Half of the departmental secretaries will be women, with Liz Cosson announced on Wednesday as the new secretary of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs.
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Simon Lewis has announced that he will retire, with his last day in the role to be May 18.
Ms Cosson has been deputy secretary in the department since 2016, after also serving as deputy secretary in the Department of Health and the then Department of Immigration and Citizenship.
Her public service career began after more than 30 years in the defence force, where she was the first woman to reach the rank of major general in 2007.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said, “As the Department of Veterans’ Affairs marks the centenary of its establishment as the repatriation department, I am delighted that it can also celebrate the appointment of its first female secretary."
Ms Cosson brings the number of female secretaries to nine, half of the 18 federal departments.
Veterans Affairs Minister Darren Chester said he would be working with the new secretary on putting the needs of veterans and their families first, as well as focusing on helping younger veterans transition from military to civilian life.
"In my short time in the role as minister, Ms Cosson has impressed me with her professionalism, dedication and determination to care for our veterans and their families,” he said.
“As chief operating officer she has been instrumental in the reform process currently underway and I’m confident that we can continue to deliver an improved level of service."
Simon Lewis retires from the role after more than 40 years in the public service, a career spanning the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Defence and Finance before Veterans Affairs. He has been secretary since 2013.
The minister also acknowledged the work of Mr Lewis as secretary.
“Mr Lewis has made an outstanding contribution to reforming the department and placing the needs of the veterans at the forefront of everything we do,” Mr Chester said.
“He has enjoyed a long and distinguished career in the public service and I wish him well in his retirement.”
The Prime Minister made particular mention of Mr Lewis’ leadership of the department over the 100th anniversary of Anzac Day.
“Mr Lewis has performed with distinction as secretary of Veterans’ Affairs and can be proud of his many achievements. Thanks to his stewardship, services to veterans and their families are being significantly modernised and improved, and the transformation programme he initiated is driving real change to culture and processes,” Mr Turnbull said.
“His leadership of the commemoration of Australian Defence Force service and sacrifice over the ANZAC Centenary period was exemplary. It enabled Australians to celebrate and remember the proud history of veterans past and present.”
