Rosemary Huxtable was Secretary of the Department of Finance from October 2016 to August 2022, a role where she was closely involved in the preparation and delivery of the Australian Government Budget, oversaw the financial framework of Australian Government agencies, provided shareholder oversight of government business enterprises and advice on cost-effective whole of government programs and services. 

Rosemary worked closely with a wide range of government entities during her almost ten years in the Department of Finance, particularly Defence and national security, infrastructure and social policy. She has extensive experience in health, aged care and social policy, holding senior roles in the Department of Health and Aged Care from 2003 to 2013, including as Deputy Secretary. 

Rosemary has a longstanding interest and commitment to public sector reform, was chair of the Secretaries APS Reform Committee, and led reforms to improve transparency and accountability of Commonwealth public sector agencies. 

Rosemary currently provides strategic and policy advice to government and government related entities, including in the areas of health policy, defence and national security. She was a member of the three-person panel that conducted the Review of the Surface Combatant Fleet, undertook the Mid-Term Review of the Addendum to the National Health Reform Agreement and conducted the statutory review of the Foreign Relations Act. She is a member of the Naval Shipbuilding Expert Advisory Panel and the Expert Advisory Panel on Defence Strategic Review implementation and is chairing the development of the National Health and Medical Research Strategy. 

Rosemary received an Order of Australia in 2023 for distinguished service to public administration through leadership roles in the areas of health and finance, and a Public Service Medal in 2005 for Medicare reform. 

Rosemary has a Bachelor of Arts with First Class Honours in Political Science from the University of Tasmania.