International Serious and Organised Crime Conference 2013
 

Chief Executive Officer, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service

Michael Pezzullo was appointed to the office of Chief Executive of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service on 15 February 2013. He took up the position of Chief Operating Officer of the Service in July 2009 where he was responsible for corporate support, strategy, maritime security and border-related intelligence and national security programmes.

Before joining the Service, he was Deputy Secretary Strategy in the Department of Defence, from January 2006 and was responsible for strategy and planning, the policy aspects of ADF operations and international relationships, export controls and counter-proliferation, and the Department’s ministerial support and public affairs activities. Between February 2008 and May 2009 he led the Defence White Paper team and was also the principal author of the 2009 Defence White Paper.

In 1992, he joined the  Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, where he worked in the International Division on trade issues, including APEC. In March 1993, he joined the staff of the Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, Senator the Hon Gareth Evans QC, remaining at Parliament House until 2001, including serving as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition, the Hon Kim Beazley MP.

In February 2002, he rejoined the Department of Defence as an Assistant Secretary. In March 2004, he was promoted to First Assistant Secretary with responsibility for Defence infrastructure, property and environment. In July 2004 he was transferred into the role of Chief of Staff Australian Defence Headquarters and First Assistant Secretary Coordination and Public Affairs Division.