Dick Johnson

Richard St Clair Johnson (6 June 1929 – 31 August 2019) was an Australian academic and senior public servant.

Background and early life Dick Johnson was born in Singapore, one of four children born to Australian parents. His father worked in the insurance industry in Asia. He attended secondary schooling at the Jesuit Riverview College. In his first year in the role, he established the Australian National University Classics Museum so that Canberra students could learn about ancient Greek and Roman objects.

In April 1984, Johnson was appointed Secretary of the Department of Education (later, Education and Youth Affairs). He left his role in January 1985, succeeded by Helen Williams, the first woman to become a departmental secretary in the Australian Government.