collaborative Governance: A New Era of Public Policy in Australia?” edited by Professors Janine O’Flynn and John Wanna.
As current Director-General Department of Premier and Cabinet, Ms Hunter PSM continues to develop public service capability at a whole-of-sector level. In delivering her opening address to Business Improvement in Government Conference in 2022, she described policy making as a “process of innovation”, inspiring public service workers to contribute to public value by drawing on creativity and action, within the boundaries of ethics and integrity.
Through her policy and reform leadership and stewardship at a sector-wide level, Ms Hunter PSM has contributed to the culture of leadership and learning across Queensland.
In 2020, Ms Hunter was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service to the community of Queensland and she is a fellow of the Australian and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG). She is a foundation member of the IPAA Queensland Council and remains a member of Council. 
Ms Hunter was presented with her award by Emeritus Professor Peter Coaldrake AO at the 2022 Irene Longman Oration, himself an IPAA National Fellow.
Congratulations to Ms Rachel Hunter PSM!
For more details about Ms Hunter, and her insights and commentary on servant leadership and why decompressing after work is so important, check out the IPAA Queensland blog.
About IPAA Queensland:
Like these insights? Join as an individual member to enjoy these insights and more.
IPAA Queensland advances the professionalism, capability and integrity of public administration and public purpose work and promotes pride in service.
If you’re a public servant or engaged in public purpose work, we encourage you to get to know and connect with IPAA Queensland. Find out more about us by reading more on our site or through joining as a member here.