AFRICA CABINET GOVERNMENT NETWORK - Key Persons
Mark has more than 20 years experience in Cabinet processes and policy development.
Dr Johnston spent a decade with the Australian Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet in various senior positions. In these roles he provided policy advice to the Prime Minister; supervised the preparation of Cabinet submissions; attended Federal Cabinet meetings and drafted Cabinet decisions; coordinated the implementation of Cabinet decisions by line Ministries; and convened many Government task forces and interdepartmental committees.
Since then he has worked with Cabinet Secretariats in many African and Asian countries, including Libya, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Egypt and the new state of South Sudan, as well as Thailand, Vietnam and Afghanistan. He has also worked with central agencies in Mongolia, Tajikistan, Pakistan, India, Ethiopia and Timor-Leste.
His work with Cabinet Secretariats has focused on improving policy development and coordination and increasing the capacity of Cabinets to make evidence-based policy decisions, especially on cross-cutting issues. He has helped revise Cabinet procedures manuals and trained Cabinet Ministers, secretariat staff and policy advisers in line ministries.
Job Titles:
- Head
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Secretary
- President, Council of African Cabinet Secretaries / Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, Sierra Leone
Dr. Ernest Surrur, Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service, Sierra Leone
Dr Surrur has been a civil servant in Sierra Leone since 1980 holding many senior positions, including Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Presidential Affairs and Director-General of the Human Resource Management Office. He has been Permanent Secretary in the Ministries of Health, Trade and Industry, Transport and Communications and Development and Economic Planning. He has also held a range of senior positions in all districts (provinces).
Dr Surrur was appointed to his current position in March 2013 and has already initiated a review of the procedures of the Cabinet, which is expected to lead to a new Cabinet Manual, replacing one mostly dating back to the 1960s. Priority issues in this review include evidence-based Cabinet Memoranda, more efficient use of Ministers' time and establishment of an effective system of Cabinet standing committees. He is strengthening the role and capacity of the Cabinet Secretariat, as well as its links with line Ministries.
Combining the roles of Secretary to the Cabinet and Head of the Civil Service provides Dr Surrur with opportunities to improve coordination and implementation of Cabinet decisions, as well as improving the performance of the civil service and the working relationships between Ministers and senior civil servants.
He has a PhD in Public Administration from the Africa Graduate University, Uganda, as well as Bachelor of Education and Master of Public Sector Management degrees.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Chief Secretary Malawi
- Vice President ( Southern Africa ) : Chief Secretary to the Cabinet, Malawi
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Public Service, Uganda
- Vice President ( Easst Africa ) : Cabinet Secretary and Head of the Public Service, Uganda
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
- Cabinet Secretary, Ghana
- Vice President ( East Africa ) : Cabinet Secretary, Ghana