Australia announces the appointment of Meghan Quinn as the first female Secretary of the Department of Defence, starting on May 18, 2026.

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the forthcoming appointment of Meghan Quinn as the new Secretary of the Department of Defence, marking a significant milestone in Australian governmental history. This appointment makes Ms. Quinn the first woman to substantively lead the department, working under the elected Minister for Defence, Richard Marles.

Ms. Quinn comes with an impressive background, currently serving as the Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. Over her career, she has been involved in advising the government on various Australian and international policy matters and has held prominent roles at the Department of the Treasury. She was also the head of the Secretariat for the ‘Australia in the Asian Century White Paper’ at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Notably, Ms. Quinn’s contributions to public service were recognized in 2009 when she received the Public Service Medal for her exceptional work on climate change policy.

Her new role as Secretary of the Department of Defence will commence on May 18, 2026, with a term lasting five years. Prime Minister Albanese extended his gratitude to the outgoing Secretary, Greg Moriarty, who will transition to the role of Australian Ambassador to the United States. Albanese also acknowledged Cath Patterson for her service as acting Secretary during this transition period.

The appointment was also welcomed by the Australian Minister for Defence, Richard Marles, who stated that Ms Quinn’s experience in public administration and strategic leadership means she will be well placed to lead Defence into the future. 

This appointment is likely to be seen as a progressive step for gender representation in leadership roles within the Australian government.

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