Julia Pickworth is the acting Secretary of our department.

Julia’s substantive role is Deputy Secretary of our Industry and Commercialisation Group.

She brings experience from across several Australian Government departments, including Prime Minister and Cabinet, Regional Australia, Human Services, Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, and Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts. 

Her roles have spanned research, programs, policy, governance, Cabinet, and ministerial and parliamentary support.

Julia is a leader known for bringing policy, program and stakeholder expertise together to lead complex work in a collaborative way. She has demonstrated this across Australian Government infrastructure investments, in regional policy and programs, working with states and territories on the Northern Australia White Paper, and in leading several incoming government briefs as well as ministerial transitions.

Julia holds a Bachelor of Economics (Social Sciences) from the University of Sydney and a Masters in Environmental Science (Human Geography) from the Australian National University.