Jim Scully (public servant)

James Scully AO is a retired senior Australian public servant. He is best known for his time in the Australian Government trade department.

Jim Scully
Secretary of the Department of Trade
In office
11 March 1983 (1983-03-11) – 1 March 1984 (1984-03-01)
Secretary of the Department of Trade and Resources
In office
20 December 1977 (1977-12-20) – 11 March 1983 (1983-03-11)
Secretary of the Department of National Resources
In office
22 December 1975 (1975-12-22) – 20 December 1977 (1977-12-20)
Secretary of the Department of Minerals and Energy
In office
24 August 1975 (1975-08-24) – 22 December 1975 (1975-12-22)
Personal details
Born
James Scully
NationalityAustralia Australian
SpouseNorma[1]
Parent(s)William Scully and Grace Myrtle Kilbride
OccupationPublic servant

Life and career

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Scully was the son of William Scully, a federal Labor MP and government minister.[2] He studied English and History at the University of Sydney, going on to join the Australian Public Service in 1949, in the Department of Trade and Customs as a junior clerk.[2]

Between 1961 and 1963, Scully was Assistant Trade Commissioner in Cairo.[2] In 1967, Scully was appointed a First Assistant Secretary in the Department of Trade and Industry, heading the trade services section.[2]

In August 1975, Scully was appointed to his first Secretary role, heading the Department of Minerals and Energy. He went on to fill the Secretary position at the Department of National Resources (1975–1977), the Department of Trade and Resources (1977–1983) and the Department of Trade (1983–1984). In 1981, he led bilateral talks on resources development with South Korea.[3]

After retiring from the public service, Scully moved into a private sector career.[4] He headed an independent committee advising the ACT Government on the Very Fast Train project.[5]

For a time in the 1990s, Scully was a director at Westpac.[6] He resigned following a September 1992 board meeting in which a loss of $1.5 billion was announced.[7]

Awards

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Scully was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in January 1984 for his public service.[8]

References

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  1. ^ "Waitangi Day reception". The Canberra Times. 7 February 1982. p. 15.
  2. ^ a b c d Thomas, Tony (18 August 1975). "New man moves into the hottest hot-seat". The Age. p. 5.
  3. ^ "Scully begins bilateral talks with South Korea". The Canberra Times. 14 July 1981. p. 17.
  4. ^ Davey, Paul (2008), Politics in the Blood: The Anthonys of Richmond, University of New South Wales, p. 196, ISBN 978-1-921410-23-9
  5. ^ Coelli, Andree (21 September 1989). "Very Fast Train project moving". The Canberra Times. p. 5.
  6. ^ Waterford, Jack (4 October 1992). "New rules for exiled heads". The Canberra Times. p. 11.
  7. ^ Bain, Jim (2007), A Financial Tale of Two Cities: Sydney and Melbourne's Remarkable Contest for Commercial Supremacy, University of New South Wales, p. 153
  8. ^ "Search Australian Honours: SCULLY, James", itsanhonour.gov.au, Australian Government, archived from the original on 1 July 2014
Government offices
Preceded by Secretary of the Department of Minerals and Energy
1975
Succeeded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of National Resources
Preceded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of Minerals and Energy
Secretary of the Department of National Resources
1975 – 1977
Succeeded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of Trade and Resources
Succeeded byas Secretary of the Department of National Development
Preceded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of Minerals and Energy
Secretary of the Department of Trade and Resources
1977 – 1983
Succeeded byas Secretary of the Department of Resources and Energy
Succeeded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of Trade
Preceded by
Himself
as Secretary of the Department of Trade and Resources
Secretary of the Department of Trade
1983 – 1984
Succeeded by