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Our department at a glance

Who we are

Figure 1 Our people at 30 June 2020 This figure shows information about our staff. We have around 7,000 employees. 75.5% of our staff are full-time employees. 17.6% are part-time and 6.9% are casual employees. 53% of our staff self-identify as female, including 48% of staff employed at the Executive Level 2 classification or higher. 5% of our employees self-identify as Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people. 2% of our employees self-identify as having a disability. 5% of our employees self-identify as being from a non-English speaking background.
An employee has a non-English speaking background (NESB) if they arrived in Australia after the age of 5 and their first language is a language other than English (APSC 2019). The Australian Workplace Equality Index provides a national benchmark on LGBTIQ+ workplace inclusion in Australia. Source: Aurion and SAP 30 June 2020.

What we do

Figure 2 Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment Purpose and Objectives Partnering and regulation to enhance Australia's agriculture, unique environment and heritage, and water resources. We have 5 objectives. Our Agriculture objective is to assist industry to grow to a $100 billion agricultural sector by 2030. Our Environment and Heritage objective is to support stewardship and sustainable management to enhance Australia's environment and our unique heritage. Our Water Resources objective is to support the sustainable management and productive use of Australia's water resources. Our Biosecurity objective is to manage biosecurity risks to Australian agriculture, the environment and our way of life. Our Antarctic objective is to advance Australia's strategic, scientific and environmental interests in the Antarctic and the Southern Ocean.

Our department

Figure 3 Department of Agriculture, Water and the Environment structure at 30 June 2020 This figure shows the department's organisational structure at 30 June 2020. Andrew Metcalfe was the secretary. Rosemary Deininger was the acting deputy secretary of the Policy, Innovation, Strategy, Fisheries and Forestry Group. This group had 3 divisions. Cass Kennedy was the first assistant secretary of the Agricultural Policy Division. Mel Brown was the acting first assistant secretary of the Agvet Chemicals, Fisheries and Forestry Division. Nick Blong was the acting first assistant secretary of the Portfolio Strategy Division. David Hazlehurst was the deputy secretary of the Agriculture Trade and ABARES Group. This group had 4 divisions. Steve Hatfield-Dodds was the Executive Director of ABARES. Fran Freeman was the first assistant secretary of the Exports Division. Melissa McEwen was the acting first assistant secretary of the Export Reform and Live Animal Exports Division, and acting Principal Regulatory Officer. Chris Tinning was the first assistant secretary of the Trade and Market Access Division. Lyn O'Connell was the deputy secretary of the Biosecurity and Compliance Group. This group had 5 divisions and three offices. Robyn Martin was the first assistant secretary of the Biosecurity Animal Division. Peter Creaser was the acting first assistant secretary of the Biosecurity Plant Division. Matthew Koval was the first assistant secretary of the Biosecurity Policy and Implementation Division. Emily Canning was the first assistant secretary of the Biosecurity Operations Division. Peta Lane was the first assistant secretary of the Compliance Division. Mark Schipp was the Australian Chief Veterinary Officer. Robyn Cleland was the acting Chief Scientist and acting Australian Chief Plant Protection Officer. Ian Thompson was the Chief Environment Biosecurity Officer. Matt Cahill was the deputy secretary of the Natural Disasters, Water, Farm Support and Environment Operations Group. This group had 5 divisions. Kim Ellis was the first assistant secretary of the Australian Antarctic Division. Beth Brunoro was the first assistant secretary of the Climate Adaptation and Resilience Division. Kerren Crosthwaite was the acting first assistant secretary of the Drought and Bushfire Response Division. James Findlay was the first assistant secretary of the Parks Australia Division and the Director of National Parks. Rachel Connell was the first assistant secretary of the Water Division. Dean Knudson was the deputy secretary of the Environment Group. This group had 5 divisions and one office. Emma Campbell was the acting first assistant secretary of the Biodiversity Conservation Division. Jody Swirepik was the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder Michelle Croker was the acting first assistant secretary of the Environment Approvals Division. Jason Mundy was the acting first assistant secretary of the Environment Protection Division. James Tregurtha was the first assistant secretary of the Environmental Protection Reform Division. Stephen Oxley was the first assistant secretary of the Heritage, Reef and Marine Division. Cindy Briscoe was the deputy secretary for the Enabling Services Group. This group had 5 divisions. Lionel Riley was the acting first assistant secretary of the Corporate and Business Services Division. Scott Brown was the first assistant secretary of the Finance Division and the Chief Finance Officer. Peter McKeon was the first assistant secretary of the Information Services Division and the Chief Information Officer. Alice Linacre was the first assistant secretary of the Legal Division and the Chief Counsel. Neal Mason was the first assistant secretary of the People Division.
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Our portfolio

Figure 4 Agriculture, Water and the Environment portfolio at 30 June 2020 The Cotton Research and Development Corporation. The Fisheries Research and Development Corporation. The Grains Research and Development Corporation. Agrifutures Australia. Wine Australia.

Visit

https://www.transparency.gov.au/annual-reports/department-agriculture-water-and-environment/reporting-year/2019-20-22