Overview

Bill BurmesterProfessorial Fellow

Contact

Address: Building 22, Level B University of Canberra Phone: +61 (0) 2 6201 5768Email: Bill.Burmester | at | canberra.edu.au

Centre

Centre for Critical Governance Studies (CCGS)

Organisation

Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis at the University of Canberra

Research Interests

Public Administration, Policy Development

Bio/CV

After graduating from the Australian National University, Bill spent a decade as a social statistician in the Australian Bureau of Statistics, before becoming a senior social policy adviser in the Department of Finance in 1985. After working on 10 Budgets and numerous other economic statements he moved to the Higher Education Division in the then Department of Employment, Education and Training in 1995.

In the subsequent 14 years in the portfolio, Bill worked on policies and programs in higher education, vocational education, schooling and international education. He also managed the corporate affairs of the Department at various times in this period. In 2005 he was appointed Deputy Secretary in the then Department of Education, Science and Training with responsibilities covering the Schools Policy area, the Transitions and Career Development area as well as corporate responsibilities for the human and financial resources of the department. With the creation of the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations at the end of 2007, Bill was charged with establishing and managing corporate responsibilities of the new department. In mid 2008 he returned to the schools policy area before moving in May 2009 to cover tertiary education, youth and international education issues. Bill completed his tenure at DEEWR as Deputy Secretary in March 2010.

Bill’s expertise and deep understanding of Commonwealth government practice will bring a further dimension to the Institute’s activities. In the immediate future Bill will be anchoring the Institute’s new research and professional development programs on ‘Citizen-centred Policy-making’.

Publications

Selected Publications:

• Burmester, B. and Halligan, J. (2014), “The Public Service under Gillard”. In Aulich, C., ed., The Gillard Governments, Melbourne University Press, pp. 110-125

• Evans, M., Edwards, M., Burmester, B. and May, D. (2014), “Not yet 50/50: barriers to the progress of senior women in the Australian public service”, Australian Journal of Public Administration, 73, 4, pp. 501-513

• Easteal, P. (2010), “Women and the Law in Australia”, (LexisNexis)
• Easteal, P. (2009), “Women, Appealing to the Future: Michael Kirby and his Legacy, (Lawbook Company, Sydney), pp. 867-886
• Easteal, P., (1993), “Without Consent: Rape Conference Proceedings”, Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra
• Easteal, P. & McKillop, S. (1993), “Women and the Law Conference Proceedings”, Australian Institute of Criminology, Canberra

Electronic Media

• Norman, B, (2012), “World Bank calls for greater climate preparedness in Australia, planning unravels”, (The Conversation)The World Bank says we're heading for more heatwaves, so why are we unraveling efforts to protect vulnerable communities? Barbara Norman explores this 'heated' topic.

Research Projects & Grants