The Steering Committee
The steering committee oversees and supports the work of the independent team at the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research,
Australian National University, as it continues the conversations with Aboriginal communities and all those involved. The steering committee
provides specialist advice on plans and reports and helps to solve issues as they arise so that the best possible approach is taken.
If you are an Aboriginal community member and you have a concern about the way the conversations about OCHRE are being handled, try
to resolve the matter first by talking to members of the Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research team or to Aboriginal Affairs staff
listed here. If none of those options works, you can ask the Chair of the steering committee, Dr Wendy Jarvie, for a chance to address the
committee. Contact her by email wendy.jarvie@gmail.com or by calling 02
6268 8966 .
The steering committee meets up to four times a year.
After each meeting the main outcomes are made public – including a specific reference to any issue an Aboriginal community member has raised
directly with the committee.
The steering committee members are:
Dr Wendy Jarvie - Chair
Wendy is the chair of the steering committee. She has had a diverse career as a public servant, researcher, evaluator and teacher. It has
included 22 years in the Australian public service (seven years 2001–08 as Deputy Secretary of education departments), three years
(1998–2001) as an evaluation and operational policy manager in the World Bank, and most recently in independent research and international
consulting.
She has had long engagement with Aboriginal communities, policy and programs, including seven years’ oversight of Australian Government
Aboriginal education programs, and five years (2003–07) as a co-chair of the steering committee for the COAG trial in Murdi Paaki, Far West
NSW.
Since 2010 she has been undertaking research and giving seminars on Indigenous policy and programs. She is currently a visiting professor at
the School of Business at the University of NSW, Canberra, where she is undertaking research in early childhood education and Indigenous
policies and programs, and the role of evidence, innovation and learning in public policy. She is also providing executive education courses
for the Australian National University on using evidence in policy making, and works in early childhood education for the World Bank in the
Pacific.
Professor Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews
Gawaian Bodkin-Andrews identifies as Bidigal of the D'harawal nation, and is a researcher and lecturer who centres and promotes Aboriginal
Australian standpoints and perspectives across a diversity of disciplines (most notably education and psychology). He has managed and led
numerous research grants and community projects investigating a diversity of topics including mental health, mentoring, identity, Aboriginal
Knowledges, education, University Indigenous Graduate Attributes, martial arts, racism, and bullying. His projects have led to the
development of a strong foundation in robust and diverse research designs, with an increasing dedication to Indigenous Research
Methodologies. From this, he is continually developing his experience in applying quantitative and qualitative methods within his scholarly
work, and is a strong advocate for Indigenous Data Sovereignty and Indigenous (D’harawal) Storywork frameworks. His research has also
attracted a number of national and international awards (e.g., AARE Betty-Watts Indigenous Researcher Award), and he has produced the
Healing the Wounds of the Heart documentary focusing on developing resiliency against racism for Aboriginal youth. Gawaian is a member of
the Maiam nayri Wingara Indigenous Data Sovereignty Collective, National Indigenous Researchers and Knowledge Holders Network, D’harawal
Traditional Descendants’ and Knowledge Holders’ Circle, and Banyadjaninga South-Western Area Aboriginal Group.
Samantha Faulkner
Samantha is the first Torres Strait Islander to graduate with a BA in Modern Asian Studies from Griffith University. She is very proud to
have published her grandfather’s life story, Life B'long Ali Drummond: A Life in the Torres Strait. Samantha is also the author of Pamle:
Torres Strait Islanders in Canberra and published numerous articles.
In 2020 Samantha became the Director Ethics and Research Leadership, AIATSIS (Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
Studies). From 2018 Samantha has also been Visiting Research Fellow, Centre for Aboriginal Economic Policy Research (CAEPR), Australian
National University. Samantha was also Visiting Research Fellow, Australian Institute for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies
(AIATSIS) in 2009-2010 and Academic Coordinator, Jabal Centre, Australian National University in 2008.
Samantha has worked in several Australian Public Service agencies for over 20 years, and in non-government organisations. Samantha has
represented women and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander interests on local, state and national boards and is the Treasurer, First
Nations Australia Writers Network; Chairperson, ACT Torres Strait Islanders Corporation; and Treasurer, Us Mob Writing Group.
Alison Weaver
Alison Weaver is Director of Strategic Policy Reform across the Premier’s, Education and Customer Service Clusters at NSW Treasury, where
she has worked for 15 years. A key element of this role is oversight of policy and reform issues from the Aboriginal Affairs portfolio.
Alison has extensive experience in policy development, economic appraisal and program review, having worked across economic, budget strategy
and financial management roles. This includes two years as Director of Review, leading in depth evaluations considering the efficiency,
effectiveness and appropriateness of programs and policies across the NSW public sector, and eight years as Manager of Energy Policy,
leading strategic advice and economic appraisal of energy and climate change programs and policies. Alison’s background is in human and
economic geography, and before joining Treasury she worked with the NSW Department of Environment and Climate Change and the Commonwealth
Department of Environment and Heritage.
The steering committee ex-officio members are:
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