From 1968 to 1981, Evans held positions in overseas postings. Evans was appointed to his first
Secretary role in 1986, as head of the
Department of Resources and Energy (later
Department of Primary Industries and Energy).
Bob Hawke proposed Evans for the role of Secretary of the
Department of Transport and Communications in 1988. Evans continued on as Secretary of the
Department of Transport when the Transport and Communications mega department was split into two. In 1992 Evans brought defamation proceedings to the ACT Supreme Court against
John Fairfax Group over an article titled "Cosy in the Corridors of Power" that had appeared in the
Sydney Morning Herald in April 1990. Evans claimed that the article implied his success in the public service was because of the patronage of former Prime Minister Bob Hawke. His action was dismissed in the ACT Supreme court in February 1993 and his appeal was rejected in the
Federal Court in May 1994. Evans retired from a 27-year career in the
Australian Public Service in 1995, at which time he was appointed to the Board of
Australia Post. In 1995 he was also appointed the head of external affairs at
BHP, a position which he held until 2005. ==Awards==