Andrew Metcalfe, Secretary

Andrew Metcalfe is Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Citizenship, responsible for its administration and strategic direction. He provides senior counsel on major and sensitive policy issues to the minister.

He was appointed as secretary in July 2005 after serving for three years as a deputy secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

‘This year saw significant implementation of the government’s policy agenda and independent confirmation of the success of the department’s four year cultural and business transition.

Our objective is to work as a global organisation, dedicated to continuously improving our performance and productivity, so that we deliver better migration and citizenship services for our clients and outcomes for Australia, now and into the future.’

Bob Correll PSM, Deputy Secretary

Bob Correll is Deputy Secretary responsible for the Borders, Detention and Technology Group. He transferred to the department from the position of Deputy Secretary of Workforce Participation at the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations in July 2005.

‘This year we have made significant progress in rolling out the Systems for People program to transform the department’s business through technology innovation, and in implementing the government’s New Directions in Detention initiative.

We also made major advances in cooperating with other countries on preventing people-smuggling and in establishing the nature of claims for protection of irregular maritime arrivals and subsequently determining their immigration status.’

Felicity Hand, Deputy Secretary

Felicity Hand is Deputy Secretary responsible for the Client and Corporate Services Group.

Prior to joining the department in May 2009, she held senior corporate and operational leadership roles in Broken Hill Proprietary Corporation Limited, Sensis Pty Ltd and the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

‘My priority was to structure my group so that we could improve client service across all channels in Australia and overseas. We also faced a significant task in managing reductions in our budget flowing from the global economic crisis.

We are working towards further improvements in client service and using our corporate service functions to strongly enable the major business programs of the department.’

Peter Hughes PSM, Deputy Secretary

Peter Hughes is Deputy Secretary responsible for the Migration, Refugee, Citizenship and Compliance Group.

Prior to August 2006, he was head of the department’s Refugee, Humanitarian and International Division, which included responsibility for Australia’s offshore refugee resettlement program.

‘The 60th anniversary of the creation of the status of Australian citizenship was a valuable opportunity to publicise the importance of citizenship and the work of the department.

We also delivered substantial Migration and Humanitarian Programs and the migrants granted visas will contribute to the economic strength and wellbeing of the nation for decades to come.

I was especially pleased we could deliver on the government’s expectation that we could manage case resolution in the community and avoid immigration detention, except for clients presenting a clearly unacceptable risk.’