Ms Patricia Turner is currently Deputy Chief Executive Director, Centrelink responsible for Customer Service. Prior to commencing with Centrelink, Patricia worked with the Commonwealth Department of Health and Aged Care as Head of the Regulatory Reform Taskforce reviewing the administrative arrangements for public health and safety regulation at the federal level.

Patricia has a long and varied career in the Australian Public Service with over 23 years experience. She has been in the senior executive ranks since 1985. She was the CEO of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission for 4 years from 1994-1998. Patricia worked as Deputy Secretary in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet during 1991-92 oversighting the establishment of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation and with responsibility for the Office of the Status of Women among other matters. Patricia did have a change from public administration when for 18 months in 1998-99 she held the position of Monash Chair in Australia Studies at Georgetown University in Washington DC, USA.

She was awarded the Order of Australia for public service in 1990 and has a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Canberra