Stuart Hamilton (public servant)

Stuart Hamilton was born in 1950 in Hobart, Tasmania.[1] He attended the University of Tasmania gaining a First Class Honours degree in Arts, majoring in English Language and Literature. He then attended Oxford University as the Tasmanian Rhodes Scholar for 1971. He subsequently attended the Australian National University, gaining a Bachelor of Economics in 1980.[2]

Hamilton joined the public service in 1975.[3]

In 1988, Hamilton was appointed Secretary of the Department of Community Services and Health.[4] He stayed on in the role when the Department transitioned to become the Department of Health, Housing and Community Services in 1991.[5]

Between 1993 and 1996, Hamilton was Secretary of the Department of the Environment, Sport and Territories.[6]

When the Howard Government was elected in 1996, Hamilton was one of six departmental secretaries to be sacked from their positions.[7]

From 1996 to 2001 he was Executive Director of the Australian Vice-Chancellors' Committee (now Universities Australia). In 2001 he became Secretary of the Victorian (State) Department of Education and Training. From 2003 to 2012 he was CEO of Open Universities Australia. He retired in February 2012.

He is currently a member of the Council of Deakin University, and Chair of Deakin Digital.

In January 1995, Hamilton was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in recognition of service to public administration and public sector reform.[8]