I am pleased to announce that the Governor-General has accepted my recommendation to appoint Mr Tony Cook PSM as the Secretary of the Department of Education.
Mr Cook is currently Deputy Secretary, Higher Education, Research and International at the Department of Education. He has held a range of senior public servant positions at the Commonwealth and State levels, including as Director‑General of the Queensland Department of Education and Deputy Secretary at the Victorian Department of Education and Early Childhood Development.
Mr Cook brings to his new appointment significant policy experience and strong stakeholder relationships, particularly in the education sector. He was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2014 in recognition of his work on school policy and funding reform.
Mr Cook’s five-year appointment will commence on 4 April 2023. I congratulate Tony on the appointment and look forward to working with him in this new capacity.
I would like to thank Dr Michele Bruniges AM for her service as Secretary of the Department of Education since April 2016. Dr Bruniges has made a significant contribution to education policy at the Commonwealth and state levels over a number of decades and I wish her well for the future.
A list of departmental Secretaries is available on the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet’s website.