The education guru tasked with reforming Australia's national curriculum by the federal government was previously employed by tobacco firm Phillip Morris to design a school program teaching children about peer pressure and decision making that did not discuss the health dangers of smoking.

The material, which was given to more than 1500 children in Australia and New Zealand, instead encouraged students to make their own decisions about doing ''something wrong'' including smoking (later versions of the guide, including an Aboriginal version, included discussion of the harmful impacts of smoking).

Said he has never hidden his work for tobacco firm Phillip Morris: Dr Kevin Donnelly. Credit:Jeffrey Glorfeld

On Friday, the material's author, Kevin Donnelly, was announced by Education Minister Christopher Pyne as one of two men to review Australia's national schools curriculum.

The other is University of Queensland Professor Ken Wiltshire.