Crystal has worked in the APS since 2001 in the social services and environment portfolios. For over 15 years she has led various domestic and international environment policy programs such as chemical policy, biodiversity policy and natural capital accounting policy. In partnership with the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Crystal recently led the development of Australia’s first national ocean ecosystem account and co-chaired the United Nations working group advancing global ocean accounting standards.

Crystal’s PhD research explores what is ‘critical natural capital’ in Australia’s environmental and socio-economic context, the way Australia’s essential economic products and services depend on nature, and options for protecting critical natural capital in law and policy. She is particularly interested in how critical natural capital dependency can be reflected in Australia’s system of national accounts. Crystal’s research aims to support governments to understand and address natural capital dependency risk.

Kathryn is a business, governance, and research professional with over 20 years’ experience across the public and tertiary education sectors. She has implemented initiatives and led successful outcomes across diverse research, technology, strategic planning and policy, governance, and service delivery environments. Prior to commencing as a Sir Roland Wilson Scholar, she was the Director Governance within Headquarters Joint Operations Command.

Kathryn’s PhD research program examines the phenomenon of flexible work. Flexible working has burgeoned in recent decades and the COVID-19 pandemic catapulted its status to normative work method, at least temporarily if not permanently. As employers and employees navigate complex social expectations and environments, the mutual gains stemming from flexible work are increasingly valuable to the APS, individuals and businesses, and broader society. Kathryn’s research explores flexible working holistically to better understand how it is changing and how it affects workforce participation and career advancement.

Natalie has held a variety of roles across the Commonwealth and NSW public service. She has a strong interest in health and leadership, and is passionate about the development and implementation of programs that provide the best outcomes for all people but particularly Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples. 

In 2009, the National Health and Hospital Reform Commission released a report including 123 recommendations across four themes. The recommendations included substantial reforms to the structure, governance, and funding of Australia's health care system. The government's response the following year supported or noted 122 of the 123 recommendations. One recommendation was rejected - the recommendation to establish a National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders Health Authority. This came within a year of Australia's endorsement of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), a declaration which foregrounds the right of Indigenous peoples to self-determination.   

The decision to reject the establishment of the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Health Authority appears to be in contradiction to other decisions made in the relation to Indigenous affairs at the time. This research seeks to understand why this reform to facilitate Indigenous self-determination within the Australian hospital system failed to be implemented. It investigates potential structures that might facilitate Indigenous self-determination in the hospital system in Australia, and the reform processes that might be needed to realise them.