The Graduate Certificate in Public Policy and Finance got underway with our Public Policy unit delivered in the ill-fated week of 9-13 August. The 70 participants in this year's cohort are at Executive and Senior Executive levels of 10 different APS agencies. This is the second consecutive time we've run the Public Policy unit for this course and gone into lockdown halfway through. If it's something that we're doing to cause it, I apologise!
The unit was led by Prof Mark Evans, and highlights included a panel discussion on what COVID-19 has meant for the use of experts in providing policy advice. The panel featured former Deputy Chief Medical Officer, Dr Nick Coatsworth; ANU Medical School's Professor Peter Collignon; and Professorial Fellow Michelle Grattan from UC and The Conversation. BGL Colleagues will be pleased to note that the medical experts wanted a stronger role for social scientists as part of the ongoing approach. Another highlight was a second panel discussion on what ministers and parliamentarians want from the public service, with former ministerial adviser in the Digital Transformation area and UC Adjunct Professor, Dr Jack Dan; and NATSEM's Prof Brenton Prosser, drawing on his colourful past as adviser to Senator Nick Xenophon.
The first unit was very well received, despite the need to rapidly shift online, and this was a source of great relief given that the cohort included not only my own sister, but also the DVCA's daughter!
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