Nationality Australian | Occupation Public servant | |
Full Name Peter Noel Harris Alma mater University of Queensland (BEc) | ||
Peter Noel Harris AO is a senior Australian public servant. He was Secretary of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy from 2009 to 2012. He is currently Chairman of the Productivity Commission.
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Life and career
Harris joined the Australian Public Service in 1976 as a graduate economist in the Department of Overseas Trade. From 1989 to 1991, Harris was senior private secretary to Prime Minister Bob Hawke.
Between 2001 and 2002, Harris was vice president of government and international affairs with the Air New Zealand/Ansett Group. Ansett Australia went into liquidation in March 2002 and Harris joined the Victorian public service that year.
Then Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed Harris Secretary of the Department of Broadband, Communications and the Digital Economy in August 2009. In the role, he was responsible for overseeing the roll-out of the $37 billion National Broadband Network.
In November 2012, Harris was appointed Chairman of the Productivity Commission.
Honours
Harris was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2013 for distinguished service to public administration through leadership and policy reform roles in the areas of telecommunications, the environment, primary industry and transport.