Policy Lead

• Oct 2021 - Present

Policy Adviser

• Nov 2020 - Oct 2021

Senior Policy Adviser

• Aug 2016 - Nov 2020

Lecturer in Economics; ANU (Crawford) - UPNG Partnership Coordinator

• Mar 2015 - Aug 2016

• As a subset element of the Pacific Leadership and Governance Precinct, developed the partnership between the ANU Crawford School of Public Policy and UPNG’s School of Business Administration to expand capacity and improve quality in economics and public policy, particularly in teaching, research, and public outreach• Undertaking full course restructure and curriculum review of the Economics Degree, including Open College curriculum• Jointly developed and now negotiating the contract for a broader program of ANU support for UPNG, including ANU faculty recruitment and placement at UPNG, staff and student exchanges, access to learning resources, scholarship-support, and other measures• Jointly organised the PNG Update, the premier annual economics and public policy conference in PNG• Co-authored the keynote Economic Update Paper (forthcoming), that was presented at the PNG Update• Lectured in International Economics and Development Economics

Visiting Fellow

• Mar 2015 - Jul 2016

https://devpolicy.crawford.anu.edu.au/people/#acton-tabs-link--qt-devpolicy_2015_people_tabs-ui-tabs2

Lecturer / Research Project Administrator

• Jul 2010 - Mar 2015

~ Managed and undertook research for the following projects: o Economic Research Institute of ASEAN (ERIA)-funded project on ‘Services liberalisation and Free Trade Agreements’ o AusAID-funded Public Sector Linkages Program on ‘Structural reform, services and logistics – building policy making capacity in APEC’, culminating in a three-week workshop visit by academic and ministry officials from the Indonesian Ministry of Trade, the Beijing University of International Business and Economics, and the Chinese Ministry of Commerce ~ Managed four international economics workshops (including the 2011 Econometric Society Australasian Meeting with over 200 attendees) and two annual academic recruitment rounds ~ Lectured and/or played a coordinating role in the following subjects: o Development Economics (at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels) o Managing Conflict in the Developing World o Economic Principles (postgraduate) o Business and Economic Statistics o Introduction to International Politics o State of the World: Poverty, Governance and Justice ~ Tutored in Introduction to Development Studies, International Trade, Human Rights & Postcolonial Issues

Short-Term Consultant

• Feb 2014 - Sep 2014

• Composed a situational assessment report for the Government of Australia on how aid-for-trade and donor-private partnerships (‘PPPs’) could be applied through the Australian aid program, especially within the issue areas of agriculture, rural development and food security • Undertook a market assessment and entry strategy on the Australian aid sector for CARANA • Composed a situational assessment report for the Government of Australia on how aid-for-trade and donor-private partnerships (‘PPPs’) could be applied through the Australian aid program, especially within the issue areas of agriculture, rural development and food security • Undertook a market assessment and entry strategy on the Australian aid sector for CARANA

Programme Assistant

• Oct 2013 - Jan 2014

Liaised with policymakers, academics, and think-tank experts, conducted research, and provided strategic diplomatic advice for major international clients, including the National Syrian Coalition, the Polisario Front in Western Sahara, Somaliland, South Sudan, USTPAC, and the Marshall Islands Liaised with policymakers, academics, and think-tank experts, conducted research, and provided strategic diplomatic advice for major international clients, including the National Syrian Coalition, the Polisario Front in Western Sahara, Somaliland, South Sudan, USTPAC, and the Marshall Islands

Consultant

• Oct 2012 - Jul 2013

Conducted analytical research and writing for the OECD / WTO publication, Aid for Trade at a Glance 2013 Conducted analytical research and writing for the OECD / WTO publication, Aid for Trade at a Glance 2013

Teaching Assistant

• Aug 2012 - Jan 2013

Teaching assistant in the subject of Microeconomics (intermediate level) Teaching assistant in the subject of Microeconomics (intermediate level)

Project Manager

• Jun 2010 - Aug 2010

Project and business development manager for UNIFEM and AusAID international aid projects Project and business development manager for UNIFEM and AusAID international aid projects

Part-Time Teaching Lecturer

• Feb 2010 - Jun 2010

Tutored classes in The Global Economy Tutored classes in The Global Economy

Personal Research Assistant

• Feb 2010 - Jun 2010

- Internship with former Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, President Emeritus of the International Crisis Group, Co-chair of the Internat’l Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament - Undertook speechwriting, drafting of book chapters and articles on various international relations policy issues, website management and various administrative duties - Internship with former Australian Minister for Foreign Affairs, President Emeritus of the International Crisis Group, Co-chair of the Internat’l Commission on Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Disarmament - Undertook speechwriting, drafting of book chapters and articles on various international relations policy issues, website management and various administrative duties

Project Manager / Knowledge Manager

• Jan 2009 - Jan 2010

- Project-managed key components within six large AusAID PNG programs- Managed the company’s knowledge management initiative across all programs- The knowledge management initiative was to share information and knowledge between theprograms on successes, challenges and lessons learnt. Required strong relationship-building andmediating; tools included targeted research and writing discussion papers, inductions, websitemanagement, and coordination meetings

Impact Analyst

• Oct 2008 - Jan 2009

- Undertook an impact analysis as component of the monitoring and evaluation of the AusAID-fundedpost-disaster Nias Reconstruction Program. The program involved the construction of sub-districtoffices and village-level infrastructure across the South Nias district, an area badly hit by both theBoxing Day Tsunami and Nias Earthquake- Presided over village meetings and interviews in scores of geographically remote hamlets.Collected and analysed program data, compiled extensive case studies to provide support toanalysis and drew final conclusions, all culminating in a written publication

Project Manager / Technical Services Coordinator

• May 2006 - Sep 2008

- Project manager of the Philippines-Australia Human Resource Development Facility (PAHRDF), afacility-model program that aimed to build capacity within key institutions in the Philippines throughtargeted human resource development [contract value AUD 25 million+]- Provided legal support to the Operations division with a focus on contract, corporation and labourlaw, including regular legal research and leading large contract amendments and extensions- Project manager for Australian Assistance to the Iraqi Justice System, which included mobilising acriminal investigator to Baghdad to train Iraqi counterparts [contract value AUD 200,000+]Undertook secondment on an internal Knowledge Management project for the company-wide rolloutof Microsoft SharePoint 2007- Provided logistical support both corporately and for other AusAID Asia-Pacific projects

Parliamentary Researcher

• Jul 2005 - Nov 2005

- Undertook research and compiled presentations on many trade-related topics, including: ecommerce and its relation to Free Trade Agreements and the GATS (which were then used in preliminary negotiations with the Chinese for an Australia-China FTA); globalisation’s effect upon world capital markets; and trade capacity-building in small Asian economies - Assisted preparation of the Chinese Mayoral Tour, a visit of 22 provincial mayors with a focus on local governance, urban design, and business