Society Fellow and Vice-President,  Professor Peter Shergold AC FRSN FASSA, has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Letters by Western Sydney University (WSU). Professor Shergold, who is the Emeritus Chancellor of WSU, was recognised for his outstanding contributions to Australian public life and education during a recent WSU graduation ceremony.

In conferring the award, Vice-Chancellor and President of Western Sydney University, Professor Barney Glover AO FRSN, acknowledged Professor Shergold’s achievements and exemplary service, including 12 years as Chancellor of Western Sydney University from 2011–2022. Professor Glover noted that “throughout Professor Shergold’s esteemed career, he has made exceptional contributions to public policy and the wider community – working within and outside government on the most complex and challenging issues facing the nation,”

During his career, Professor Shergold served as Secretary of the Commonwealth Department of Employment, Workplace Relations, and Small Business from 1998–2001, the Secretary of the Department of Education, Science, and Training from 2001–20023, and as Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet from 2003–2008 — the most senior role in the Australian Public Service. Since leaving the public service, he has served on numerous corporate and not-for-profit Boards, making outstanding national contributions to policy development and the education sector. He has held many distinguished positions including the current Coordinator General of Refugee Resettlement in NSW, and has been a much-respected advisor to State and Federal Governments, including with David Gonski AC for the 2020 review of the NSW vocational education and training sector, entitled ‘In the same sentence: Bringing higher and vocational education together’. In 2023, he joined the Council of the Royal Society of NSW as Vice-President.

The Council of the Society extends its sincere congratulations to Professor Shergold on this latest recognition of his outstanding career.