Ian Watt (public servant)

Ian Watt AO
Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
In office 5 September 2011 (2011-09-05) – 30 November 2014 (2014-11-30)
Preceded by	Terry Moran
Succeeded by	Michael Thawley
Secretary of the Department of Defence
In office 2009–2011
Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation
In office 3 December 2007 (2007-12-03) – 2009
Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration
In office 23 November 2001 (2001-11-23) – 3 December 2007
Secretary of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts
In office 26 April 2001 (2001-04-26) – 23 November 2001
Personal details
Born	Ian James Watt Victoria
Nationality	Australian
Spouse(s)	Lorraine Watt
Alma mater	La Trobe University; University of Melbourne; Harvard Business School
Occupation	Public servant

Dr Ian James Watt AO , is a retired Australian public servant, best known for his time as Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet between September 2011 and November 2014.

Background and career

Watt was born in Victoria and raised in Reservoir in Melbourne's northern suburbs. Watt 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 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 between 1991 and 1994. On his return to Australia, Watt was appointed as First Assistant Secretary of Economic Division, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, between March 1994 and 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, until his appointment to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in September 2011. Watt resigned from the role in November 2014. His departure had been speculated since the Abbott Government took office in September 2013.

Watt is the former chair of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development's (OECD's) Working Party of Senior Budget Officials.

Honours

Watt was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2008 for service to the community through the development of public policy and administration in the areas of finance and governance, budget and expenditure policy, taxation reform, and through contributions to international professional finance organisations.

References and further reading

Government offices
Preceded by Terry Moran	Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet 2011 – present	Succeeded by Michael Thawley
Preceded by Nick Warner	Secretary of the Department of Defence 2009–2011	Succeeded by Major General Duncan Lewis
Preceded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration	Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation 2007–2009	Succeeded by David Tune
Preceded by Peter Boxall	Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration 2001–2007	Succeeded by Himself as Secretary of the Department of Finance and Deregulation
Preceded by Neville Stevens	Secretary of the Department of Communications, Information Technology and the Arts 2001	Succeeded by Helen Williams