Dr Col Gellatly commenced his public sector career in 1968. During this time he earned a Degree in Agricultural Economics at the University of New England, followed by a Master of Commerce from the University of NSW and a PhD from the North Carolina State University in the 1970's.
In 1994, Dr Gellatly was appointed Director General of the NSW Premier's Department. Dr Gellatly has been, and is, a member of a diverse range of boards and committees in the areas of public sector management, industrial relations, employment, vocational education and training, superannuation, land and water resource management and government administration.
In November 1997, Dr Gellatly was appointed a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration, Australia in recognition of his outstanding contribution to public sector management in NSW