Ken Smith has been the Director-General of Queensland’s Department of the Premier and Cabinet since September 2007. In this capacity he leads the department, and the Queensland Public Service, in advising and serving the Premier and Government of Queensland.

He has also been Queensland’s Co-ordinator General, and Director-General of a number of other departments.

As a senior public servant in Queensland for almost 20 years, Ken has taken a lead role in many of the fundamental reforms that have helped shape the state. Reforms such as the $9 billion water grid, the south-east Queensland Infrastructure Plan and Program, and groundbreaking policy in the area of urban development and community renewal.

During Ken’s six year stint as Director-General of the Department of Education and the Arts and Employment and Training, he was responsible for driving the implementation of the Education and Training Reforms for the Future. This landmark reforms package brought about fundamental changes in early, middle and senior phases of schooling.

Ken maintains his involvement in education as a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators, Adjunct Professor of Education at the University of Queensland, Griffith University and the University of Sydney.

Ken has also served as a CEO to a number of Ministerial Councils, including the Ministerial Council for Education, Employment, Training and Youth Affairs. He was also a member of the Prime Minister’s Youth Pathways Taskforce, and has chaired a number of national and state companies and boards.

In 2008, Ken was appointed Chair of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG).