Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has named Meghan Quinn as Secretary of the Department of Defence. The prime minister said this “is a historic appointment with Ms Quinn becoming the first woman to substantively hold the position of Secretary of the Department of Defence”.
Quinn has a distinguished career as a senior leader in the Australian Public Service and is currently the Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, the prime minister said. “Ms Quinn has advised government on a wide range of Australian and international policy matters. She previously held several Deputy Secretary roles at the Department of the Treasury and was head of the Secretariat for the ‘Australia in the Asian Century White Paper’ at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.”
Prior to this, Quinn worked for BHP and the Bank of England. In 2009, Quinn was awarded the Public Service Medal for outstanding public service in the development of climate change policy. Quinn’s term will commence on 18 May 2026 for a five-year period.
“I would like to thank Mr Greg Moriarty AO for his service as Secretary of the Department of Defence, and I look forward to working with him in his new role as Australian Ambassador to the United States of America. I would also like to thank Ms Cath Patterson for acting as Secretary,” the prime minister said.
Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles said: “I welcome the Prime Minister’s announcement today that Meghan Quinn will become the next Secretary of the Department of Defence. Having served as Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources since 2022, Ms Quinn brings with her a wide range of experience across the public sector, including positions at Treasury and the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, as well as in the private sector. With Defence being one of the largest federal government departments, Ms Quinn’s experience in public administration and strategic leadership means she will be well placed to lead Defence into the future.
“Quinn will make history as the first woman to substantively lead the Department of Defence, and I know that alongside our recently-announced leadership changes within the Australian Defence Force, she will bring a wealth of experience in this role,” Marles said. “I would like to once again thank Greg Moriarty for the contribution that he has made to the defence and security of our nation, and I look forward to working with him as Australia’s next Ambassador to the United States.”
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