Ian Watt (public servant)
{{Short description|Australian public servant}}
{{Use Australian English|date=October 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2024}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Dr Ian Watt
| honorific-suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AC|size=100%}}
| image = Ian J. Watt.jpg
| imagesize =
| smallimage =
| alt =
| caption = Ian Watt in 2010
| office1 = Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
| term_start1 = {{start date|2011|09|05|df=y}}
| term_end1 = {{end date|2014|11|30|df=y}}
| predecessor1 = Terry Moran
| successor1 = Michael Thawley
| prior_term =
| office2 = Secretary of the Department of Defence
| term_start2 = 2009
| term_end2 = 2011
| office3 = Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation
| term_start3 = {{start date|2007|12|3|df=y}}
| term_end3 = 2009
| office4 = Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration
| term_start4 = {{start date|2001|11|23|df=y}}
| term_end4 = 3 December 2007
| office5 = Secretary of the
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
| term_start5 = {{start date|2001|04|26|df=y}}
| term_end5 = 23 November 2001
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1950|6|18|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Preston, Victoria
| death_date =
| death_place =
| nationality = Australian
| occupation = Public servant
| known_for =
| alma_mater = La Trobe University;
University of Melbourne;
Harvard Business School
| footnotes = {{cite web |url=http://www.dpmc.gov.au/about_pmc/secretary_biography.cfm |title=The Secretary – Dr Ian Watt |work=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |date=10 July 2013 |access-date=31 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131102020709/http://www.dpmc.gov.au/about_pmc/secretary_biography.cfm |archive-date=2 November 2013 |url-status=dead }}
}}
Ian James Watt {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100%|AC}} (born 18 June 1950) is an Australian retired public servant, best known for his time as Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet from September 2011 to November 2014.{{cite press release|author=Gillard, Julia|author-link=Julia Gillard|url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=18051|title=Departmental Secretaries|work=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|date=4 August 2011|access-date=29 October 2013|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101004511/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=18051|archive-date=1 November 2013}}
Background and career
Watt was born in Victoria{{cite speech |last=Watt |first=Ian |date=26 January 2013 |event=Australian Unity Australia Day Breakfast |location=Queen's Hall, Parliament House, Melbourne|title=Speech at Australian Unity Australia Day Breakfast}} and raised in Reservoir in Melbourne's northern suburbs.{{cite news |url= http://www.theaustralian.com.au/top50/2012/ian-watt/story-fnbtts0j-1226255399244 |title= The Top 50: Politics: Ian Watt|newspaper=The Australian|year=2012|access-date=31 October 2013}} He was educated at La Trobe University and joined the Australian Public Service in 1971 in the Victorian Division of the Post Master General's Department. He completed his honours degree at the University of Melbourne before commencing a cadetship with the Department of the Treasury in 1973. Watt completed his master's degree and PhD at La Trobe University before returning to The Treasury in 1985.
He served as Minister (Economic) at the Embassy of Australia in Washington from 1991 to 1994. On his return to Australia, Watt was appointed First Assistant Secretary of the Economic Division, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, from March 1994 to November 1996; and was Deputy Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (DPM&C) and Executive Coordinator of the Economic, Industry and Resources Policy Group until March 2001. During his time at DPM&C, Watt completed the Advanced Management Program at the Harvard Business School.
In March 2001, Watt accepted appointment as the Secretary of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, until his appointment as Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration in January 2002. Watt became the longest serving Finance Secretary in April 2009. In August 2009 he accepted appointment as the Secretary of the Department of Defence,{{cite press release|author=Rudd, Kevin |author-link=Kevin Rudd |title=Departmental secretaries and statutory office-holders, Canberra |date=13 August 2009 |access-date=10 November 2013 |work=Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |url=http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=16752 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131110095906/http://pmtranscripts.dpmc.gov.au/browse.php?did=16752 |archive-date=10 November 2013 }} until his appointment to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in September 2011.{{cite web|url=http://rusi.org.au/documents/preview/1298775635_ACT_2010_Watt.pdf|title=The Role of the Defence Secretary|date=17 February 2010|publisher=RUSI of Australia|access-date=31 October 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131104201749/http://rusi.org.au/documents/preview/1298775635_ACT_2010_Watt.pdf|archive-date=4 November 2013|url-status=dead}}{{cite web|url=http://www.rusi.org.au/documents/biodata/1295314391_bio_Watt_Dr.Ian.J_AO.pdf |title=Dr Ian J Watt AO|publisher=RUSI of Australia|access-date=31 October 2013 }}{{cite press release |url=http://www.financeminister.gov.au/archive/media/2009/mr_502009.html |title=Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation |date=13 August 2009 |work=Minister for Finance and Deregulation |publisher=Commonwealth of Australia |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120316194722/http://www.financeminister.gov.au/archive/media/2009/mr_502009.html |archive-date=16 March 2012 |url-status=dead }} Watt resigned from the role in November 2014.{{cite news |url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/michael-thawley-appointed-new-pmc-secretary-as-ian-watt-resigns-20141030-11e9at.html|title=Michael Thawley appointed new PM&C secretary as Ian Watt resigns|date=30 October 2014|first=Phillip|last=Thomson|newspaper=The Canberra Times|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150104173806/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/michael-thawley-appointed-new-pmc-secretary-as-ian-watt-resigns-20141030-11e9at.html|archive-date=4 January 2015}}{{cite news|url=http://citynews.com.au/2014/ian-watt-departs-prime-minister-cabinet-michael-thawley-steps/|title=Ian Watt departs Prime Minister and Cabinet. Michael Thawley steps in |date=30 October 2014 |publisher=CityNews |location=Canberra, Australia |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20141030060322/http://citynews.com.au/2014/ian-watt-departs-prime-minister-cabinet-michael-thawley-steps/|archive-date=30 October 2014}} His departure had been speculated since the Abbott government took office in September 2013.{{cite news |url=http://www.themandarin.com.au/8642-thawley-returning-pmc-get-things-done/?pgnc=1 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20150125024429/http://www.themandarin.com.au/8642-thawley-returning-pmc-get-things-done/?pgnc=1 |archive-date=25 January 2015 |title=Thawley returning for PM&C post to 'get good things done' |first=Tom|last=Burton |date=31 October 2014 |publisher=The Mandarin}}
Watt is the former chair of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD's) Working Party of Senior Budget Officials. His appointments since resigning from the public service include directorships with the Grattan Institute and Citigroup Pty Limited.
During April 2016, Watt was appointed Chair of SMART Infrastructure Facility's Advisory Council.{{Cite web|url=http://media.uow.edu.au/releases/UOW212074.html|title=Former head of Australian Public Service to lead SMART Advisory Council|website=media.uow.edu.au|access-date=2016-07-13}}
Honours
Watt was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2008.{{cite web|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1138609|title=WATT, Ian James|work=It's an honour|publisher=Commonwealth of Australia|date=9 June 2008|access-date=29 October 2013}} In 2016 Watt was appointed a Companion of the Order.{{cite web |url=http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/qb/qb2016/nS_29ods1A/Media%20Notes%20-%20AC.pdf |title=Companion in the General Division in the Order of Australia |work=The Queen’s Birthday 2016 Honours List |publisher=Governor-General of Australia |date=13 June 2016 |access-date=14 June 2016 |page=13 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160615121044/http://www.gg.gov.au/sites/default/files/files/honours/qb/qb2016/nS_29ods1A/Media%20Notes%20-%20AC.pdf |archive-date=15 June 2016 }}{{cite news|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/queens-birthday-honours-2016-former-secretary-to-four-departments-dr-ian-watt-appointed-a-companion-of-the-order-of-australia-20160610-gpg26b.html|title=Queen's Birthday Honours 2016: Former secretary to four departments, Dr Ian Watt, appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia|first=Megan|last=Doherty|date=13 June 2016|newspaper=The Canberra Times|archive-date=13 June 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160613031256/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/queens-birthday-honours-2016-former-secretary-to-four-departments-dr-ian-watt-appointed-a-companion-of-the-order-of-australia-20160610-gpg26b.html}}
References
{{Reflist}}
References and further reading
{{Refbegin}}
- {{cite book|author=Malone, Paul|url=http://epress.anu.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/dept_heads_whole.pdf|format=PDF online|title=Australian department heads under Howard : career paths and practice|date=2006|isbn=1-920942-83-1|publisher=The Australian National University|location=Canberra, Australia|chapter=Chapter 4: The Devil’s Advocate – Ian Watt, Department of Finance and Administration|pages=21–23|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131106031526/http://epress.anu.edu.au/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/dept_heads_whole.pdf|archive-date=6 November 2013}}
- {{citation|url=http://www.news.com.au/national/meet-australias-most-powerful-public-servants/story-fncynjr2-1226750321988|title=Meet Australia's most powerful public servants|date=31 October 2013|publisher=News.com.au|archive-date=7 December 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207115927/http://www.news.com.au/national/meet-australias-most-powerful-public-servants/story-fncynjr2-1226750321988}}
{{Refend}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Ian J. Watt}}
{{s-start}}
{{S-gov}}
{{s-bef|before=Terry Moran }}
{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet |years=2011–2014}}
{{s-aft|after=Michael Thawley}}
{{s-bef|before = Nick Warner}}
{{s-ttl|title = Secretary of the Department of Defence| years = 2009–2011}}
{{s-aft|after = Duncan Lewis}}
{{s-bef|before=Himself|as=Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration}}
{{s-ttl|title = Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation| years = 2007–2009}}
{{s-aft|after = David Tune}}
{{s-bef|before = Peter Boxall}}
{{s-ttl|title = Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration| years = 2001–2007}}
{{s-aft|after=Himself|as=Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation}}
{{s-bef|before = Neville Stevens}}
{{s-ttl| title = Secretary of the
Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts| years = 2001}}
{{s-aft| after = Helen Williams}}
{{s-end}}
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Watt, Ian}}
Category:Secretaries of the Australian Department of Defence
Category:Secretaries of the Australian Department of Finance
Category:Secretaries of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
Category:La Trobe University alumni
Category:University of Melbourne alumni
Category:Officers of the Order of Australia
Category:Companions of the Order of Australia