Work

In addition to executive coaching, I continue to teach public policy, write and am a frequent media commentator on British politics and climate change. As a Director of Speakers for Schools Australia, I am working to establish this highly successful UK charity here (supporting public school students, schools and teachers by organising talks by eminent professionals).

Leadership, practice, advice Teaching, mentoring, and commentary

Work highlights focussed on leadership, practice, advice include:

2006-2010

Strategic Director of the Copenhagen Climate Council

Working with Professor Tim Flannery to drive greater focus on the need for a more adequate climate treaty:

  • established and led the work of a powerful Council of scientific, business and policy practitioners including Sir Richard Branson, Li Xiaolin (former CEO of China Light and Power Ltd), Sir David King (former UK Chief Scientific Advisor and UK climate change envoy prior to the Paris 2015 agreement) and Lise Kingo (Executive Director of the United Nations Global Compact).

2004-2006

Advisor to British Prime Minister, Tony Blair

Working in the 10 Downing Street Policy Directorate, I had responsibility for advising on all policy relating to sustainability and climate change:

  • led the team engaged in climate negotiations prior to the G8 Summit at Gleneagles;
  • wrote all the Prime Ministers speeches and articles on the climate problem;
  • helped initiate the seminal Stern Review into the Economics of Climate Change, and
  • coordinated the development of the first government wide UK Sustainable Development Strategy.

1995-2004

Senior Policy Advisor to Premier of New South Wales, Bob Carr

Led on a number of strategic priorities:

  • wrote the Premier’s Harbour Foreshore statement protecting foreshore lands from private development;
  • secured unprecedented funding for medical research through the establishment of the NSW Ministry of Science and Medical Research and the visit of actor and stem cell research advocate Christopher Reeve;
  • worked with architects, planners and developers to improve the quality of apartment design through a new State Environmental Planning Policy 65 supported by a model design code;
  • established the most generous high school teacher scholarships in Australia, and
  • advised on climate change and the environment: established the Kyoto Ratification Advisory Group of leading economists and policy makers who analysed the impacts of Kyoto ratification on the NSW economy and helped initiate the NSW Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme (GGAS): one of the first mandatory emissions trading systems in the world.

1992

Research Director for the Carnegie Inquiry into the Third Age

Worked with former UK Cabinet Secretary Sir Kenneth Stowe, now Director of the Institute of Fiscal Studies, Paul Johnson and leading management theorist Charles Handy on the first major study into the societal and policy implications of demographic ageing and the growing number of ‘young old’.

Work highlights focussed on teaching, mentoring, and commentary include:

2016-2019

Associate Professor and Lecturer, the University of Sydney

Developed and taught the two core subjects required to gain a Master of Public Policy (Policy Making Power & Politics and Public Management & Governance) as well as undergraduate courses (on Policy Analysis and Comparative Public Sector Administration). Developed and taught graduate classes on leadership, organisational decision making and management.

Won Dean’s commendations for my teaching in every semester, received in excess of 70 written commendations from students, and two testimonial letters signed and supported by more than 100 of my former graduate and under-graduate students.

Students have progressed to senior roles in the government here and overseas as well as the United Nations. I continue to support and mentor numerous young professionals.

2004-2021

Print, radio and TV commentator

Frequent contributor to the print media with more than forty articles in the Sydney Morning Herald; ABC online and The Conversation on British politics, Brexit and climate policy. Television media commentator on BBC World; Bloomberg News; CNN; the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Channel 7, and Channel 9.

Frequently interviewed on national ABC radio current affairs and news programmes. For the past five years have been the lead commentator and ‘desk expert’ for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s television News Channel on British politics, largely focussing on the UK’s decision to leave the European Union and played a significant part in the live coverage for each British General election in 2015, 2017 and 2019.

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