Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet Glyn Davis will leave the post in June. Photo: University of Melbourne.
Glyn Davis has resigned as the Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, effective 16 June.
Professor Davis was appointed to the role, the most senior public service position in the country, immediately after Labor won office in May 2022.
He joined the Federal Government from his job as the chief executive officer of the Paul Ramsay Foundation, Australia’s largest philanthropic trust.
Professor Davis has had a long and distinguished career in both academia and public service, having served as Director-General of the Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet from 1998 until 2002 before moving to Vice-Chancellor roles at both Griffith University and the University of Melbourne.
He holds emeritus roles at universities worldwide and has served as Chair of the Group of Eight, Chair of Universities Australia and Chair of Universitas 21.
In 2018, he joined the Crawford School of Public Policy at the ANU as a Distinguished Professor. He had also served on the panel led by David Thodey to review the Australian Public Service.
Anthony Albanese thanked Professor Glyn via a statement issued on Friday (9 May).
“Earlier this week, the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet (PM&C), Professor Glyn Davis AC, advised me of his intention to resign, effective 16 June 2025,” the Prime Minister said.
“I thank Professor Davis for his outstanding contribution as Secretary.
“One of the key priorities of our government’s first term was rebuilding the capacity of the Australian Public Service.
“This included rebuilding the confidence of people who worked in the APS, making sure they understood that the government valued their ideas, respected their hard work and recognised their vital role in our democracy.
“Professor Davis was instrumental in driving this change. He worked calmly and steadily to reassert the purpose of the public service, and I thank him on behalf of the government, the Australian Public Service, and the Australian people.
“Professor Davis is a man of unique strengths: an intellectual who embraces the practical, an institutionalist who champions reform.
“To his enduring credit, he leaves a great national institution in far better shape than he found it, to the benefit of all Australians.
“I want to offer my personal thanks for his friendship, advice and support over the past three years. I’m sure he will continue to make a significant contribution to public life.
“Professor Davis goes with my gratitude, respect and very best wishes to him, Margaret and his family.”
Professor Davis’s replacement has not been announced.
The Prime Minister has also congratulated the new Pope.
“Today is a momentous day for Catholics right around the world. And for the faithful here in Australia, it is an important day,” he said.
“And I join them in congratulating the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, Bishop of Rome, on his election overnight.
“As the first North American Pope, Pope Leo XIV’s leadership comes at an important time for the Catholic Church and for the world.
“I will invite His Holiness Pope Leo to Australia for the International Eucharistic Congress, which is being proudly hosted in 2028.
“And I’ve had discussions with Archbishop Anthony Fisher of Sydney, who, of course, I know very well, about the importance of Australia hosting that very significant event in just a few years’ time.
“I know that the church here in Australia is very excited to have this privilege and honour. My government looks forward to continuing Australia’s strong relationship with the Holy See under Pope Leo XIV’s pontificate.
“I’ve also had the news, of course, conveyed to me this morning by our Ambassador-designate to the Holy See, Keith Pitt.
“And I thank him for the role that he has played in the short time in which he has been in Rome. This is a moment which will bring joy and hope to Catholics everywhere.
“May the Papacy of Pope Leo advance the cause of peace and social justice for all humanity.”
