Having achieved its primary aims, the Evidence Based Policy Research Project (EBPRP) ceased to operate as a separate incorporated voluntary association in NSW in January 2023.
Inspired by the work of EBPRP, the Susan McKinnon Foundation (SMF) drives forward a program of work to support improved governance and greater transparency and accountability on legislative policy.
The former EBPRP’s mission and governance are described below.
Our Mission
The Evidence-Based Policy Research Project promoted evidence and consultation-based public policy making from January 2018 to January 2023 through:
- Facilitating an annual review of the extent to which federal and state legislation meets the standards of that requirement and
- Campaigning for the adoption of a Green and White Paper process for all contentious bills introduced in a parliament or, at least, a Statement of Public Interest to accompany bills tabled in parliament.
Our Governance
The Evidence Based Policy Research Project was founded as a self-running unit of the NewDemocracy Foundation in January 2018.
In early 2021 it left the newDemocracy Foundation to incorporate as a standalone not-for-profit association in the state of New South Wales, Australia.
The association was governed by a Committee of 12 members with senior backgrounds in government, corporate, academic and community organisations.
They were:
Office Bearers:
Professor Percy Allan AM
Chair
Visiting Professor, Institute of Public Governance, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and a former Secretary, NSW Treasury; Chair NSW Treasury Corp; Co-Founder and Chair, FANMAC Ltd (now RESIMAC ); Chief Finance Officer, Boral Ltd; Chair, NSW Premier’s Council on the Cost & Quality of Government and chair of other public and private organisations.
Glenn Barnes
Deputy Chair
Co-Chair of Citizens for Democratic Renewal and as the Governance Editor for IdeaSpies.
Was involved in manufacturing and financial services for over 30 years, as an executive and business leader. He was Executive General Manager of Global Banking and Financial Services in the successful 1990’s leadership team of NAB.
Recently retired as Chairman of Ansell Limited, an ASX100 company, and as Chairman of Australian Unity Limited ending a period of over 20 years as a public company director.
Malcolm Irving AM
Deputy Chair
Director at O’Connell Street Associates Pty Limited whose former positions included being Chair, Macquarie Graduate School of Management, Deputy Chancellor, Macquarie University, Chair, Caltex Ltd and Managing Director of CIBC Australia.
Richard Whitington
Secretary
Freelance writer who was Gough Whitlam’s private secretary both in opposition and in government. He later spent 25 years in marketing and corporate communications, including being Managing Director of Mojo advertising agency. He finished his career with 20 years in executive recruitment and retired in 2019.
Rebecca Bishop
Treasurer
An experienced public policy and financial advisor who has worked for the Wesley Mission, Family and Community Services, IPART and the NSW Treasury.
Other Members:
Sarah Davies AM
Committee Member
CEO of the Alannah & Madeline Foundation, a national organisation that works to create a safer online and offline world for children. Extensive experience in the for-purpose sector, creating positive social change. Adjunct Professor at Swinburne University of Technology; Deputy Chair, Centre for Social Impact; Council Member, National Museum of Australia; Director, Teach for Australia; former CEO of Philanthropy Australia.
Verity Firth
Committee Member
Executive Director, Centre for Social Justice and Inclusion, University of Technology Sydney (UTS) and Co-Chair of the Citizens for Democratic Renewal Project whose career has included being Chief Executive Officer of the Public Education Foundation; Minister for Education and Training; Minister for the Environment; and Minister for Women in the NSW Government.
Russel Grove
Committee Member
Clerk Emeritus of the NSW Legislative Assembly. Retired in 2011 after 21 years in the role. Served during the reign of 12 Premiers and eight Speakers in Australia’s oldest parliament. Worked at Parliament House for 40 years, in all, through more than 2,000 sitting days, and the introduction of more than 6,000 bills. Awarded the Public Service Medal and Centenary of Federation Medal for service to the Parliament.
Professor Janette Hartz-Karp
Committee Member
Emeritus Professor, Curtin University (WA) and Co-Director of Empowering Participation. Expert in deliberative democracy, with widespread experience including Australia’s first Citizens’ Parliament in Canberra and its largest deliberative democracy initiative – Dialogue with the City. Similar exercises in Pune and Bangalore India, Alberta Canada, and Beer Sheva Israel. Also held senior positions in the public sector including in the Senior Executive Service in WA.
Professor Carol Mills
Committee Member
Director, Institute of Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology Sydney and former Secretary, Department of Parliamentary Services; Director-General, Communities NSW; and Director-General, NSW Department of Arts, Sport and Recreation.
Professor Peter Shergold AC
Committee Member
Chancellor, Western Sydney University and Chair, New South Wales Education Standards Authority. He is a former Secretary, Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet; Chair, NSW Public Service Commission; Secretary, Department of Education, Science and Training; Secretary, Department of Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business; Commissioner, The Australian Public Service Commission and CEO, ATSIC.
Martin Stewart-Weeks
Committee Member
Principal, Public Purpose, an independent advisory practice working at the intersection of government, policy, technology and co-author of Are We There Yet? – The Digital Transformation of Government and the Public Service in Australia (2019). He formerly headed the Asia-Pacific public sector consulting and innovation team in Cisco’s Internet Business Solutions Group. Prior to that he held senior positions in both the federal and NSW state governments.
Editorial Panel:
Professor Kenneth Wiltshire AO
Panel Advisor and Author of the Evaluation Criteria
JD Story Professor of Public Administration at the University of Queensland Business School. He has published extensively on comparative federalism and constitutional reform., Former member of the Commonwealth Grants Commission.
Consultant for the New Federalism reforms of the Fraser and Hawke governments.
Founding Board member of the Constitutional Centenary Foundation. Served as Chair of several Commonwealth-State bodies and was Australia’s representative on the Executive Board of UNESCO.
Martin Stewart-Weeks
Member, Editorial Panel
Principal, Public Purpose Pty Ltd. See further background under Other Members above.
Professor Percy Allan AM
Member, Editorial Panel
Visiting Professor, Institute of Public Policy and Governance, University of Technology, Sydney. See further background under Office Bearers above.