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Our Scholars – Current

an image of Kate Pennington
Sir Roland Wilson Scholarship 2022

Kate Pennington

Department of Health and Aged Care

Australian National University

PhD title: Planning for an influenza pandemic and responding to a COVID-19 pandemic

Kate is an epidemiologist and has been working at the Department of Health and Aged Care since 2008. Between 2020 and 2021, she worked in the National Incident Centre leading a team of epidemiologists and data analysts to provide evidence-based advice and to support public health response policies to the COVID-19 pandemic. Prior to this, she worked on several other communicable diseases, including influenza, to support the formulation of responsive and effective public health policies and programs across government.

Through her PhD research Kate will examine the applicability of previous pandemic planning assumptions to the epidemiology and public health response for COVID-19. She will also evaluate the role of surveillance and modelling during the COVID-19 response, particularly in Australia, and identify key evidence requirements to enhance public health decision making during future pandemics.

Supervisor:
Professor Kathryn Glass
  • Pennington, K, Bareja, C, Sullivan, S G, Franklin, L J and Raupach J 2016, ‘Editorial – Influenza surveillance in Australia’, Communicable Diseases Intelligence, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 315-316.
  • Sullivan, S G, Franklin, L J, Raupach, J, Pennington, K, Bareja, C, de Kluyver, R & National Influenza Surveillance Committee 2016, ‘A brief overview of influenza surveillance systems in Australia, 2015’, Communicable Diseases Intelligence, Vol. 40, No. 3, pp. 347-351.
  • Pennington K, Owen R and Mun J 2017, ‘Annual Report of the National Influenza Surveillance Scheme, 2009’, Communicable Diseases Intelligence, Vol. 41, No, 4, pp. 383-454
Picture of Emily Pugin
SRW Pat Turner Scholarship Graduated 2022

Emily Pugin

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

Australian National University

Master of Public Policy

Emily Pugin is a Kombumerri woman from the Gold Coast, Queensland. She joined the Department of Foreign Affairs & Trade (DFAT) in 2013 and has worked across Australia’s foreign policy, international development, multilateral and trade portfolios. Most recently, Emily was posted as a diplomat to Australia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in Vienna, Austria, where she had a range of multilateral and bilateral responsibilities to advance Australia’s interests. Emily lead Australia’s engagement at the UN Office on Drugs and Crime where she negotiated international drugs policy and represented Australia at the Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe, which covers a range of global security issues. Emily has also managed Australia’s bilateral relationships with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo and Slovakia. Emily is undertaking a Master of Public Policy at ANU’s Crawford School and will return to DFAT upon completion to further her contribution to the development and implementation of Australia’s foreign policy.

Andrew Perusco
Sir Roland Wilson Scholarship 2023

Andrew Perusco

Department of Health and Aged Care

The Australian National University

PhD title: Why has Australia failed to implement tobacco endgame policies and what might precipitate policy adoption? Applied policy process research on tobacco endgame policies for Australia

Andrew Perusco is a tobacco control policy and program specialist with over 20 years’ experience in the Commonwealth and NSW public services. Andrew has made significant contributions to tobacco control policy and program implementation, including leading: policy development and program implementation for the Tackling Indigenous Smoking program from 2016 to 2020; development of the National Tobacco Strategy 2012-2018; national policy approaches for electronic cigarettes; and planning, implementation and evaluation of the seminal Arabic-speakers tobacco control project in southwest Sydney.

Andrew is placed at the National Centre for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Wellbeing Research, Australian National University and his research is affiliated with the National Health and Medical Research Council, Centre for Research Excellence in Achieving the Tobacco Endgame. Andrew’s research explores why tobacco endgame measures have not been incorporated into Australia’s tobacco control policies, and what might precipitate adoption.

Supervisor:
Associate Professor Raglan Maddox

Eccles, J, Knowlden, S, Rich, D, Perusco, A, Matthews, D, Grootemaat, P & Williams, M 2006, ‘The Clean Air for All Project: Managing nicotine dependence in two mental health units in Sydney South West’. NSW Department of Health, Sydney.

Perusco, A, Poder, N, Millen, E, Hawkshaw,,B, Hua, M 2006, ‘Developing a social marketing campaign on tobacco use for Arabic-speakers in southwest Sydney’. Research and Ethics Conference. Sydney: Liverpool Hospital.

Perusco, A, Rikard-Bell, G, Mohsin, M, Millen, E, Sabry, M, Poder, N, Williams, M, Farag, L, Hua, M, & Guirguis, S 2007, ‘Priorities for tobacco control for Arabic-speakers: key findings from a baseline telephone survey of Arabic-speakers residing in southwest Sydney’. Health Promotion Journal of Australia. Vol. 18 No. 2 pp. 121-126.

Carroll, T, Poder, N & Perusco, A 2008, ‘Is concern about waterpipe tobacco warranted?’ Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health. Vol. 32, No. 2, pp. 181-182.

Perusco, A, Mohsin, M, Poder,,N, Hua, M, Millen, E, Sabry, M, Williams, M & Guirguis, S 2008, ‘Evaluation of the Arabic tobacco control project Ma’feesh cigara men gheir khosara’. Health Promotion Symposium November 3-4, Sydney: Australian Health Promotion Association.

Ahasan, N, Dunkerley, N, O’Brien, J & Perusco, A 2008, ‘Wesley Mission Sadleir pilot tobacco project: revolutionising smoking norms within a residential drug rehabilitation setting’. Health Promotion Symposium, November 3-4, Sydney: Australian Health Promotion Association.

Poder, N, Perusco, A, Carroll, T, Birkett, J & Kiss, A 2008, ‘Waterpipe smoking in an Arabic-speaking population in Sydney’. Diversity in Health Conference, March 10-12, Sydney.

Perusco, A, Mohsin, M, Poder, N, Hua, M, Millen, E, Sabry, M, Williams, M & Guirguis S 2008, ‘Evaluation of the Arabic tobacco control project Ma’feesh cigara men gheir khosara’. Population Health Congress, July 6-9, Brisbane: Public Health Association Australia.

Perusco, A, Poder, N, Mohsin, M, Rikard-Bell, G, Rissel, C, Williams, M, Hua, M, Millen, E, Sabry, M & Guirguis, S 2010, ‘Evaluation of a comprehensive tobacco control project targeting Arabic-speakers residing in south west Sydney, Australia’. Health Promotion International. Vol. 25, No. 2, pp. 153-165.

Gartner, CE, Wright, A, Hefler, M, Perusco, A & Hoek, J 2021, ‘It is time for governments to support retailers in the transition to a smoke-free society’. Med J Aust. Vol. 215, No. 10, pp. 446-448.

Puljević, C, Morphett, K, Hefler, M, Edwards, R et al. 2022, ‘Closing the gaps in tobacco endgame evidence: a scoping review’. Tobacco Control, Vol. 31 No. 2, pp. 365-375.

Perusco, A Holland, A, Maddox, M, Morphett, K, Heris, C & Gartner, C 2022, ‘Justice in Australian tobacco control?’ Population Health Congress, September 21-23, Adelaide: Public Health Association Australia.

Gartner, C, Perusco, A, Heflter, M, Rooney, T-J & Morphett, K 2022, ‘With a new National Tobacco Strategy under development, let’s block Big Tobacco interference’. Croakey Health Media [Blog], Available at: www.croakey.org/with-a-new-national-tobacco-strategy-under-development-lets-block-big-tobacco-interference/

Image of Sir Roland Wilson Pat Turner scholar Tracey Porter
SRW Pat Turner Scholarship 2023

Tracey Porter

Department of Industry, Science and Resources

The Australian National University

Master of Public Policy

Tracey is a proud Gomeroi yinnar hailing from the North West region of New South Wales.

Tracey started within the Australian Public Service in 2019, where she found her niche at the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. In her role within the Research and Development Tax Incentive Division, she provides expert assessment to support company innovation and progress. With a keen eye for detail and a steadfast commitment to excellence, she ensures that cutting-edge ideas are not only nurtured but also strategically harnessed to drive economic growth.

Fuelling her endeavours is an unwavering commitment to positive transformation. Tracey has embarked on a quest for knowledge, pursuing a Master of Public Policy at the Australian National University. Tracey is on a mission to interlace First Nations perspectives into the fabric of both domestic and international policy development. With unwavering determination and a profound understanding of cultural nuances, she aspires to forge a more inclusive and equitable future.

Monty Pounder
Sir Roland Wilson Scholarship 2023

Monty Pounder

Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade

The Australian National University

PhD title: Indonesian defence policy in an era of strategic competition

Monty is on leave from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), where his last assignment was as deputy head of mission in Baghdad. He has also previously served with DFAT in Jakarta, Baghdad and New York. In Canberra he has worked on international issues in a range of policy and analytical roles, including most recently on initiatives to advance economic ties with India.

Monty’s PhD research examines Indonesia’s approach to defence policy in an era of increased strategic competition.

Supervisor:
Associate Professor Marcus Mietzner
Image of Sir Roland Wilson Pat Turner scholar Aiden Pearson
SRW Pat Turner Scholarship 2024

Aiden Pearson

Department of Finance

The Australian National University

Master of Project Management

Aiden is a proud Murawari man, who was raised on Wiradjuri country in Dubbo NSW. Aiden commenced his public service career in 2019 at the Department of Agriculture after completing a dual Bachelor of Agribusiness and Applied Science majoring in equine management. He joined the Department of Finance in 2020 in the budget group and has worked across infrastructure, emergency management and home affairs portfolio's where he supported key government responses during COVID-19, the 2022 flood season and more recently on immigration and visa policies.

Aiden aims to use the Master of Project Management from The Australian National University to acquire specialised knowledge and skills in the area of project management to support the implementation of APS-wide project governance, and portfolio management and major projects delivery. Aiden also aspires to support the creation of a dedicated project management stream within the APS to ensure leading edge thinking on management practice, policy design, implementing and evaluating policies is readily available in-house.

Image of Sir Roland Wilson Pat Turner scholar Thaarramali Pearson
SRW Pat Turner Scholarship 2024

Thaarramali Pearson

Department of Employment and Workplace Relations

The Australian National University

Master of Public Administration

Thaarramali Pearson is a Bama Bagarrmuguwarra from the Kalpowar, Jeannie River and Starke region of Cape York.

Thaarramali commenced his public sector career in the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies in early 2016. Since 2018, Thaarramali has been actively involved in shaping significant Commonwealth policies, supporting reforms in apprenticeships from both the central agency and line agency perspectives. Thaarramali’s substantive role is as a Director in the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations, where he develops complex financial and behavioural modelling to inform Australian apprenticeship policy development. Since 2022, Thaarramali has been working remotely from Cape York.

Thaarramali is undertaking a Master of Public Administration (MPA) at the Australian National University. Through the MPA, he intends to broaden his public administration capability and explore potential future research topics relating to Commonwealth budget process and policy development.

 
The Sir Roland Wilson Foundation is a partnership between The Australian National University, Charles Darwin University and the Australian Public Service.