Cheryl Johnson was appointed as the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade’s (DFAT’s) Assistant Secretary, NGO and Volunteers Branch in February 2019. She is responsible for the Australian Volunteers Program, the Australian NGO Cooperation Program and the Australian Aid Friendship Grants.
Previously, Cheryl was responsible for the Australia Awards and Alumni Branch, where she worked on the Australia Awards Global Program Strategy. This provides high quality education opportunities for overseas partners in 80 developing countries.
Cheryl has also held senior roles with the Australian Agency for International Development (AusAID). She led the agency’s business change program in 2013 and, prior to that, led the delivery of the Australian Civilian Corps. The Corps was formed in 2011 to bridge the gap between emergency relief and long-term recovery programs following disaster and conflict.
Cheryl has broad public experience that has been focused on development, national security policy following the events of 9/11, infrastructure, and health.