Dr Jeff Harmer AO

Dr Harmer has been the Secretary of two large Commonwealth departments: the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) and the Department of Education, Science and Training. Prior to that, he was Managing Director of the Health Insurance Commission (now Medicare Australia).

In 2008, Dr Harmer led a review of the adequacy of the Aged Pension and Disability Support Pension in Australia. Following that, he was appointed as a member of the panel, chaired by Dr Ken Henry, to review Australia’s Future Tax System.

In 2009, Dr Harmer was voted the inaugural Australian Government Leader of the Year by a panel established by the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants. He was appointed an Officer in the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours list in January 2010 for the significant achievements in his public service career, particularly his leadership of key policy initiatives such as  programs for housing assistance, child support, mental health, the disabled, health insurance reform and initiatives for Indigenous Australians.

Dr Harmer has a PhD in Economic Geography and is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management (FAIM) and the Institute of Public Administration Australia (FIPAA). He has also held a range of board appointments including the CSIRO (2003 & 2004) and the Health Insurance Commission (1998–2003).

Currently, Dr Harmer is Chair of the Advisory Group for the Australian National Disability Insurance Scheme, Chair of the Advisory Committee for the Reform of the Australian Government’s Housing Assistance Programs and a member of the Australian Government’s Social Inclusion Board. He is also a board member of a number of not-for-profit organisations.