Public Sector Commissioner Sharyn O'Neill has been awarded the Order of Australia in the 2026 Australia Day Honours in recognition of outstanding public service.
Public Sector Commissioner Sharyn O'Neill has been awarded the Order of Australia in the 2026 Australia Day Honours in recognition of outstanding public service.
This honour reflects an impactful career defined by exceptional leadership, integrity and dedication, and a deep commitment to serving the community.
"While I am very honoured by this recognition, it reflects the dedication of the many people I have had the privilege to work alongside," Ms O'Neill says.
"I have been fortunate to have people around me who care deeply about serving the public and getting things done.
"Public service is always a collective effort."
Beginning her career as a teacher in regional Western Australia, Ms O'Neill moved into policy, governance and system leadership positions before becoming the youngest Director General to lead a Western Australian government department.
After 12 years as Director General of the Department of Education, she was appointed as the Public Sector Commissioner in July 2018.
It's a big role, leading the entire Western Australian public sector with more than 160,000 staff and setting the direction and standards in areas such as integrity, capability, leadership, data and workforce.
"My focus is to build a public sector that is innovative and ready for the challenges of the future, so we deliver what Western Australians need and deserve from us," Ms O'Neill said.
"It is about a shared approach and commitment to solving problems, using the extensive array of knowledge and skills of our people."
In addition to her role as Commissioner, Ms O'Neill was also the State Recovery Controller from April 2020 to October 2022, responsible for developing, coordinating and overseeing WA's recovery from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2023 she was awarded the Public Service Medal for leading this vital work.
In June 2023, Ms O'Neill became the first Western Australian to be appointed Chair of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government Board.
