McKinnon Prize 2020 Selection Panel

Lisa Paul AO, PSM

Lisa Paul is a former senior Australian public servant and policymaker. She was the Secretary of the Department of Education and Training from 2014 until February 2016. In 2003 Lisa was awarded a Public Service Medal for outstanding public service as Chair of the Commonwealth Bali Interagency Taskforce in the development of the Commonwealth’s response in support of the victims of the bombings which occurred in Bali on 12 October 2002.

In 2011 Lisa was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to public sector leadership in key policy and program implementation, particularly through driving reform in education, employment and workplace. In the same year she was named as Federal Government Leader of the Year. Since leaving the public service Lisa has served as the Chair of Headspace since 2018 and is a Member of the Raise Foundation’s Patron’s Advisory Council, chaired by David Gonski.