Michael Joseph Thawley,AO (born 16 April 1950)^[1] is a former senior Australian public servant. From December 2014 to January 2016 he wasSecretary of theDepartment of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

Michael Thawley AO
Secretary of theDepartment of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
In office 1 December 2014 – 23 January 2016
18th Ambassador of Australia to the United States
In office February 2000 – May 2005
Preceded by	Andrew Peacock
Succeeded by	Dennis Richardson
Personal details
Born	Michael Joseph Thawley (1950-04-16)16 April 1950 (age 74) London, England
Nationality	Australian
Political party	Liberal Party
Alma mater	Australian National University
Occupation	Public servant, Diplomat

Thawley was born inLondon^[1] in 1950, the son of an Anglican clergyman, raised inQueensland, and educated atGeelong Grammar School and then at theAustralian National University.^[2][3] He joined theDepartment of Foreign Affairs in 1972.^[4] There he held various posts including Head of the Papua New Guinea and New Zealand bureaus; Head of Current Intelligence at the Office of National Assessments; Minister at the Australian Embassy, Tokyo; Head of the International Division of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. He was the International Advisor to Prime MinisterJohn Howard, between 1996 and 1999.^[5]

From 2000 to 2005, Michael Thawley was Australian Ambassador to the United States of America.^[6] While Thawley was in the role, theAustralia–United States Free Trade Agreement was established, ensuring greater access to the US market for Australian products.^[7] When he left the post, US President George Bush hosted a farewell reception for him in the Oval Office, and dignitaries including US Vice PresidentDick Cheney, US Defence SecretaryDonald Rumsfeld and US Secretary of StateCondoleezza Rice attended.^[8]

He was a Senior Vice President and International Advisor at Capital Strategy Research Inc.^[when?][9] He was also a board member of the Lowy Institute for International Policy.^[when?][10]

In October 2014, Prime Minister Tony Abbott announced Thawley had been appointedSecretary of theDepartment of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, commencing 1 December 2014.^{[11][12][13][14][15]} According to media, his brief entering into the role was to concentrate on the Australian Government's economic agenda,^[16][17] and to give more structure and form to coordinate the budgetary implications, across all Australian Government departments, of Coalition Government promises and what the Labor Party blocks in Parliament.^[18] It was also noted that he could "bring fresh energy to the urgent task of rebuilding relationships between the public service and the political branch."^[19] He announced on 24 November 2015 that he would be standing down from the position in January 2016.^[20]

Thawley married Deborah Wilkins, an ANU prize winner in French in 1969,^[21] in 1970. They have three sons, one of whom is The Hon Justice Thomas Thawley,^[22] and five grandchildren.

Thawley was awarded aCentenary Medal in January 2001 for a significant contribution over many years to international relations.^[23] In June 2006 he was appointed anOfficer of the Order of Australia.^[24]

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