• Associate Professor Des Graham - representing the Secretary, Department of Health and Human Services

Associate Professor Des Graham is the Deputy Secretary Children, and Executive Director, Policy, Information and Commissioning Groups, Department of Health and Human Services.

Des has over twenty years' experience in both health and human services within Australia.

De shas held senior positions with the Australian Capital Territory, New South Wales, South Australian and Tasmanian public sectors, and was the inaugural Chief Executive Officer for the Mental Health Council of Australia.

He has extensive experience in leading and achieving comprehensive service improvement in both the government and not for profit sectors across a broad range of critical health and human service programs.

His work also includes participating in a broad range of state and national committees covering strategic policy and planning, funding and performance frameworks, workforce strategy, quality and safety and information management.  He has also represented Australia at a number of international forums.

Included in Des' qualifications are undergraduate and post-graduate qualifications in nursing and a Master of Science (Mental Health).  He holds adjunct position with the University of Tasmania.

Professionally one of his most prized achievements was the dedication of a Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Award to the Mental Health Council of Australia for his services to consumer and carer participation in health service planning and individual care.  A principle he remains passionate about.