Conall O'Connell

Dr Conall O'Connell AM is a senior Australian public servant and policymaker. He is currently an Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Commissioner.

Dr Conall O'Connell AM
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
In office 7 May 2007 – 28 January 2013
Personal details
Nationality	Australian
Alma mater	Queen's University Belfast[1]
Occupation	Public servant

Education

O'Connell attended Queen's University Belfast, where he studied to attain a Bachelor of Arts (with first class honours) and his doctorate.[2]

Career

Between 1991 and 1997, O'Connell held various positions in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.[1]

By 2005, he was a Deputy Secretary in the Department of the Environment and Heritage.[3] While in the Environment Department, he was involved in authoring a report on biofuels.[3]

O'Connell was appointed Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) in May 2007.[4] O'Connell served in the role until January 2013.[5] During his time as Secretary of DAFF, O'Connell oversaw the inaugural G20 agriculture Ministers’ meeting, the eradication of equine influenza in partnership with the equine industry, and achieved a European wine agreement.[5] He also managed the Australian Government suspension of live export trade with Indonesia in 2011,[6] after Four Corners aired shocking footage showing mistreatment of Australian animals in Indonesian abattoirs.[7] The ban impacted Australia's relationship with Indonesia,[8] and O'Connell and his department had to work quickly to implement safeguards to enable trade to Indonesia to resume.[9]

O'Connell is currently a Commissioner at the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research.[10]

Awards

O'Connell was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2014 for significant service to public administration and governance, and to Australia's agricultural, forestry and fisheries sectors.[11]

References

1. "Departmental governance overview", Annual Report 2008–09, Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forrestry, 2009, archived from the original on 13 February 2014
2. Dr Conall O'Connell, The Crawford Fund, 2011, archived from the original on 4 March 2011
3. "Service stations allowed to use ethanol". The Age. Fairfax Media. AAP. 22 September 2005. Archived from the original on 12 September 2014.
4. Howard, John (26 April 2007). "Secretary Appointments" (Press release). Archived from the original on 19 December 2013.
5. Ludwig, Joe (1 October 2012). "Minister acknowledges DAFF Secretary for his service" (Press release). Archived from the original on 11 February 2014. Retrieved 10 March 2014.
6. Coorey, Phillip (30 July 2011). "Sigh of relief as live cattle shipments to resume". Archived from the original on 11 September 2013.
7. "Live animal exports to Indonesia" (Press release). Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Archived from the original on 3 March 2014.
8. Roberts, George (16 December 2011), The full story.... Indonesia cattle decision linked to live trade ban, Australian Broadcasting Commission, archived from the original on 12 September 2014
9. Industry Government Working Group on Live Cattle Exports terms of reference, Australian Government, 2 August 2011, archived from the original on 5 March 2014
10. Dr Conall O'Connell, Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, archived from the original on 21 February 2014
11. Search Australian Honours: O'CONNELL, Conall, Australian Government, archived from the original on 10 March 2014

Government offices
Preceded by Joanna Hewitt	Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry 2007 – 2013	Succeeded by Andrew Metcalfe