Professor Glyn Davis AC was previously a Distinguished Professor at the Australian National University's Crawford School of Public Policy. His career spans both the public service and academic sectors, serving as the director general of the Queensland Department of Premier and Cabinet from 1998 to 2002, vice chancellor of Griffith University, and as vice chancellor of the University of Melbourne for nearly 14 years. Prof David also chaired the Group of Eight, Universities Australia and Universitas 21.
In June 2022, Prof Davis was appointed Secretary to the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, a 5-year appointment by the governor general based on Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s recommendation.
Prof Davis is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia and the Institute of Public Administration Australia. He holds honorary doctorates from Griffith University and the University of New South Wales. There are buildings named after him on the campus of Griffith University at Nathan, and the Melbourne School of Design at the University of Melbourne Parkville. In September 2018, Prof Davis was awarded the lifetime achievement award in higher education by the Australian Financial Review.
He received the Centenary Medal in recognition of contribution to public service. In 2002, he was awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia for his service to public administration, particularly as an advocate for good governance, constitutional reform and the creation of infrastructure to enable the development of a "knowledge-based" nation, to tertiary education in the field of political science, and to the community.
