Drew Clarke

Andrew Leigh Clarke AO PSM FTSE is a former senior Australian public servant who served as Secretary of several departments and as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, before his retirement in April 2017. Since his retirement from the public service he has been appointed to the board of nbn™ and is to become chairman of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO).[1]

Drew Clarke AO PSM FTSE
Chief of Staff of the Prime Minister's Office
In office 15 September 2015 – 21 April 2017
Secretary of the Department of Communications
In office 18 September 2013 – 21 September 2015
Secretary of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy
In office 11 March 2013 – 18 September 2013
Secretary of the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism
In office April 2010 – March 2013
Personal details
Born	Andrew Leigh Clarke
Nationality	Australian
Alma mater	Ohio State University
Occupation	Public servant

Life and career

Clarke has a Bachelor of Applied Science (Surveying) from RMIT University, a Master of Science from Ohio State University, and a Diploma from the Australian Institute of Company Directors. [2]

As a former surveyor who had worked in Australia and Antarctica, Clarke joined the Energy area of the Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources in 2002 and moved to the newly created Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism in December 2007.[3]

Clarke was promoted to Secretary of the Department in April 2010.[4]

Clarke was appointed Chair of the Australian New Zealand Land Information Council (ANZLIC) in 2011, to replace Warwick Watkins who was dismissed from the NSW Public Service for corruption. [5] [6]

Clarke was appointed to head the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy in February 2013,[7] an appointment for five years from 11 March 2013.[8]

Following the elevation of Communications Minister Malcolm Turnbull to the Prime Ministership in the September 2015 Liberal leadership spill, Clarke became Turnbull's Chief of Staff.[9]

Although originally agreeing only to establish the new prime minister's office and retire after the 2016 federal election, Clarke stayed on until he retired in April 2017.[10]

He was appointed to the board of nbn from 22 August 2017 for a three-year term on 15 August 2017.[11]

Awards

Clarke was awarded a Public Service Medal on the Queen's Birthday 2009 "for outstanding public service in driving significant reform of the energy market".[12]

He was elected a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering in 2011.

Clarke was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) on Australia Day 2016 "for distinguished service to public administration, to communications and energy policy initiatives and reform, and to the spatial information industry".[13]

References

1. Andrew Probyn, (16 October 2017), Malcolm Turnbull's former chief of staff to be new energy 'tsar' under alternative to Clean Energy Target, ABC News. Retrieved 16 October 2017
2. https://www.nbnco.com.au/corporate-information/about-nbn-co/our-people/board-member-biographies/drew-clarke
3. "Departure of the Secretary of the Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism" (Press release). 11 February 2013.
4. Our Secretary: Drew Clarke, Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, 18 January 2011, archived from the original on 14 March 2011
5. "Michael Bradford, CEO Landgate elected ANZLIC Chair | ANZLIC". www.anzlic.gov.au.
6. "Former minister and ex-LPMA chief corrupt, finds ICAC – Independent Commission Against Corruption". www.icac.nsw.gov.au.
7. Peake, Ross (11 February 2013). "PM's new department head 'an asset'". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 9 August 2015.
8. Senior Commonwealth Public Service Appointments (PDF), Hawker Britton, February 2013, archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2014
9. Public servant Drew Clarke replaces Peta Credlin as acting chief of staff, Canberra Times, September 2015
10. PM's chief adviser Drew Clarke to retire, Greg Moriarty named chief of staff, Canberra Times, 18 April 2017
11. Tom McIlroy, (15 August 2017), Malcolm Turnbull's former chief of staff Drew Clarke named to NBN Co board, Canberra Times. Retrieved 15 August 2017
12. "CLARKE, Andrew Leigh - Public Service Medal (PSM)", It's an Honour, Australian Government, archived from the original on 9 August 2015
13. "CLARKE, Andrew (Drew) Leigh - Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)". It's an Honour. Australian Government. 26 January 2016.