{{Short description|Australian teacher and public servant}} {{Use Australian English|date=February 2016}} {{Use dmy dates|date=February 2016}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Michele Bruniges | honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=AUS|size=100|AO}} | image = | image_size = | caption = | office = Secretary of the Department of Education, Skills and Employment | term_start = 4 April 2016 | term_end = 4 April 2023 | predecessor = Lisa Paul | birth_name = Michele Denise Henrick | birth_date = | birth_place = Tumut, New South Wales, Australia | death_date = | death_place = | occupation = Public servant | years_active = | website = | parents = | siblings = | spouse = Paul Bruniges | alma_mater = University of New South Wales | children = | successor = Tony Cook PSM }} '''Michele Denise Bruniges''' {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AO}} is an Australian teacher and education administrator. In April 2016 she began her role as secretary of the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.
Bruniges has a doctorate of philosophy in educational measurement and a master's degree in education from the University of New South Wales, and a graduate diploma in educational studies and a diploma in teaching from the Goulburn College of Advanced Education.
==Career== Bruniges began her teaching career in 1980 at Leppington Public School prior to becoming a high school teacher of mathematics and computing at St Johns Park High School and Ingleburn High School. She also taught in TAFE NSW and the Adult Migrant Education Service.<ref name="DEC">{{cite web|title=New director-general of education appointed|url=http://www.dec.nsw.gov.au/about-us/news-at-det/news/new-directorgeneral-of-education-appointed|work=dec.nsw.gov.au|access-date=29 October 2012|date=12 July 2011}}</ref>
From 2005 to 2008, Bruniges was chief executive of the ACT Department of Education and Training. She held various federal positions with the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations (DEEWR), including deputy secretary for the Office of Early Childhood Education and Child Care; and deputy secretary, Schools and Associate Secretary, Schools and Youth.
She was appointed as director-general of the NSW Department of Education and Training in July 2011 and commenced on 7 September 2011.<ref name="ACER">{{cite web|title=Dr Michele Bruniges|url=http://www.acer.edu.au/research-conference/speakers/michele-bruniges/|work=acer.edu.au|access-date=29 October 2012}}</ref>
From 2012 to 2015, Bruniges was also an honorary adjunct professor of education in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences at the University of New South Wales.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.arts.unsw.edu.au/newsroom/articles/director-general-of-education-joins-unsw/|title=Director-General of Education joins UNSW|work=UNSW}}</ref>
In March 2016, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced Bruniges' appointment as the secretary of the Australian Government Department of Education and Training.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/malcolm-turnbull-announces-new-secretaries-for-three-public-service-departments-20160310-gnfm1g.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310071945/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/malcolm-turnbull-announces-new-secretaries-for-three-public-service-departments-20160310-gnfm1g.html|archive-date=10 March 2016|newspaper=The Canberra Times|publisher=Fairfax Media|title=Malcolm Turnbull announces secretaries for three public service departments|date=10 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite press release|url=http://www.malcolmturnbull.com.au/media/dr-michele-bruniges-am|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310072104/http://www.malcolmturnbull.com.au/media/dr-michele-bruniges-am|archive-date=10 March 2016|first=Malcolm|last=Turnbull|author-link=Malcolm Turnbull|title=Dr Michele Bruniges AM|date=10 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.themandarin.com.au/61669-nsw-education-boss-takes-federal-secretary-role-canberra/?pgnc=1|title=NSW Education boss takes federal secretary role in Canberra|newspaper=The Mandarin|date=10 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/turnbull-governments-new-education-chief-strong-gonski-backer-20160310-gnfqwb.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310210542/http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/turnbull-governments-new-education-chief-strong-gonski-backer-20160310-gnfqwb.html|archive-date=10 March 2016|title=Turnbull government's new education chief strong Gonski backer|first=Matthew|last=Knott|date=10 March 2016|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media}}</ref> Since February 2020, the department has been known as Department of Education, Skills and Employment. The department is now known as the Department of Education. Bruniges finished her tenure on 4 April 2023 and was replaced by Tony Cook.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Appointment of new Secretary of the Department of Education {{!}} Prime Minister of Australia |url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/appointment-new-secretary-department-education |access-date=2023-08-14 |website=www.pm.gov.au}}</ref>
Since July 2023, Bruniges has been the Chair of the Board and a non-executive director at the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Michele Bruniges |url=https://www.aitsl.edu.au/about-aitsl/directors/michele-bruniges |access-date=2025-09-09 |website=AITSL |language=en}}</ref>
==Honours== *Officer of the Order of Australia (AO), 26 January 2026. :For distinguished service to public administration, to education policy and teaching practice, and to addressing educational disadvantage.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Dr Michele Denise Bruniges|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/3069644|access-date=2026-01-25|website=Australian Honours Search Facility}}</ref> *Member of the Order of Australia (AM), 26 January 2012. :For service to public administration through executive roles, and as a contributor to reform in the education sector at state and national levels.<ref>{{cite web|title=BRUNIGES, Michele Denise|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/1145684|work=itsanhonour.gov.au|access-date=27 October 2012|date=26 January 2012}}</ref> *Presidential Citation, Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL), 2011. :For high level leadership of public education.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dr Michele Bruniges|url=http://www.acer.edu.au/research-conference/speakers/michele-bruniges/|work=acer.edu.au|access-date=27 October 2012}}</ref> *Fellow of the Australian College of Educators (FACE), 2009. :For a distinguished career in educational leadership and management and in particular valued and well respected contributions to school education sustained over many years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Dr Michele Bruniges FACE|url=http://austcolled.com.au/awardwinner/fellowship-face/2009/1697|work=austcolled.com.au|access-date=27 October 2012}}</ref> *Churchill Fellowship, 2000. :To investigate ways to monitor, analyse and report progress in student achievement in the US and The Netherlands.<ref>{{cite web|title=Ms Michele Bruniges|url=http://apply.churchilltrust.com.au/fellows/detail/2371/|work=churchilltrust.com.au|access-date=27 October 2012}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist|30em}}
{{s-start}} {{s-gov}} {{s-bef | before = Lisa Paul }} {{s-ttl | title = Secretary of the <br>Department of Education, Skills and Employment | years = 2016–2023 }} {{s-aft | after = Tony Cook }} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bruniges, Michele}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Officers of the Order of Australia Category:Schoolteachers from New South Wales Category:Computer science educators Category:Australian mathematics educators Category:Australian women educators Category:University of New South Wales alumni Category:Secretaries of the Australian Government Education Department Category:People from Tumut