• Adelaide

Jim McDowell

Chief Executive, Department of the Premier and Cabinet

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Jim McDowell commenced as Chief Executive of the Department of the Premier and Cabinet in September 2018. As Chief Executive, Jim supports the Premier and Ministers to deliver the government’s vision for South Australia, with a focus on building strong collaborative partnerships across government and with the community and business sectors.

Jim brings a broad experience to the role, from growing up in Belfast to working in the private sector in the USA, Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Saudi Arabia, where he has held many executive, non-executive and advisory roles.

Moving to South Australia in 2001, to establish the Adelaide-based headquarters for BAE Systems Australia, Jim was most recently the Chancellor of the University of South Australia.

Jim serves on the State Government’s Infrastructure South Australia and the Urban Renewal Authority Boards.

Jim is a current board member at the Adelaide Football Club, the Australian Strategic Policy Institute and St Peters College.