Adj. Professor John Skerritt joined the Department of Health in 2012 as a Deputy Secretary. Apart from being part of the Executive team of Australia’s National Health Department, he also has line responsibility for Australia’s medicines and medical device regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration and the Office of Drug Control.  He was one of the architects of Australia’s regulatory scheme for cultivation, manufacture and patient access to medicinal cannabis products.

John is an Adjunct Full Professor at the Universities of Sydney, Canberra and Queensland, has First Class Honours, University Medal and a PhD in pharmacology. Skerritt is the author of almost 300 publications and 10 patents.  Adj Prof Skerritt is a graduate of the Senior Executive Programs of London Business School and of the International Institute for Management Development in Switzerland. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering and a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration of Australia (Vic). In 2012 he was the world-wide winner of the Rotary International “Global Alumni Service to Humanity Award”.