John Menadue

Public service and diplomatic career Menadue headed the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet from 1974 to 1976, working under prime ministers Gough Whitlam and Malcolm Fraser. He was Australian Ambassador to Japan from 1976 to 1980.

Menadue returned to Australia in 1980 to take up the position of Secretary of the Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs. In 1983, he was appointed Secretary of the Department of the Special Minister of State and Department of Trade.

Business career Menadue worked as General Manager of News Limited from 1967 to 1974.

He was chief executive officer of Qantas from June 1986 to July 1989. He was the founding Chair of New Matilda (NewMatilda.com), an independent weekly online newsletter which was launched in August 2004. He is the founder and fellow of public-interest think tank, the Centre for Policy Development. He also publishes the public affairs blogsite Pearls and Irritations.

Honours Menadue was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1985 for public service. In 2003 he was awarded the Centenary Medal "for service to Australian society through public service leadership". In 1997, he received the Japanese Imperial Award, The Grand Cordon of the Order of the Sacred Treasure (Kun-itto Zuihō-shō), the highest honour awarded to foreigners who are not head of state or head of government.

Personal Menadue was first married to Cynthia with whom he had four children and one foster daughter. Cynthia died of cancer in October 1984 aged 49. In 1986, Menadue married Susie, who brought two children to the marriage. Together they have fifteen grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. Susie died in October 2024.