Andrew Metcalfe AO FIPAA is the National President of IPAA. He recently retired as Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and as Australia’s Director of Biosecurity.
In all, Andrew was a Commonwealth departmental secretary for 12 years, heading three departments. He was appointed or reappointed as a secretary by five different prime ministers, and directly worked with 15 portfolio ministers.
Andrew was born and grew up in Toowoomba, Queensland; and studied at the Toowoomba Grammar School and the University of Queensland (BA 1980, LLB 1985). He has also undertaken business administration studies at INSEAD, Fontainebleau, France.
Andrew joined the Australian Public Service as an administrative trainee in 1980 and has held numerous senior roles in the Departments of Immigration, and the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and as the chief of staff to a cabinet minister. He was