Andrew Metcalfe

Andrew Metcalfe
AO
Australian Capital Territory’s Public Sector Standards Commissioner
In office
October 2025 – present
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
In office
1 July 2022 – 5 August 2023
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment
In office
1 February 2020 – 30 June 2022
Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
In office
29 January 2013 – 18 September 2013
Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship
In office
30 January 2007 – 28 January 2013
Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs
In office
27 January 2006 – 30 January 2007
Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
In office
16 July 2005 – 27 January 2006
Personal details
BornAndrew Edgar Francis Metcalfe
13 October 1959
Toowoomba, Queensland
SpouseJenny

Andrew Edgar Francis Metcalfe, AO FIPAA (born 1959) is a former Australian Government departmental secretary and senior public servant. He was also a partner in EY, the global professional services firm, from 2014 to 2020. He retired from the Australian Public Service in 2023.

Metcalfe is the Australian Capital Territory’s public sector standards commissioner (a part-time role), having been appointed for a five-year term in October 2025[1].

Metcalfe is also the national president of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (elected in October 2023, and re-elected in October 2025)[2].

He was appointed by the former attorney-general, the Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP, as the lead reviewer of the Family Relationships Services Program on 15 November 2023, and provided his report on 30 June 2024.

In October 2024 Metcalfe was appointed as a director of the Gardiner Foundation, a not-for-profit  company established after the dairy industry’s deregulation in 2000 to advance all aspects of the industry. He was elected board chairman in November 2025[3].

Having served on the Australian National University’s Audit and Risk Management Committee since late 2023, Metcalfe was appointed as a member of the Council of the ANU for a four-year term commencing 1 July 2025[4].

Metcalfe is also a member of the Research and Industry Advisory Group of the La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food[5].

Background and early life

Andrew Metcalfe was born and raised in Toowoomba, Queensland.[6][7] He attended Rangeville State School and Toowoomba Grammar School and was dux of Toowoomba Grammar in 1976.[7][8] He then earned a Bachelor of Arts in 1980, and a Bachelor of Laws in 1985 from the University of Queensland.[9]

Public service career

Andrew Metcalfe joined the Australian Public Service as an administrative trainee in 1980, assigned to the Public Service Board, in Canberra. In 1981, he transferred to the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs[10] until 1989 when in September, he was appointed regional director for immigration, and consul, Australian consulate-general, Hong Kong, until May 1993.[11]

Upon his return to Canberra, he was appointed assistant secretary, Legal Branch at the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs until April 1996.[12] He served as the Chief of Staff to the then Minister for Immigration, the Hon Philip Ruddock MP from April until December 1997,[12] whereupon he returned to the department as a first assistant secretary.[13] He was promoted to deputy secretary and then[14] appointed deputy secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in August 2002, with responsibilities for the coordination of policy advice to the prime minister on international affairs, national security and machinery of government issues.[15] He was the inaugural chair of the Commonwealth/State/Territory National Counter Terrorism Committee.[16]

John Howard appointed Andrew Metcalfe secretary of the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs in July 2005.[17] Metcalfe stayed on as the Department transitioned, first becoming the Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs and later the Department of Immigration and Citizenship. He defended the often-criticised Gillard government Malaysia Solution during his time in the Department of Immigration and Citizenship.[18] During his time as secretary of immigration, he chaired the Commonwealth/State/Territory Standing Committee on Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (2005–12) and of the Five Countries (Australia, New Zealand, United States, Canada and the UK) Conference (2007, 2011).[19]

Metcalfe was appointed secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, beginning January 2013.[20] He was one of three public service heads relieved of their commissions by the Abbott government after the 2013 federal election.[21][22][23]

He was reappointed secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment on 5 December, 2019 with effect from 1 February 2020. He served in this position until 30 June 2022, when the department was renamed to the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry on July 1, 2022. Metcalfe kept his role and is currently the secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.

On 13 June 2023, Metcalfe announced his intent to retire as secretary, to take effect on 5 August.[24][25] He was succeeded by Adam Fennessy.[26]

Honours and awards

Metcalfe was named the 2010 "Federal Government Leader of the Year", awarded by the Australian Institute of Chartered Accountants.[27]

In January 2012 Metcalfe was appointed as an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in the Australia Day Honours List for "distinguished service to public sector leadership through contributions to Australia's international relations and to major public policy development and implementation in the areas of immigration, Australian citizenship, cultural diversity, and national security; and to the community".[16][20]

In September 2012 Metcalfe was made a National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia,[28] an organisation of which he was the ACT president from 2009 to 2013.[29] He is also a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management.[8]

Public service leadership

Metcalfe is a public administrator and public policy expert with extensive experience public service.[30][31] He transformed the then-Department of Immigration, Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs following his appointment in 2005 as secretary in the wake of the Cornelia Rau and Vivian Alvarez scandals, successfully and positively reforming its culture and operations.[32][33]

He has worked extensively on the international stage, particularly with the immigration authorities in many countries in Asia; and with Canada, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and the United States when he chaired the Five Countries Conference of immigration authorities in 2007 and 2011.[19][34]

During his time as deputy secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, he led the coordination of all policy advice to the prime minister on international affairs, national security, and machinery of government matters, as well as being the inaugural chair of the National Counter Terrorism Committee, comprising federal and state deputy police commissioners and deputy heads of premiers’ and chief ministers’ departments; and senior representatives from ASIO, the Special Operations Command of the Department of Defence, and other Commonwealth departments.

He was also a member of several government boards, most notably as a member of the National Australia Day Council (2002-2012); the Administrative Review Council (2002-2012); and the Council of the Order of Australia (2002-2005). He was the longest-serving president of the Institute of Public Administration (ACT),[35] a White Ribbon Ambassador,[36] the patron of Expand (a public sector organisation for executive assistants), patron of the Gundaroo Bush Festival, and a volunteer technical official for Swimming NSW/ACT. Metcalfe was appointed as a partner with Ernst & Young in their Canberra operation on February 6, 2014,[37] joining its government and public sector team. Ernst & Young's Canberra managing partner, Lucille Halloran, described Metcalfe, in her announcement, as "an inspirational leader with in-depth knowledge of the Australian and international public sectors (who) brings extensive experience and insights about the important relationship between business, the community and governments".

Board and Council memberships

  • President of the Institute of Public Administration Australia 2023-ongoing[38]
  • Member of the Australian National University Audit and Risk Management Committee 2023-2025[39]
  • Member of the council of the Australian National University July 2025-ongoing[39]
  • Director of the Gardiner Foundation October 2024-ongoing, and board chair from November 2025[40]
  • Member of the Research and Industry Advisory Group of the La Trobe Institute for Sustainable Agriculture and Food (ongoing)[41]
  • Chair (and briefly deputy chair) of the National Youth Science Forum 2015-20
  • National Australia Day Council 2002–12[42]
  • Administrative Review Council 2002–12[43]
  • Australian Multicultural Council since 2011[44]
  • Council of the Order of Australia 2002–05[45]
  • DesignGov 2013[46]
  • Strategic Centre for Leadership, Learning and Development 2013[44]
  • President of the Institute of Public Administration (ACT) 2009–13[35]
  • National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Advisory Board 2020[47]

Notes

  1. ^ ACT Government; PositionTitle=Director; SectionName=Corporate Management; Corporate=Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate (31 October 2025). "Andrew Metcalfe AO appointed ACT Public Sector Standards Commissioner". Chief Minister, Treasury and Economic Development Directorate. Retrieved 16 November 2025.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  2. ^ Australia, Institute of Public Administration (31 October 2023). "Andrew Metcalfe AO FIPAA elected new IPAA National President". Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA). Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  3. ^ "Gardiner Foundation announces Andrew Metcalfe AO as chair elect". Gardiner Foundation. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  4. ^ "ANU welcomes new Council members | Australian National University". www.anu.edu.au. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  5. ^ University, La Trobe. "About us". www.latrobe.edu.au. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  6. ^ Metcalfe, Andrew. "FTA interview with Andrew Metcalfe AO Secretary (Designate) Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF)". FTA Interviews (Interview). Interviewed by Paul Zalai. Archived from the original on 21 April 2013.
  7. ^ a b Malone 2006, p. 56.
  8. ^ a b 2013 Australian Cherry Industry Conference (PDF), New South Wales Cherry Growers Association, 2013, p. 3, archived from the original (PDF) on 30 January 2014
  9. ^ UQ Business School (11 April 2011), MBA students meet leader with the toughest job in Australia, University of Queensland, archived from the original on 1 February 2014 {{citation}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  10. ^ Malone 2006, p. 51, 56–58.
  11. ^ Malone 2006, p. 57–58.
  12. ^ a b Malone 2006, p. 58.
  13. ^ Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Annual Report 1998-99, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, 1999, archived from the original on 8 October 2013, retrieved 30 January 2014
  14. ^ Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs Annual Report 1999-00, Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, 2000, archived from the original on 8 October 2013, retrieved 30 January 2014
  15. ^ Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Annual Report 2002-03 (PDF), Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, October 2003, p. 23, ISBN 0-642-51906-4, archived from the original (PDF) on 19 April 2013
  16. ^ a b Kerr, Christian (26 January 2012). "Immigration department head Andrew Metcalfe thrilled by award". The Australian.
  17. ^ Howard, John (10 July 2005). "New Senior Appointments" (Press release). Archived from the original on 19 December 2013.
  18. ^ Porritt, Alan (23 September 2013). "Immigration Department secretary Andrew Metcalfe". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. AAP. Archived from the original on 17 January 2014.
  19. ^ a b "Secretary's Review", Department of Immigration and Citizenship Annual Report 2010–11, p. 9
  20. ^ a b Gillard, Julia (28 September 2012). "Appointment of Secretaries" (Press release). Archived from the original on 19 December 2013.
  21. ^ Towell, Noel (18 September 2013). "Three public service department heads sacked by the Abbott government". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 25 September 2013.
  22. ^ Bettles, Colin (18 September 2013), Metcalfe sacked from DAFF, Farm Weekly, archived from the original on 10 November 2013
  23. ^ Vidot, Anna (19 September 2013). "Agriculture Dep't boss sacked as ministry sworn in". Australian Broadcasting Commission. Archived from the original on 28 December 2013.
  24. ^ "Message from Andrew Metcalfe AO". Australian Government - Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Fisheries. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  25. ^ Macdonald, Anna. "Metcalfe thanks 'inspirational' public servants as he announces APS retirement". The Mandarin. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  26. ^ "Media statement: Adam Fennessy PSM to be new Secretary for Agriculture". Senator the Hon Murray Watt Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  27. ^ "Andrew Metcalfe named 2010 Federal Government Leader of the Year" (Press release). 28 September 2010. Archived from the original on 18 August 2011.
  28. ^ "Public servants honoured at prestigious awards ceremony" (PDF) (Press release). Institute of Public Administration Australia. 19 September 2012. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 May 2013.
  29. ^ "IPAA ACT Presidents". IPAA ACT. September 2019. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  30. ^ Malone 2006.
  31. ^ Department of Immigration and Citizenship Annual Report 2010–11
  32. ^ Metcalfe, Andrew, "Chapter 12: The overhaul of Australian immigration practices, 2005–2010", in Lindquist, Evert A.; Vincent, Vincent; Wanna, John (eds.), Delivering Policy Reform: Anchoring Significant Reforms in Turbulent Times, pp. 131–143
  33. ^ "Proust report on immigration reform progress" (Press release). 5 December 2008. Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.
  34. ^ Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (15 November 2006). "ASEAN-Australia Immigration Consultations" (Press release). Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.
  35. ^ a b IPAA ACT Presidents, Institute of Public Administration ACT, 17 December 2011, archived from the original on 1 February 2014, retrieved 30 January 2014
  36. ^ Department of Immigration and Citizenship; Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia (25 November 2010). "DIAC and FECCA speak out on violence against women" (Press release). Archived from the original on 1 February 2014.
  37. ^ http://www.ey.com/AU/en/Newsroom/News-releases/EY-appoints-Andrew-Metcalfe-AO-as-a-Canberra-Partner Archived 21 February 2014 at the Wayback Machine. or Press release Ernst & Young
  38. ^ "Andrew Metcalfe AO FIPAA". Institute of Public Administration Australia (ACT) Limited. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  39. ^ a b "ANU welcomes new Council members | Australian National University". www.anu.edu.au. 13 August 2025. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  40. ^ "Gardiner Foundation announces Andrew Metcalfe AO as chair elect". Gardiner Foundation. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  41. ^ University, La Trobe. "About us". www.latrobe.edu.au. Retrieved 16 November 2025.
  42. ^ National Australia Day Council Annual Report 2011-2012 (PDF), 2012, p. 17, archived from the original (PDF) on 1 February 2014
  43. ^ ADMINISTRATIVE REVIEW COUNCIL THIRTY-THIRD ANNUAL REPORT: 2008–09 (PDF), Administrative Review Council, 2009, p. 3, ISBN 978-1-921241-90-1
  44. ^ a b Bowen, Chris (26 January 2012). "Congratulations to Secretary Andrew Metcalfe on Order of Australia award" (Press release). Archived from the original on 19 April 2013. Retrieved 1 February 2014.
  45. ^ "Senior Executives", Department of Immigration and Citizenship Annual Report 2009-10, 2010, archived from the original on 8 October 2013
  46. ^ about, Australian Government, archived from the original on 19 June 2013
  47. ^ "Expanded Advisory Board to support the National Drought and North Queensland Flood Response and Recovery Agency | Drought and Flood Response & Recovery". www.droughtandflood.gov.au. Retrieved 17 February 2020.

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