Finn Axel Pratt (born 1960) is a retired senior Australian public servant. He was most recently

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 the Environment and Energy The Department of the Environment and Energy (DEE) was an Australian government department in existence between 2016 and 2020. The department was responsible for matters including environment protection and conservation of biodiversity as well ...

Life and career

Pratt has a Bachelor of Arts from the

Australian National University The Australian National University (ANU) is a public research university located in Canberra, the capital of Australia. Its main campus in Acton encompasses seven teaching and research colleges, in addition to several national academies an ...

. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer of Centrelink in September 2008. Finn Pratt was promoted to the role of Secretary of the Department of Human Services in 2009. In 2011, Pratt moved into the position of

of the

Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs The former Australian Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs (FaHCSIA) was a department of the Government of Australia located in Greenway in Canberra Canberra ( ) is the capital city of Australia ...

. In 2013 he was appointed Secretary of the Department of Social Services. On 7 September 2017, the Prime Minister

Malcolm Turnbull Malcolm Bligh Turnbull (born 24 October 1954) is an Australian former politician and businessman who served as the 29th prime minister of Australia from 2015 to 2018. He held office as leader of the Liberal Party of Australia. Turnbull grad ...

announced Pratt's appointment as Secretary of the Department of the Environment and Energy, commencing 18 September Pratt retired from office on 11 October 2019 following a 36 year career in the Australian Public Service. Pratt was the most senior public servant to appear before the Royal Commission into the Robodebt Scheme. His evidence included: * that he signed a letter to the Ombudsman saying his department was satisfied it was operating legally because he "trusted" the advice his officials provided * that Robodebt scheme was "one headache which wasn't my headache" (even though he was the head of the policy department responsible, including signing said letter to the Ombudsman) * that he did not believe he had asked how the scheme worked.

Awards

Pratt was awarded a Public Service Medal in January 2008 for outstanding public service in the development and implementation of significant and innovative reforms to public employment services and workplace relations in Australia. In June 2015, Pratt was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for his work on the National Disability Insurance Scheme.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Pratt, Finn Living people 1960s births Place of birth missing (living people) Australian public servants Officers of the Order of Australia Recipients of the Public Service Medal (Australia) Australian National University alumni