[1][2][3] Hazell was educated at the Anglican Church Grammar School and the University of Queensland,[4][5] gaining a Bachelor of Arts degree with Honours.
As Head of the Office of Ceremonial and Hospitality, he supervised many arrangements, including the Australian Bicentenary celebrations in 1988, and he was the Commonwealth Director of Royal Visits to Australia.
In August 2008, there was considerable media comment when it was revealed that Jeffery's successor-designate, Quentin Bryce, had decided that she would appoint Stephen Brady as her Official Secretary when she took office on 5 September.
This meant that Hazell's job would be ending and, although he made no public comment, he was reported to be "distraught" when informed of the matter three weeks earlier by the Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Terry Moran.
"[11] He received the insignia of the award from the current Governor-General, Ms Quentin Bryce, at an investiture at Government House, Canberra on 7 September 2009.