2025 Freebairn Public Lecture presented by Dr Steven Kennedy PSM, Secretary, Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet

Australia is fortunate: trust in our government is relatively high and our public institutions remain remarkably strong. But with democracy under increasing pressure worldwide, we must be willing to ask important questions about whether our system is in the right shape to meet this current moment, including the public service. From federation to today, the responsibilities of the Commonwealth have substantially grown. What is done with this responsibility matters deeply - perhaps now more than ever. 

About the Speaker

Dr Steven Kennedy PSM commenced as Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet in June 2025.

Steven was previously Secretary to the Treasury between September 2019 and June 2025. Prior to this, Steven was Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Cities and Regional Development between September 2017 and August 2019.

In a public service career spanning more than 30 years, Steven has held a series of other senior positions.

These include Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet; Deputy Secretary at the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science; Deputy Secretary at the Department of the Environment; Deputy Secretary at the Department of Climate Change and Energy Efficiency, and the Head of Secretariat of the Garnaut Climate Change Review. 

Steven's first role in the Australian Public Service came in 1992 as a cadet at the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Before this, he trained and worked as a nurse. Steven was awarded a Public Service Medal in 2016 for outstanding public service in the area of climate change policy.

Steven holds a PhD and a Master of Economics from the Australian National University, and a Bachelor of Economics (Fist Class Honours) from the University of Sydney.

Event Details

 For more information and to register, please visit the event webpage here.