Dr Shergold has spent 20 years in federal public service CEO positions, including the Office of Multicultural Affairs, the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) and Comcare.

He has been the secretary of three federal government departments, including five years from 2003 in the country's most senior public service position, secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.

He is also currently a director of AMP Limited, a professor in the Australian School of Business at the University of NSW and chair of the Centre for Social Impact, a cross-university partnership of the business schools at the University of NSW, Melbourne University and Swinburne University of Technology.

Dr Shergold's term on the Corrs board began this month and he will serve for three years.