IPAA’s
History
Arthur Webb Pettit c. 1884–1940.
Credit: State Library of South Australia
The history of the Institute of Public Administration Australia mirrors that of Australia’s federation: just as six British colonies came together on 1 January 1901 as the Commonwealth of Australia, so too did eight Australian regional groups of the Institute of Public Administration unite as an independent national organisation on 1 January 1980.
The first Australian regional group of the London-based Institute of Public Administration formed in South Australia on Wednesday 28 October 1927. The moving spirit behind the group was its first secretary, Mr Arthur W. Pettit.
Regional groups of the Institute of Public Administration were subsequently established in Victoria (1929), New South Wales (1935), Queensland (1951–2012; 2017), Papua and New Guinea (1952–1968), Australian Capital Territory (1953), Tasmania (1953), Western Australia (1954) and the Northern Territory (1954–1968; 1985).
These groups eventually cut their ties with London’s Institute of Public Administration and joined together in a confederation that became known as the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA).
The history of IPAA from its earliest days, through to its establishment as a national organisation, and its growth and development over a forty year period, are told in ‘A History of the Institute of Public Administration, 1980–2020’ which is available to download in either high resolution [24 MB] or low resolution [2MB].
IPAA’s first National President was Duncan R Steele Craik OBE CBE FIPAA. Dr Gordon de Brouwer PSM FIPAA is its 15th National President.
An honour board of National Presidents is presented below.
IPAA’s
National Presidents

PROFESSOR RENÉE LEON PSM FIPAA
1 July 2022 onwards

Dr Gordon de Brouwer PSM FIPAA
26 September 2021 to June 2022

Professor Peter Shergold AC FIPAA

Penny Armytage FIPAA
14 November 2017

Terry F Moran AC FIPAA
13 October 2015

Professor Percy Allan AM FIPAA
17 September 2012

Professor Andrew S Podger AO FIPAA
18 November 2009

Sue S Vardon AO FIPAA
10 November 2004
Credit: Nine (Fairfax Media)

Tony Ayers AO FIPAA
28 November 2000
Credit: National Library of Australia

Dr Michael S Keating AC FIPAA
24 November 1998

Elizabeth Proust AO FIPAA
19 November 1996

Alison Gaines
22 November 1994

Richard G Humphry AO FIPAA
4 March 1994
Credit: HuiHai Xie | National Portrait Gallery

Hedley R Bachmann AM FIPAA
5 February 1990

The Hon. Mr Justice Rae Else-Mitchell CMG FIPAA
11 November 1986

Duncan R Steele Craik CB OBE FIPAA
16 November 1982
Credit: The Canberra Times