Sir Roland Wilson Foundation

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.

View Mitchell's scholarship summary poster.

Mitchell is a proud Kamilaroi man, born in Tamworth NSW.

Mitchell commenced in the Australian Public Service in 2010, working for Services Australia (formerly Department of Human Services), and was part of the agency’s first intake of the Indigenous Apprenticeship Program. Mitchell’s apprenticeship was front-line service delivery, assisting Australians in accessing essential social welfare payments and services.

After four years, Mitchell relocated from his home community, Tweed Heads NSW, to Canberra to further pursue his public service career. Since moving to Canberra, Mitchell worked in a variety of roles such as: Team Leader of front-line service delivery staff, Assistant Director/Director, leading governance and coordination teams; Departmental Liaison Officer, a conduit between the Minister’s office and Services Australia; Executive Officer, supporting senior executive with strategic and operational matters; Ministerial Adviser, advising Ministers on various portfolio matters. In each role held, Mitchell has advocated for creating opportunities for Indigenous people.

Mitchell has a passion for leadership and commenced in the Pat Turner Scholarship Program in Semester 2 2023, studying a Masters of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, specialising in leadership.

Bec is a proud Wiradjuri woman born and raised In Wagga Wagga NSW. Bec commenced her public service career in 2014, in service delivery at Services Australia. She joined the Department of Environment and Energy as a graduate in 2017 after completing a Bachelor of Environmental Science. She has also worked for the Commonwealth Environmental Water Holder, with a focus on improving Indigenous Engagement and Partnerships in the Murray-Darling Basin. 

Bec aims to use the Master of Arts to gain a better understanding of Indigenous Engagement and Policy development in different contexts across Australia, and use these learnings to support the Australian Public Service to enhance Indigenous engagement practices.

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.

Dana joined the Australian Public Service in 2014, bringing with her over ten years’ experience in social policy and gender equality both domestically and abroad. Dana has worked internationally in the UK, US, Asia and the Pacific for government, non-government organisations, and social enterprise. Outside of her work, Dana has sat on several Boards whose mission is to eradicate gender based violence and to promote gender equality.

Dana’s research will examine Australian fathers' roles in the gender divide in paid work and care. By identifying the prevalence and nature of discrimination and stigma against men with caring responsibilities, Dana hopes to use this as an untapped lever to advance gender equality. Research on the ‘fatherhood penalty’ will significantly help to improve outcomes for working dads, reduce parental work-life conflict, help organisations to manage the future of work, assist Australia to prepare for the increased caring required as a result of our ageing population, address the gender pay gap, and ultimately improve family life for parents and children.

Dana holds a Master of Politics and Public Policy from Macquarie University, a Master of Human Rights from the University of Sydney, a qualifying Masters of Social Work from James Cook University, and a Bachelor of Social Science from Sunshine Coast University. She has been awarded numerous academic medals, a Vice Chancellor's Commendation, and a High Distinction for her Master's thesis on women and gender equality.

View Emily Hitchman's scholarship summary poster.

Emily is a Director in the Department of Home Affairs and has worked across multiple portfolios in the criminal justice and national security policy spaces. In these roles, Emily has advised government on cross-cutting issues such as criminal intelligence, domestic violence, aviation and maritime security, and press freedom. She has also represented Australian cyber policy internationally as part of the delegation negotiating an additional protocol to the Budapest Convention on cybercrime.

Emily’s research examines the strategic function of the Neither Confirm Nor Deny principle, and how its use in the security and intelligence context has evolved in Australia. In so doing, Emily’s research will develop a conceptual understanding of the Neither Confirm Nor Deny principle to support an analysis of how official secrecy can be navigated in the contemporary security context.

Emily holds a Bachelor of Philosophy from the ANU, and was awarded First Class Honours for her research re-examining the cultural inheritance of contemporary metaphysical discourse.

Lynette has worked in the public service for over 30 years in in a range of areas including population health, sport, mental health, disability, aged care, agriculture, family and advocacy services; in both program and policy roles. Lynette has worked overseas, in regional areas and was outposted to state government where she was responsible for fostering closer ties between the Commonwealth and the state. Prior to commencing the scholarship she was overseeing hospital programs at the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Lynette’s research will examine the positive and negative impacts of hybrid work on workers and managers and what they need to ensure these arrangements foster wellbeing, knowledge sharing, team cohesion and productivity. Understanding the advantages and disadvantages of these types of arrangements will help to set best practice public policy for Australian workplaces.

Lynette has previously completed tertiary studies in social work, legal studies, sociology and public health.

Rachel started as an Indigenous Graduate at the Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) in 2007. Since that time, she has held various policy roles throughout DFAT, including a posting and short-term mission to Solomon Islands. Most recently, she has managed the New Colombo Plan (NCP) alumni program and led a number of NCP First Nation initiatives.

Rachel is completing her final year of the Master of Professional Psychology at ANU. She recognises how underrepresented First Nations psychologists are in Australia and particularly the Australian Public Service (APS). On completion of her studies, she hopes to provide cultural support and assistance where needed at the individual level, as well as contributing uniquely to the shaping of Departmental policy and influencing policy more broadly across the APS.

Jennifer is a registered psychologist who commenced work with the Department of Defence in 2001. Between 2001 and 2010 Jennifer undertook the roles of Research Psychologist and Senior Research Psychologist within the Psychology Research and Technology Group, with responsibility for Personnel Selection Research. She was an Australian representative on The Technical Cooperation Program (a collaborative five-nation forum) between 2004 and 2010.  In 2010, Jennifer commenced in the role of Director Navy Psychology, within Navy Health Services. In this role, she managed and oversaw the delivery of psychology services in Navy, in addition to the development of psychology policy and programs.

Jennifer’s PhD research examines Post Traumatic Growth (PTG), following exposure to a traumatic event. This research will measure the level of PTG literacy in an Australian population, in addition to identifying key predictive factors of growth following exposure to trauma. This knowledge will inform the development and subsequent trial of a preventative PTG psychoeducational program to promote growth and wellbeing, in the aftermath of a future traumatic event.