Brendan Murphy (doctor)

Brendan Murphy AC (born 1955) is an Australian public servant, health executive and nephrologist who served as the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) of Australia from 4 October 2016 before serving as the Secretary of the Department of Health from 13 July 2020 until his retirement on 6 July 2023.

Professor
Brendan Murphy
AC
Chief Medical Officer
In office
4 October 2016 (2016-10-04) – 26 June 2020 (2020-06-26)
Preceded byChris Baggoley
Succeeded byPaul Kelly
Secretary of the Department of Health
In office
13 July 2020 (2020-07-13) – 6 July 2023 (2023-07-06)
Preceded byGlenys Beauchamp
Succeeded byBlair Comley
Personal details
Born
Brendan Murphy

1955 (age 67–68)
Melbourne, Victoria
NationalityAustralian
Spouse
​
(m. 1979)​
EducationPreshil
Melbourne Grammar School
Trinity College, Melbourne
OccupationPublic servant
ProfessionNephrologist

Biography

Murphy was born in 1955 and educated at Preshil,[1] Melbourne Grammar School and Trinity College within the University of Melbourne. He married lawyer and university administrator Sally Walker in 1979 and has two sons.[2]

Murphy was a nephrologist by profession and was formerly president of the Australian and New Zealand Society of Nephrology; CMO and director of nephrology at St Vincent's Health; CEO of Austin Health; and a board member of Health Workforce Australia, the Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental Health, the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Research Institute, and the Victorian Comprehensive Cancer Centre.[3] Murphy was the first medical doctor to be appointed the public servant position of Secretary of the Department of Health in its current incarnation, and since Dr Gwynne Howells, who was Secretary to the former Department of Health until 1982.[2][3] Murphy retired as Secretary on 6 July 2023.[4]

Chief Medical Officer

Murphy was appointed CMO of Australia on 4 October 2016, when he replaced Chris Baggoley.[5] He became "the public face of Australia's fight against COVID-19" during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia,[6] giving regular press conferences with the Prime Minister, Scott Morrison,[7] and Health Minister Greg Hunt.[8]

Murphy was also head of the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee[9] and in that role an adviser to the National Cabinet of Australia created to respond to the pandemic.[10]

He vacated the role of CMO on 29 June 2020, and became the Secretary of the Department of Health on 13 July 2020,[11] an appointment initially announced in January 2020, but delayed due to his central role in the response to the Coronavirus pandemic.[12] His deputy, Paul Kelly, is acting the role of CMO until a new appointment is made.[11][13]

Recognition

On 2 November 2020 Murphy was named Australian Capital Territory's Australian of the Year.[14]

In June 2022, Murphy was appointed Companion of the Order of Australia in the 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours for "eminent service to medical administration and community health, particularly as Chief Medical Officer, and to nephrology, to research and innovation, and to professional organisations".[15]

References
  1. "Heraldsun.com.au |". www.heraldsun.com.au. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  2. Schulz, Amber (16 April 2020). "The man behind the eyebrows: just who is Brendan Murphy?". Crikey. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  3. "Professor Brendan Murphy appointed Department of Health Secretary". Australian Medical Association. 23 January 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  4. "Professor Brendan Murphy AC retirement". Commonwealth of Australia Department of Health and Aged Care. 13 April 2023. Retrieved 9 September 2023.
  5. Easton, Stephen (13 July 2016). "Chief medical officer retirement sparks Department of Health reshuffle". The Mandarin. Retrieved 12 June 2020.
  6. Topsfield, Jewel (20 March 2020). "Coronavirus Australia: Brendan Murphy: the public face of Australia's fight against COVID-19". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  7. "Press conference with Premiers and Chief Ministers - Parramatta, NSW". Prime Minister of Australia (in Swahili). Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  8. "Chief Medical Officer and Minister Hunt's joint press conference on coronavirus (COVID-19)". Australian Government Department of Health. 3 March 2020. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  9. McCauley, Dana (6 March 2020). "There's a reason Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy looks so tired". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  10. Grattan, Michelle (7 April 2020). "Scott Morrison indicates 'eliminating' COVID-19 would come at too high a cost". The Conversation. Retrieved 10 April 2020.
  11. Probyn, Andrew (25 June 2020). "Brendan Murphy leaves Chief Medical Officer role, warning borders could remain closed until coronavirus vaccine is developed". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  12. Dingwall, Doug (29 May 2020). "Brendan Murphy to finish as chief medical officer in June after advising on coronavirus response". The Canberra Times. Retrieved 28 June 2020.
  13. "Leadership: Acting Chief Medical Officer". Australian Government. Dept of Health. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  14. "Professor Brendan Murphy, who led Australia's COVID-19 response, named ACT Australian of the Year". ABC news. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 2 November 2020. Retrieved 3 November 2020.
  15. "Queen's Birthday 2022 Honours - the full list". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. 12 June 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
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