Each year, the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) bestows the Award of Fellow to a select group of individuals across Australia who have made an outstanding contribution to public service and to IPAA, a tradition dating back to 1983. Nominations for these National Fellows are made by each IPAA division from across the states and territories and are assessed by a subcommittee of the IPAA National Council.
QUEENSLAND RECIPIENTS
In 2024 we were delighted to recognise two trailblazers in public purpose with IPAA National Fellows awards.
DEIDRE MULKERIN, 2024
The award of IPAA National Fellow to
Deidre Mulkerin acknowledges her significant contribution to the public purpose sector in Queensland, New South Wales and nationally, across a career spanning almost 40 years. Having commenced as a graduate Child Safety Caseworker in 1984, her career demonstrates a dedication to service and to improving the lives of vulnerable children, young people and families, and occupies a rare space where her understanding of practice on the ground can be translated into operational and policy improvement.
As Director-General of the Department of Child Safety, Seniors and Disability Services and the Department of Child Safety, Youth and Women in Queensland, she led an ambitious reform agenda in Queensland to turn the tide of overrepresentation of young First Nations’ children under care through the “Our Way” Strategy and Delegated Authority Reforms. This included introducing reforms to enable community-controlled Indigenous organisations to lead service delivery in the child protection and youth justice sectors and kinship care arrangements.
Throughout her career Deidre has consistently delivered high quality policy and program advice and demonstrated personal leadership and values for developing and supporting leaders from across the human services sector. Improvement in public sector service delivery and outcomes have been a hallmark of Deidre’s career. She has demonstrated strong leadership of whole-of-system reforms, including out-of-home care (NSW), reducing the rate of child protection re-reporting, achieving a 44% reduction of children entering care in NSW. The reforms involved creating and embedding a Commissioning framework for the system of human services delivered by NSW Family and Community Services. This work involved delivering significant and complex change both internally and across the sector to modernise the commissioning of social services, moving from traditional service contracts to individual care packages. This work is looked to by other state/territory governments as the preferred pathway for similar reforms.
Across all reforms, Deidre has ensured they have been designed to thoughtfully support child protection staff, improve frontline services for clients and, outcomes for children, young people and those most vulnerable in the community. She is a quietly powerful leader who fosters an environment of inclusion and empowerment which brings out the best in those around her. Her leadership extends to uplifting leadership capabilities across the public sector by being a speaker at several key public sector conferences.
Deidre joined IPAA Queensland Council on 1 July 2020 and was appointed President on 1 January 2023. She has significantly contributed to the growth of the Division, supporting the introduction of several initiatives including the Emerging Leaders Working Group, International Women’s Day event, CEO Forum, and has championed IPAA across the Queensland public sector.
DR LINDA COLLEY, 2024
This award acknowledges Dr
Colley’s significant contribution to public administration and policy and Queensland through her academic work and through her public service. Dr Colley’s career has focused on Human Resources and Industrial Relations, where she is regarded as a leader in gender and inclusion.
Dr Colley is currently the Special Commissioner, Equity and Diversity, Public Sector Commission, Queensland, a position she was appointed to in 2021. As Special Commissioner, Dr Colley plays an important role in supporting the implementation of inclusive and accessible recruitment processes and practices across Queensland Government. Dr Colley, shows thoughtful and collaborative leadership in working with the sector to support the implementation of the progressive approach. In sponsoring new initiatives such as reproductive health leave for the Queensland public sector, Dr Colley has demonstrated influence and provided effective advice to shepherd through legislative and policy changes, whilst also working collaboratively across the Queensland government to embed the changes.
Formerly a Professor of Human Resources/Industrial Relations at Central Queensland University, and Chair of the Queensland Work Health and Safety Board, she has worked in the public, tertiary, and finance sectors. She is an accomplished researcher with skills in policy and policy analysis as well as completing extensive research across all Australian jurisdictions in gender, public sector management, and employment policy and practice.
Dr Colley has made a significant contribution to public sector research, particularly in the field of Human Resources and Industrial Relations, through both scholarly and practice reflections. She has presented her research and insights locally, nationally and internationally, including contributing to discussions on how to achieve transformative change and gender equity to the Australian Medical Association. She has also presented on gender equality at the International Labour and Employment Relations World Congress. She has authored and co-authored several journal articles in IPAA’s national peer-reviewed publication, the Australian Journal of Public Administration. Dr Colley was a recipient the Sam Richardson Award in 2022 for her co-authored article titled “Best person or best mix? How public sector managers understand the merit principle?”.
Dr Colley has been a supporter and champion of IPAA Queensland, its programs, events and activities for several years. She actively participates in IPAA Queensland events, including as a speaker and panel member, and also championing IPAA Queensland across the Queensland public sector. She has been a champion and advocate for the annual IPAA Queensland International Women’s Day Stewards on the Couch event and been a contributor to the event each year. She has also mentored and supported IPAA Queensland Council members to reflect diversity and inclusivity in the Division’s programs, supporting the Division to become a stronger and more visibly inclusive organisation. Dr Colley’s involvement has supported the growth of IPAA Queensland.
For information about all the latest IPAA National Fellows, go to the National website here.
PAST RECIPIENTS
IPAA Queensland is also pleased to recognise our previous Queensland recipients. Read excerpts from their nominations below.
RACHEL HUNTER PSM, 2022
Rachel Hunter PSM, Director-General, Department of The Premier and Cabinet and Council Member of IPAA Queensland. 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.
Over the course of her career, Ms Hunter PSM has developed and strengthened public service capability at a whole-of-sector level.
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.
When she was 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.
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.
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).
NEIL SCALES, 2021
Neil Scales OBE is Director-General of the
Queensland Department of Transport and Main Roads. He has dedicated over 40 years to the transport industry and is recognised for his outstanding leadership record in transportation. As the longest-serving Director-General in the current Queensland Government, he has made significant contributions to public administration and public policy. He has positioned transport as a key enabler of a strong and resilient Queensland economy supporting multiple industries and the community’s access to education, employment and health services.
Neil’s vision of a single, integrated transport network in Queensland that is accessible to all is being realised. TMR has been transformed into a customer-centred business responsive to customer expectations and a lifelong learning organisation that supports ongoing capability development and employee engagement. Neil is a strong champion of diversity and inclusion, gender equity, wellbeing and mental health across TMR’s 8000+ employees.
Neil has been a long-time supporter of IPAA and its mission to advance the profession of public administration. He is an inaugural member of the IPAA Queensland Council, and has twice been elected to the role of Treasurer. Neil is also a visible and impactful champion of IPAA’s thought leadership events and activities.
Other leadership roles held by Neil include – Commissioner for the National Transport Commission, Chair of Austroads, and Deputy Chair of the Australian Road Research Board. Neil is a Fellow of numerous professional bodies in Australia and the UK and a recipient of the 2021 Roads Australia John Shaw Medal for outstanding contribution to roads in Australia. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in engineering and computing and a Masters of Business Administration.
ROBERT SETTER, 2020
Robert Setter’s distinguished career has spanned both public and private sectors. He has an outstanding leadership record in corporate governance, organisational reform and leadership development and has successfully led the development and delivery of a range of ambitious Government reform initiatives. Robert is recognised by senior leaders in state and local government, industry, university and community sectors across Queensland for his collaborative leadership style and for championing client-centred, place-based, policies and services for more impactful results.
Robert has held chief and senior executive positions across the policy portfolios of education, agriculture and primary industry, and most recently public sector employment. He is passionate about creating pride in the public service and in ensuring that the organisation he leads, the Public Service Commission (PSC), is an effective steward of the Queensland Public Sector.
Robert has been the public face of the re-established IPAA Queensland. As PSC Chief Executive and the inaugural IPAA Queensland President (2016-2019), his stewardship has been instrumental to IPAA Queensland’s success to date. In 2016 he convened an Advisory Council of Directors-General to provide strategic direction and oversee a strategy to build awareness and engagement with IPAA. As a result, IPAA Queensland was softly re-launched in May 2017. Since then, it has delivered an annual program of successful thought leadership events and steadily grown its value proposition across the public purpose communities.
Robert has led the establishment of mutually beneficial partnerships with universities, professional services firms and other organisations engaged in public purpose, and a successful membership offering. Under his leadership, IPAA Queensland is increasingly recognised for advancing the profession, capability and integrity of public service and public purpose work, and for enhancing the positive reputation of public service. In addition, in late 2018 IPAA Queensland was registered as an incorporated association and has a strong foundation for an impactful and financially sustainable.
Robert holds degrees in Education and Arts (Hon) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He is currently Board Director, Australia and New Zealand School of Government.
JAMES PURTILL, 2019
James Purtill’s distinguished career in the Queensland public sector includes chief executive roles at the Department of Natural Resources, Mines and Energy (current); the Department of Aboriginal, Torres Strait Islander and Multicultural Affairs; the Environmental Protection Agency and Commissioner of the Public Service.
A scientist and business administrator by profession, he brings more than 30 years of national and international experience, also including in the private sector (e.g. an ASX top 20 resources company), the tertiary sector (e.g. University of London), and as a delegate to the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development.
Across these broad policy portfolios of environment, natural resources, social justice, economic development, water and energy, James is widely recognised by senior leaders from government and industry for championing evidence based approaches to policy and service delivery design for more impactful results. He is an active champion of innovation, particularly through harnessing technological developments for enhanced service delivery.
James is a long-time supporter, advocate, and valued ambassador for IPAA and has contributed significantly to IPAA in Queensland. He has been an active member of the IPAA Queensland Advisory Council since it was created in 2016 to guide IPAA’s re-establishment in Queensland. James has contributed to shaping its strategic direction and value proposition. He has served as Secretary since IPAA Queensland was formally incorporated in 2018, a position he continues to hold. Over the years, he has also presented at thought leadership events hosted by IPAA Queensland and IPAA National.
James’ academic qualification include a science degree with Honours from the University of New South Wales and an MBA from the University of Queensland. He is also a graduate of the Australian Company of Directors. James was awarded the Prime Minister’s Centenary Medal and is a Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government.
DAVE STEWART, 2018
Dave Stewart’s distinguished career in public administration has spanned three decades across local and state government in Australia. As Director-General, Department of the Premier and Cabinet since February 2015, Dave has led the development of a range of ambitious Government reform initiatives, most recently Our Future State: Advancing Queensland Priorities. As Founding Chair of the CEO Leadership Board, he has steered the Board towards a collaborative governance model positioning the sector to more effectively tackle complex, cross-cutting policy problems and positioned the Board as the key decision making authority in co-stewardship of the sector.
Through his roles as Director-General for Transport in Queensland (2009-2012) and New South Wales (2013-2015) and as Projects Queensland CEO (2012-2013), he led the delivery of numerous billion dollar infrastructure projects that have delivered lasting economic and social benefits to state and local communities. His leadership in the transportation portfolios is recognised as delivering improvements to access and affordability of public transport services in QLD and NSW.
As Chair of the CEO Leadership Board, Dave has been a strong supporter of IPAA’s re-establishment in Queensland, and in June 2018 he recommended that all Board chief executives support IPAA Queensland by becoming organisational members (providing financial support). He has also been a strong advocate of IPAA’s program of thought leadership events, championing their value for building knowledge, connections and pride in the profession of public service.
Dave was the featured guest in IPAA Queensland’s first event in May 2016, appearing ‘on the couch’ with journalist Monica Attard. The event, attended by over 150 guests and live streamed across the state, served as the catalyst for IPAA Queensland’s successful Stewards on the Couch series and growing awareness of the value of IPAA.
He is an accomplished civil engineer, recognised as one of Australia’s Top 100 most influential engineers by Engineers Australia and is a Fellow of Engineers Australia and the Australian Academy of Technology and Engineering. He holds Masters’ Degrees in Business and Engineering Science.
2012 – Barry Dunphy
2011 – Ian Stewart AO APM
2010 – Dr Anne Tiernan
2009 – Bob Atkinson APM and Len Scanlan
2008 – Margaret Allison and Peter Henneken
2007 – Jim Varghese
2006 – Ray Lane
2005 – Jude Munro, Patty Renfrow and Prof John Wanna
2002 – Garry Kellar
2001 – Dr Brian Head
2000 – Prof Roger Scott
1998 – Carolyn Mason
1996 – Colin Hughes
1995 – Glyn Davis
1994 – Peter Coaldrake
1993 – Robert Smith
1991 – David Stevenson
1984 – Ronald Howatson
1983 – Les Feenaghty MBE, Sir Douglas Fraser ISO, Howard Hinton, James See and Kenneth Wiltshire
About IPAA Queensland
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.
Build connections. Challenge your thinking. Keep informed. It’s your IPAA.