Michael John Taylor is a former senior Australian public servant and policymaker. He is currently an Independent Director of the

Bushfire CRC Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs) are an Australian Federal Government program and are key bodies for Australian scientific research. The Cooperative Research Centres Programme was established in 1990 to enhance Australia's industrial, comm ...

Life and career

Mike Taylor grew up in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/ Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a me ...

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

. In 1970 he completed his Bachelor of Agricultural Science having studied at the

University of Melbourne The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia. Founded in 1853, it is Australia's second oldest university and the oldest in Victoria. Its main campus is located in Parkville, an inner suburb n ...

. Taylor took his first job with the Victorian Department of Agriculture in 1971. With the support of a cadetship from the Department, he completed a graduate Diploma in Agriculture Economics, attained from the

University of New England University of New England may refer to: * University of New England (Australia), in New South Wales, with about 18,000 students * University of New England (United States), in Biddeford, Maine, with about 3,000 students See also *New England Colle ...

in 1972. In the 1980s, Taylor worked at the Australian Dairy Industry Council. He was

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a ...

of the Victorian State Government Department of Agriculture, prior to his appointment as Secretary of the Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. In 2004, Taylor moved from the Agriculture department to the

Department of Transport and Regional Services The Department of Transport and Regional Services (DOTARS) was an Australian government department that existed between October 1998 and December 2007. Scope Information about the department's functions and/or government funding allocation coul ...

(later Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government). There he assumed responsibility for implementing several initiatives to upgrade maritime, aviation and land transport security. Taylor retired from the

Australian Public Service The Australian Public Service (APS) is the federal civil service of the Commonwealth of Australia responsible for the public administration, public policy, and public services of the departments and executive and statutory agencies of the ...

in 2009, amid rumours of a falling out with the

Rudd Government Rudd Government may refer to the following Australian governments: * Rudd government (2007–10) Rudd Government may refer to the following Australian governments: * Rudd government (2007–10) * Rudd government (2013) {{Dab ... * Rudd gov ...

. In the years since he was a departmental secretary, Taylor has taken up several board positions, including as an Independent Director for the Bushfire Cooperative Research Centre, and as chairman of the Murray-Darling Basin Authority. When he retired from the Murray-Darling Basin Authority Board, Taylor urged the Australian Government to "reconsider the next phase" of a controversial plan to restore the health of the Murray Darling river system. During his time as Chair on the Authority, he was personally criticised by people concerned that the proposed cuts to water entitlements under the plan would harm their towns.

Awards

Taylor was awarded a

Centenary Medal The Centenary Medal is an award which was created by the Australian Government in 2001. It was established to commemorate the centenary of the Federation of Australia The Federation of Australia was the process by which the six separate ...

in 2001 for service as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. In June 2007 Taylor was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for 'service to the management of natural resources and industry policy development at the Federal level and also in Victoria, particularly in the area of agriculture, and through contributions to transport, water, food and safety standards'.

References

References and further reading

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Taylor, Mike Australian public servants Living people Year of birth missing (living people) University of New England (Australia) alumni University of Melbourne alumni Officers of the Order of Australia Recipients of the Centenary Medal