Leadership

Mike Mrdak AO

Executive Chairperson – NEC Australia & New Zealand

Mike Mrdak AO has a portfolio of non-executive directorship roles. In addition to being chairperson of NEC ANZ, he is chair of EnergyCo, the NSW Regional Growth Corporation and the Airport Development Group in the Northern Territory. In addition, Mike is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business, Government and Law at the University of Canberra.

He was appointed an Officer (AO) of the Order of Australia in the Queen's Birthday 2016 honours list for his distinguished service to public administration in transport, logistics and infrastructure investment.

Mike had an extensive career in the Federal public service. He was the Secretary of the Department of Communications and The Arts, a position he held from September 2017 to December 2019. He previously held the position of Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development since 2009.

In November 2013, Mike received the Federal Government Leader of the Year Award recognising his outstanding leadership and work on major infrastructure projects including the duplication of the Pacific and Hume Highways.

Between March 2008 and June 2009, he was Deputy Secretary (Governance), Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. During this time, he was appointed Commonwealth Coordinator-General. Mike began his Australian Public Service career in 1988 as a Graduate with the then Department of Transport and Communications.

Mike graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of New England in 1987 and gained post graduate qualifications including a Graduate Diploma in Education in 1987 and a Graduate Diploma in Applied Economics from the University of Canberra in 1992.