UniSQ alumnus appointed as Commissioner to help shape Australia’s tertiary future

University of Southern Queensland (UniSQ) alumnus Professor Stephen Duckett AM has been appointed as a Commissioner of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission (ATEC), the new national body established to help drive long-term reform across Australia’s tertiary education sector.

Professor Duckett is one of Australia’s leading public policy and health economists and has played a significant role in national reform across healthcare, higher education and public policy over several decades.

Professor Duckett was appointed alongside Chief Commissioner Professor Barney Glover AO, and fellow Commissioners The Hon Fiona Nash and Mr David Coltman.

The appointment places a UniSQ alumnus at the centre of one of the most significant transformations of Australia’s tertiary education system in a generation.

Acting UniSQ Vice-Chancellor and President Professor Glen Coleman said the appointment reflected Professor Duckett’s longstanding contribution to public policy and national reform.

“Professor Duckett has dedicated his career to improving systems that shape people’s lives, including healthcare, education and public policy,” Professor Coleman said.

“His appointment as an ATEC Commissioner is recognition of his deep expertise, national leadership, and longstanding commitment to improving access, equity and outcomes across Australian society.

“We are proud to see a UniSQ alumnus helping shape the future direction of Australia’s tertiary education system.”

Professor Duckett completed a Graduate Diploma of Education (Tertiary) through the Darling Downs Institute of Advanced Education (DDIAE), UniSQ’s predecessor institution, in the late 1970s.

Throughout his career, he has held senior operational and policy leadership positions, including Secretary of what is now the Commonwealth Department of Health and Chief Executive of the Queensland Health Centre for Health Improvement. He was also involved in the introduction of Medicare in the 1980s and has continued to contribute to major national reform initiatives in recent years.

Professor Duckett previously served on the Accord Implementation Advisory Committee and has been widely recognised for his contribution to public policy, health system reform and tertiary education.

In 2023, he was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to public health policy and management, and tertiary education.

ATEC is an independent steward for the higher education system, tasked with creating a better and fairer tertiary education system that delivers for students and on national economic and social objectives. Its establishment was one of the key recommendations of the Australian Universities Accord.