**Veteran public servant Simon Kennedy will retire this fall.**

Simon Kennedy, who served in the federal government for 34 years under six prime ministers, will retire this month, The Logic’s Murad Hemmadi reported. The current deputy minister of innovation is stepping down after five years in that role, having overseen key initiatives including the response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the development of a domestic electric vehicle supply chain and the implementation of industrial policies under Liberal ministers. “It’s been a privilege to have the roles I’ve had,” Kennedy told The Logic, adding he had always planned to retire this fall.