Celia Perkins

Celia Perkins became Deputy Secretary Security and Estate in December 2021 after being appointed as Deputy Secretary Estate and Infrastructure in August 2021.

Celia joined the Department of Defence through the Graduate Development Program in 1994 and has served in a wide range of roles in international and strategic policy and intelligence.

Throughout her career, Celia has contributed to major Defence initiatives including the 1998 Defence Reform Program, the 2000 Defence White Paper, the establishment of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, resolving long-standing security vetting backlogs and implementation of the 2020 Defence Strategic Update and Defence Planning Guidance.

Celia currently leads the Security and Estate Group and is the Estate Capability Manager, delivering infrastructure investment, national service delivery and complex security policy and delivery. Celia has proudly served as the Defence’s Indigenous Champion since 2021.

Celia was promoted to the Senior Executive Service in May 2006. Her key leadership positions have included:

• Counsellor Defence Policy, Australian Embassy Washington 2007–2010
• Assistant Secretary Communication and Media 2011
• Assistant Director General Open Source Centre, Office National Assessments 2011–15
• First Assistant Secretary Defence Security and Vetting Services 2011–15
• First Assistant Secretary Strategic Policy 2019–2021
• Deputy Secretary Estate and Infrastructure, 2021.

Celia has a Bachelor of Arts (Communication) (University of Canberra, 1993) and a Master of Public Policy (Australian National University, 2000). She has completed senior leadership programs including the Oxford Advanced Management and Leadership program (OAMLP) (2017) and the Harvard Kennedy School Senior Leaders in National Security program (2009).