Life and career
Jeff Harmer was born on 19 September 1949 in country New South Wales. He attended Gundagai High School and then graduated from the University of New South Wales, attaining a Bachelor of Arts (with honours) and a Diploma of Education, and then was awarded a Doctor of Philosophy in the field of Urban Economic and Urban Geography. Harmer began his Commonwealth Public Service career in 1978 at the Department of Environment, Housing and Community Development, starting on an 18-month contract. Between 1998 and 2003, Harmer was head of the Health Insurance Commission (now Medicare Australia), after having served in various senior public sector positions, including as a Deputy Secretary at the Department of Social Security and at the Department of Housing and Regional Development. Harmer was appointed Secretary of theAwards
Jeff Harmer was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Canberra in September 2012. In 2009, Harmer was named the inaugural Federal Government Leader of the Year by the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia. Harmer has also been awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 and in 2010 was made an Officer of the Order of Australia.References
{{DEFAULTSORT:Harmer, Jeffrey Allan 1949 births Living people University of New South Wales alumni Secretaries of the Australian Government Education Department Officers of the Order of Australia