Stephen Oxley is the First Assistant Secretary, Wildlife, Heritage and Marine Division, at the Department of the Environment. In this role, he has oversight of a broad spectrum of policy advisory and legislative responsibilities, including implementation of Australia’s obligations under a number of biodiversity treaties. Mr Oxley led the development of Australia’s national network of marine protected areas in Commonwealth waters and the development of marine bioregional plans under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act.
Mr Oxley has extensive experience across a range of Australian Government portfolios, including agriculture, sustainable natural resource management, transport, regional services, renewable energy, energy efficiency and Indigenous affairs. Mr Oxley also has a decade of experience working as federal ministerial adviser. He is a trained journalist who specialized in national agri-political affairs before moving into the public sector. He holds tertiary qualifications in agriculture.