Kerri Hartland

Kerri Gaye Hartland is the Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS). She was formerly an Australian public servant for 30 years, before joining the private sector. She was the first female deputy director-general of Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) and took up the position of secretary of the Australian Government Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business in January 2017.

Early life and education Born in Oakey, Queensland, Hartland grew up with her parents Valerie and Neville Hartland, her brother Brad and her sister Karina.

From 1983 Hartland lived at Cromwell College, while studying at the University of Queensland. She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1985 and later a Bachelor of Economics in 1991.

Commencing further education at the Australian National University, Hartland completed a Master of Legal Studies in 1996 and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Hartland became the first female and first external deputy director general of ASIO in 2011.

From February to September 2017, Hartland was the deputy secretary of the Department of Finance and the chief operating officer. Until May 2019, Hartland was responsible for industrial relations policies and programs including the Fair Work Commission, Fair Work Ombudsman, Worksafe Australia and Comcare.

For the first half of 2020, Hartland was appointed by the Business Council of Australia to assist Sir Peter Cosgrove with efforts to support small businesses recovery from the bushfires and COVID.

On 9 December 2022, Hartland was announced as the incoming Director-General of the Australian Secret Intelligence Service, commencing February 2023. Hartland replaced previous director-general Paul Symon.

Other roles Hartland is or has been a board member of both the Canberra Hospital Foundation and Canberra Girls Grammar School. Hartland is also a Chief Executive Women member, an MS Angel (philanthropic research for multiple sclerosis), and is on the advisory board of the Brotherhood of St Laurence. They have two adult daughters.