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Joanna Hewitt

Ms Joanna Hewitt was appointed Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry in October 2004. Previously she was Deputy Secretary in the Department of Foreign Affairs of Trade from September 2003. She was Ambassador to the European Communities, Belgium and Luxembourg from August 2000 to August 2003. Prior to this, Ms Hewitt was Deputy Secretary from February 1996 to April 2000, and Ambassador for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) from April 1998 to April 2000.

Ms Hewitt has a broad knowledge of the Australian Government, having worked in a range of departments since joining the, then Department of Foreign Affairs in 1972. Her early work with the Department included a posting at the Australian Embassy in Stockholm and positions in the South Pacific and Commercial Policy Sections in Canberra . From 1983 to 1984 she worked at the Office of National Assessments in Canberra and at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

In 1985 Ms Hewitt joined the staff of the Minister for Trade as Private Secretary, and from 1986 to 1987 she held senior positions in the then Departments of Industry, Technology and Commerce, and of Trade. With the creation of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1987, she became Principal Adviser of the Economic and Trade Development Division.

In 1988 she moved to the Department of Primary Industries and Energy, where she managed Livestock and Pastoral, Land Resources and Corporate Policy Divisions. In 1992 she took up the position of Minister (Agriculture and Energy) with the Australian Delegation to the OECD in Paris . In 1993 she was appointed Head of Division for Food, Agriculture and Fisheries in the OECD Secretariat in Paris , a position she held for three years.

Ms Hewitt was born on 1 May 1949 in Denmark , Western Australia . She completed her Bachelor of Economics (Honours, First Class) at the University of Western Australia in 1971, and her Master of Science (Econ.) at the London School of Economics in 1976.

Ms Hewitt is married, with two daughters and a son.

Title: Secretary of the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry

Phone (02) 6272 4180

Fax (02) 6272 4906

Postal Address GPO Box 858, Canberra ACT 2601