Australian work includes a financial audit of the Northern Territory, a national inquiry into builders warranty insurance, a major report on the financial sustainability of local government in NSW and individual reviews of eight local councils.
In 1996 Percy was awarded an Order of Australia for his contribution to public sector reform while he was Secretary (Head) of the NSW Treasury between 1985 and 1994.
After leaving Treasury he was Finance Director of Boral Ltd, one of Australia’s largest building materials companies, from 1994 to 1996 where he overhauled the group’s financial management.
From 1999 – 2007 he chaired the NSW Premier’s Council on the Cost and Quality of Government that reviewed the management capacity and performance of 25 state government departments.
He is a Visiting Professor at the Macquarie Graduate School of Management, one of Australia’s leading business schools and was recently appointed National President of the Australian Institute of Public Administration, the professional body of the national, state and local government sectors.
He also founded and chairs the Reform Club, a non-partisan public policy forum sponsored by the ASX that meets quarterly to hear and question senior ministers and officials about their plans for improving public services.