Michael Lawless

Canberra

Michael has extensive public sector experience, across several departments covering strategic policy, public sector legislation, litigation program management, development and delivery. Michael joined the APS in 1972 and was an SES officer managing legal, policy and program branches in the Departments of Immigration and Prime Minister and Cabinet for over 15 years. He managed major organisational reviews, significant procurement projects, development of new legislation and sensitive litigation.

Michael worked closely with ministers, stakeholders, clients, and international institutions; managed major national policy and program consultation and negotiation processes and was responsible for significant legislative reform programs and the management of programs with large financial resources and extensive accountability requirements. He undertook sensitive negotiations with state and territory Governments, law enforcement and security agencies and the Governments of other countries.

Michael provided high levels of advice and counsel to staff, supervisors and managers on personnel issues related to the transfer of functions and people, recruitment and promotion procedures, performance appraisal outcomes, and grievance processes. Michael has also managed training and evaluation and audit programs.

Michael has extensive experience in preparing administrative decision-making documents supporting ministerial and agency decisions subject to external scrutiny, including both judicial review by the High Court and Federal Court of Australia and review by the Ombudsman, the Human Rights Commission and the Privacy Commissioner.

Michael has a Bachelor of Arts (Economics) from Sydney University and a Bachelor of Laws from the Australian National University and is admitted to practice as a solicitor.