The executive for the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
Secretary
Dr Michele Bruniges AM
Dr Michele Bruniges AM is the Secretary of the Australian Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
By working with government to develop and implement policy priorities, the department’s commitment is to ensure Australians can experience the wellbeing and economic benefits that quality education, skills and employment provide.
Between 2016 and February 2020, Dr Bruniges led the Australian Department of Education and Training and then the Australian Department of Education. Prior to these appointments, she headed the NSW Department of Education and Communities, one of Australia’s largest state government departments that had direct responsibility for more than 2,200 schools and a workforce of more than 84,000 people providing services across the state.
In April 2017, Dr Bruniges became the first Australian appointed to Chair the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development’s (OECD) Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) Governing Board.
In her earlier executive career, Dr Bruniges headed the ACT Department of Education and held senior roles in the Australian Government’s then Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations.
Dr Bruniges’ qualifications include a PhD in Educational Measurement and a Masters in Education. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Churchill Fellow, a Fellow of Australian College of Educators and a Fellow of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders.
Dr Bruniges is a Member of the Order of Australia, given in 2012 for service to public administration through executive roles, and as a contributor to reform in the education sector at state and national levels. Also in 2012, Dr Bruniges was a joint recipient of Inaugural 100 Women of Influence Awards – for her work in public policy.
In 2015, Dr Bruniges received national recognition for her significant contribution to education as the recipient of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders Gold Medal Award. That year, she was also awarded the Australian College of Educators’ Sir Harold Wyndham Medal for her contribution to the education of young people in NSW.
The Australian College of Educators’ highest award, its 2019 College Medal, was presented to Dr Bruniges for her outstanding and sustained contributions to the fields of education and across a range of sectors.
Deputy Secretaries
Brenton Philp - Early Childhood and Child Care Group
Brenton Philp is Deputy Secretary for the Early Childhood and Child Care Group. He joined the Department of Education, Skills and Employment on 17 May 2021.
With over twenty years in the Australian Public Service, Brenton has performed senior roles in social policy relating to families, housing, homelessness and pensions; energy policy; digital transformation; and competition and consumer protection regulation. Brenton has served in the departments of Industry, Energy and Environment, Social Services and the Prime Minister and Cabinet, as well as a long career with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Dr Ros Baxter PSM - Schools and Youth Group
Dr Ros Baxter joined the Department of Education, Skills and Employment as the Deputy Secretary of the Early Childhood and Child Care Group in February 2020. Prior to this, she was the Deputy Secretary of Integrity and Information at the Department of Human Services.
Ros is a very experienced senior APS leader, having led policy functions across several departments including the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet and the Department of Social Services.
Alex Gordon - Employment Programs Group
Alex Gordon is the Deputy Secretary for the Employment Programs Group in the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
Since joining the department in 2010, Alex has held a number of senior leadership roles driving major reforms in school funding, data collection and analytics, national curriculum and assessment, quality teaching and preschool. Alex has worked across a range of public policy issues within Government, community organisations and the private sector. This includes working on issues of social policy, energy and climate change, water, infrastructure and regional development.
Alex holds a Bachelor of Science from the University of Sydney and a Master of Science from the University of Oxford.
Karen Sandercock - A/g Deputy Secretary Higher Education, Research and International Group
Karen Sandercock leads work across the Higher Education, Research and International Group within the Australian Government Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
As Acting Deputy Secretary Karen Group supports the Government’s reform agenda for the higher education sector: to enhance competition; improve quality and accessibility; and ensure sustainability of the sector. This includes promoting high quality research and innovation that boosts Australia’s productivity, through funding for research, and supports greater industry engagement and knowledge transfer. Karen also drives the Government’s National Strategy for International Education 2025 and works with domestic and international stakeholders to support the sustainable expansion of Australia’s trade in education services, cognisant of our national interest.
Karen also leads overarching data work, working across the department to ensure our extensive data holdings are appropriately managed and inform policy development. Karen also guides the government’s bilateral and multilateral education, training and research relationships internationally.
Karen is a career officer of the Australian Government and has represented the government internationally including roles at the Australian Embassy to Japan, and the Australian Embassy to Italy. Karen has held a range of senior positions within government, having worked extensively across education policy for schools, higher education and international education, as well as across employment and industrial relations policy.
Marcus Markovic, Deputy Secretary/Chief Operating Officer, Corporate and Enabling Services Group
Marcus Markovic is the Deputy Secretary and Chief Operating Officer for the Corporate and Enabling Services Group in the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
Marcus has a long career in the Australian Public Service and has held senior finance and technology executive roles in the Department of Education, Department of Human Services, ComSuper and the Australian Taxation Office.
He has extensive experience in leading large operational, finance and information technology teams and implementing change programs.
Marcus’ academic qualifications include a Master of Business Administration, Graduate Diploma (Information Systems) and Bachelor of Commerce.
He is also a fellow of CPA Australia and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Nathan Smyth, Employment and National Workforce Group
Nathan Smyth is the Deputy Secretary for the Employment and National Workforce Group in at the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
Nathan is responsible for the transformative change to the delivery of employment services including the delivery and implementation of the new employment services model, the establishment of JobsHub and facilitation of Job Fairs nationwide, the Seasonal Worker Programme which provides access to Australian work opportunities by nine Pacific Island countries and Timor-Leste.
Nathan has oversight of current employment services and labour market programs including jobactive, Transition to Work, NEIS, and the ParentsNext preemployment program.
Nathan has also been involved in the oversight for the planning and construction of the second Sydney airport, the implementation of tobacco plain packaging, mental health policy and electoral reform.
Prior to joining the Department of Education, Skills and Employment, he held a range of senior positions at Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, the Department of Finance, the Department of Health, and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Nathan holds a Bachelor Degree (Political Science) from the University of NSW and a Master of Business Administration.
Nadine Williams, Deputy Secretary – Skills and Training Group
Nadine Williams is Deputy Secretary for the Skills and Training Group in the Department of Education, Skills and Employment.
Nadine has a background in microeconomic and regulatory reform and 25 years of experience in leading complex reform agendas at both the Commonwealth and State government level.
Nadine has held senior roles in the Department of Education and Training, the Department of Communications and the Arts, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Finance and the NSW Government. She has worked across a broad range of public policy issues, oversaw the delivery of consumer regulation; regional communications policy and programs; and the National Broadband Network including employment and training policy in the Indigenous Affairs portfolio; environment and agricultural policy; and COAG regulatory and competition reform.