Maurice Walter O'Donnell was born in Sydney on 14 December 1907 and educated at Catholic Boys High School, Lewisham.  He studied part time at Sydney University gaining his degree in Economics in 1942.  In 1924 O'Donnell joined the NSW Railways as a clerk and remained with the Railways for 17 years. 

In 1941 O'Donnell was transferred to the Commonwealth Public Service on loan, taking charge of the Supply and Shipping section of the Department of Munitions (CA 39) during the years 1941-1945.  O'Donnell then officially transferred to the Commonwealth Public Service as a Senior Research Officer in the Department of the Treasury [I] in 1946.  In 1951 he was promoted as Chief Finance Officer of the Commonwealth Sub-Treasury, NSW (CA 1001).  O'Donnell became Assistant Secretary in the General Financial and Economic Branch of Treasury in 1953, moving to Assistant Secretary in the Defence Division (CA 68) of Treasury in Melbourne on 29 September 1955 and returning to the General Financial and Economic Branch of Treasury as First Assistant Secretary on 13 June 1957.  O'Donnell's final promotion was to Deputy Secretary of Treasury on 2 February 1967.

O'Donnell represented Australia on various occasions.  In 1955 he was at the GATT Conference in Geneva and in 1958 he attended the Commonwealth Trade and Economic Conference in Montreal.  From 1966 to 1967 O'Donnell was Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund and International Bank for Reconstruction and Development and represented not only Australia but New Zealand, South Africa and Vietnam.

On 18 December 1952 O'Donnell was appointed as a member of the Australian Broadcasting Commission.  In 1956 he was the Treasury Representative on the organising committee of the Olympic Games in Melbourne.

Together with his Committments in Treasury O'Donnell was Director from 1951 to 1954 of the New Guinea Resources Prospecting Co Ltd, of the Commonwealth Engineering Co Ltd and of the Commonwealth Hostels Ltd (CA 1649).

O'Donnell died suddenly on 1 September 1969.


Sources

Who's Who 1955, 1962, 1968
Federal Guide 1955, 1957
Commonwealth Directory 1958, 1967, 1968
Commonwealth Gazettes

Agency associated with person unregistered

1956     : Organisation of Olympic Games, Melbourne - Commonwealth
           Treasury Representative
1966-1967: International Monetary Fund and International Bank for
           Reconstruction and Development - Representative for
           Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Vietnam