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

Education

O'Connell attended

Queen's University Belfast The Queen's University of Belfast, commonly known as Queen's University Belfast (; abbreviated Queen's or QUB), is a public research university in Belfast, Northern Ireland, United Kingdom. The university received its charter in 1845 as part of ...

, where he studied to attain a Bachelor of Arts (with first class honours) and his doctorate.

Career

Between 1991 and 1997, O'Connell held various positions in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. By 2005, he was a Deputy Secretary in the

Department of the Environment and Heritage The Department of the Environment and Heritage was an Australian Government department that existed between October 1998 and December 2007. Scope Information about the department's functions and government funding allocation could be ...

. While in the Environment Department, he was involved in authoring a report on biofuels. O'Connell was appointed

Secretary A secretary, administrative assistant, executive assistant, personal secretary, or other similar titles is an individual whose work consists of supporting management, including executives, using a variety of project management, program evalu ...

of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) in May 2007. O'Connell served in the role until January 2013. 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. He also managed the Australian Government suspension of live export trade with Indonesia in 2011, after ''

Four Corners Four Corners is a region of the Southwestern United States consisting of the southwestern corner of Colorado, southeastern corner of Utah, northeastern corner of Arizona, and northwestern corner of New Mexico. Most of the Four Corners regio ...

'' aired shocking footage showing mistreatment of Australian animals in Indonesian abattoirs. The ban impacted Australia's relationship with Indonesia, and O'Connell and his department had to work quickly to implement safeguards to enable trade to Indonesia to resume. O'Connell is currently a Commissioner at the

Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research The Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR) is an Australian Government statutory agency that forms part of the overseas aid program in the Foreign Affairs and Trade Portfolio, reporting to the Minister of Foreign Aff ...

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.

References

Australian public servants Living people Members of the Order of Australia Year of birth missing (living people) {{Australia-gov-bio-stub