Research, policy and advocacy team

The BSL Research, Policy and Advocacy portfolio includes staff who possess both international and national social policy and research experience.

We conduct research across a wide range of issues including employment, education and training; energy equity; early years, children and families; and income and social security. The team also includes honorary research and policy associates, specialist social policy librarians as well as administrative staff.

Together we strive to create knowledge and build evidence that seeds new approaches to social policy, programs and practice that help shape a better future for people and communities experiencing poverty, inequity and social exclusion.

Research, Policy and Advocacy Leadership Team

  • Nicole Bieske  Director
  • Ismo Rama  Principal, Policy and Strategic Projects
  • Dina Bowman Principal, Work and Economic Security and Honorary Principal Fellow, University of Melbourne
    – Economic security; social security; financial wellbeing; work; poverty
  • Katy Cornwell  Head, Impact and Learning
  • Kira Clarke Principal, Employment, Education and Training
    – Youth transitions; vocational education and training (VET); post-compulsory education; practitioner research; initial teacher education; education policy
  • Damian Sullivan Principal, Climate Change and Energy
    – Climate change; energy affordability; energy efficiency; sustainability

    Specialist staff

    • Shanshan He, Executive Administration Assistant
    • Alex Bishop, Research Editor

    Researchers and policy advisors

    Policy and strategic projects

    Government relations and advocacy

    • Hutch Hussein, Senior Manager, Government Relations and Advocacy
    • David Donaldson, Government Engagement Advisor

    Work and economic security

    • Emily Porter Senior Research Fellow
      – Financial inclusion; economic security; financial stress
    • Margaret Kabare Senior Research Officer
    • – Women’s economic security
    • Kelly Bowey  Policy Advisor
      – Social security; employment services; financial wellbeing

    Climate change, energy and equity

    • David Bryant Senior Research and Policy Officer
      – Climate change; energy affordability; energy efficiency; sustainability
    • Victoria Johnson Project Manager
      – Energy efficiency
    • Anna Semmens Research Assistant

    Employment, education and training

    • Reana Cazar  Senior Research Officer
    • Eliza Cotton Senior Research Officer
    • Madeleine Morey Senior Research Officer
      – Vocational education reform; social research methods
    • David Longley Senior Research Officer
      – Vocational education; skills and training; apprenticeships; ‘clean’ skills
    • Jonathan Drew  Research Officer
    • Katrina Hart Research Officer

    Impact and learning

    • Jayne Pilkinton Senior Manager MEL
    • Tracey Pahor Senior Officer, Evidence and learning 
      – Early years; inclusion
    • Louise Mooney Senior Manager, Evidence and learning
      – Employment, education and training; inclusion
    • Sharon Bond Senior Evidence and Learning Officer
      – Employment, education and training; inclusion
    • Tim Gilley Senior Research Officer