Derek Volker

Born in 1939,{{citation|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/result?q=subject%3A%22Volker%2C+Derek%2C+1939-%22|work=Trove|publisher=National Library of Australia|accessdate=13 February 2014|title=Search results: subject:"Volker, Derek, 1939–"}} Volker was educated at Toowoomba State High School and the University of Queensland.{{cite news|url=http://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/122523304|first=Kerry|last=Coyle|date=18 August 1985|page=24|newspaper=The Canberra Times|title=Derek Volker: doesn't worry about trifles}}

Volker's early Australian Public Service career was in the Department of Labour and the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.{{cite press release|url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=7032|first=Robert|last=Hawke|author-link=Bob Hawke|title=Untitled|archivedate=5 February 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205082556/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=7032|date=14 November 1986}}

Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser appointed Volker as Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs in 1981, with the mandate to clean up the administration of the department.{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1301&dat=19851001&id=K6lWAAAAIBAJ&sjid=r-cDAAAAIBAJ&pg=4992,12439|title=Senior public servant could head Bicentennial Authority|first=Rod|last=Frail|date=1 October 1985|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|page=2}}

In 1986, Prime Minister Bob Hawke transferred Volker to a position as Secretary the Department of Social Security (DSS). In his time at DSS, Volker had to deal with the pressures of the recession and its impact on Social Security offices, including long queues and increasing tension.{{citation|title=A Cabinet Diary: A personal record of the first Keating government|first=Neal|last=Blewett|page=29|date=1999|isbn=1-86254-464-6|publisher=Wakefield Press|chapter=Chapter 1: January–February 1992—Towards One Nation}}

Prime Minister Paul Keating announced Volker's transfer from the Department of Social Security to the Department of Employment, Education and Training in March 1993.{{cite press release|url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=8844|first=Paul|last=Keating|author-link=Paul Keating|archivedate=5 February 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205082311/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=8844|title=Statement by the Prime Minister, the Hon P J Keating MP|date=24 March 1993}}

In 1996, Volker was one of six Secretaries removed from their roles by the newly elected Howard government.{{cite news|title=Memoirs suggest servants are ever overlooked|first=J.R.|last=Nethercote|newspaper=The Canberra Times|date=7 December 2010|publisher=Fairfax Media}} Political scientist Richard Mulgan speculates that Volker's removal was a result of Prime Minister John Howard's "determination to impose a new sense of direction" on the public service".{{citation|first=Richard|last=Mulgan|author-link=Richard Mulgan|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp9899/99rp03|archivedate=5 February 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140205082029/http://www.aph.gov.au/About_Parliament/Parliamentary_Departments/Parliamentary_Library/pubs/rp/rp9899/99rp03|title=Politicising the Australian Public Service?|date=10 November 1998|publisher=Australian Parliament House}}

After leaving the Australian Public Service, Volker stayed in the workforce and took on various senior roles in both government and non-government organisations, including as Chairman at the Government Relations Group in the national law firm Corrs Chambers Westgarth,{{citation|title=Board of Directors|publisher=Defence Housing Australia|url=http://www.dha.gov.au/about-us/our-organisation/board-of-directors|archivedate=26 January 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140126224647/http://dha.gov.au/about-us/our-organisation/board-of-directors}} Chair of the ACT Government's Skills Commission,{{citation|url=http://the-riotact.com/sound-jobs-for-sound-chaps/22594|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130511225710/http://the-riotact.com/sound-jobs-for-sound-chaps/22594|archivedate=11 May 2013|title=Sound jobs for sound chaps|first=John|last=Griffiths|date=6 June 2010|url-status=live}} and Chairman of the Defence Housing Australia Board of Directors.

In January 1991, Volker was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for public service.{{citation|title=Search Australian Honours: VOLKER, Derek|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/885340|publisher=Australian Government}}

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{{s-bef|before=Richard Kingsland}}

{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the Department of Veterans' Affairs|years=1981–1986}}

{{s-aft|after=Noel Tanzer}}

{{s-bef|before=Tony Ayers}}

{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the Department of Social Security|years=1986–1993}}

{{s-aft|after=Tony Blunn }}

{{s-bef|before=Greg Taylor}}

{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the Department of Employment, Education and Training|years=1993–1996}}

{{s-aft|after=Sandy Hollway|as=Secretary of the Department of Employment, Education, Training and Youth Affairs}}

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Volker, Derek}}

Category:Living people

Category:1939 births

Category:Officers of the Order of Australia

Category:Secretaries of the Australian Government Education Department

Category:Secretaries of the Australian Government Veterans' Affairs Department

Category:People educated at Toowoomba State High School

Category:University of Queensland alumni