Alan John Woods (30 March 1930 – 13 January 1990) was a senior Australian public servant.

Life and career

Woods was born in

Woonona, New South Wales Woonona () is a northern suburb of Wollongong, New South Wales, Australia, south of Sydney. It is served by Woonona Station on the South Coast (Illawarra) Line, and by the Princes Highway. The suburb has a strip of commerce along the highw ...

on 30 March 1930 to parents Oswald and Gladys May Woods. After attending St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill on a scholarship, he obtained a Bachelor of Economics from the

University of Sydney The University of Sydney (USYD), also known as Sydney University, or informally Sydney Uni, is a public research university located in Sydney, Australia. Founded in 1850, it is the oldest university in Australia and is one of the country's ...

in 1955 while working as an executive trainee for Dunlop Rubber Australia Ltd. Woods began his Commonwealth Public Sector career at the Commonwealth Public Service Board in Sydney in 1955. He moved to Canberra in 1957, taking a research officer post in the Department of Territories. In December 1977, Woods was appointed

Secretary A secretary, administrative professional, administrative assistant, executive assistant, administrative officer, administrative support specialist, clerk, military assistant, management assistant, office secretary, or personal assistant is a ...

of the Department of National Development (later abolished and replaced by the

Department of National Development and Energy The Department of National Development and Energy was an Australian government department that existed between December 1979 and March 1983. It replaced the Department of National Development and inherited domestic resources and energ ...

, and then the

Department of Resources and Energy The Department of Resources and Energy was an Australian government department that existed between March 1983 and July 1987. History The Department was one of three new Departments established by the Hawke government in March 1 ...

). Woods was appointed Secretary of the

Department of Defence Department of Defence or Department of Defense may refer to: Current departments of defence * Department of Defence (Australia) * Department of National Defence (Canada) * Department of Defence (Ireland) * Department of National Defense (Philipp ...

in 1986, but was replaced in a reshuffle of department heads in mid-1988.

Awards and recognition

Woods was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in the

1985 Australia Day Honours The 1985 Australia Day Honours were announced on 26 January 1985 by the Governor General of Australia, Sir Ninian Stephen. The Australia Day Honours are the first of the two major annual honours lists, announced on Australia Day Australia ...

for "public service, particularly as Secretary to the Department of Resources and Energy". In the 1989 Australia Day Honours he was promoted to

Companion of the Order of Australia The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...

"for public service, particularly as Secretary to the Department of Defence".

Death

Woods became ill with cancer in the later part of 1989. He died of the disease on 13 January 1990 in Canberra.

Notes

References and further reading

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Woods, Alan John 1930 births 1990 deaths Australian public servants Deaths from cancer in the Australian Capital Territory Companions of the Order of Australia Secretaries of the Australian Department of Defence People educated at St Joseph's College, Hunters Hill University of Sydney alumni