I am a successful academic with an international reputation seeking to shift into public service work. I have teaching experience in one of the best-known public policy degrees in the world - the Oxford PPE (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) degree - experience in university management and institutional governance, and policy experience working in the NZ civil service.
I have 26 peer-reviewed published papers over 17 years, with an h-index of 13, and an i10-index of 16. A complete list of these is available on my academic CV. I have a versatile research skill set, with interests in logic, language and ethics. My philosophy training equips me to rapidly master and/or devise novel conceptual frameworks; to analyse arguments; to foresee possible pitfalls or objections to proposed theories and policies; to ethically evaluate actions and policies using a wide range of ethical theories; and to use mathematical models.
Key areas of expertise and experience:
Knowledge of ethical and political theories and their application to public policy.
Excellent writing and communication skills.
Knowledge and experience of committee procedure and chairing methods.
Experience forming strategic alliances within a large institution.
Ability to work as part of a team, and to act as a team leader.
Working knowledge of mathematical logic and mathematical models.
Scientific literacy and ability to evaluate scientific evidence.
Proficiency with word processors and document preparation systems, spreadsheets, and computer programming languages.
Excellent knowledge of internet technology and protocols.
Experience in policy work in an NZ context.
Employment History
Senior Policy Advisor, NZ Ministry of Transport 2016-present
Responsibilities:
Providing policy advice to internal decision makers, the Minister, and Cabinet.
Writing briefings, reports, and discussion papers.
Mentoring and leading other team members.
Liasing with stakeholders and other government agencies.
Achievements:
Helped to draft final report of the Public Transport to 2045 project.
Member of the inter-agency working group on Electric Vehicles.
Associate Professor of Philosophy, Oxford University, 2011-2016
Responsibilities:
Carrying out academic research.
Giving lectures and supervising and mentoring graduate students.
Overseeing the supervision and teaching of graduate students in the BPhil degree (a part-coursework, part-research graduate degree); assigning supervisors to students; making admissions decisions in relation to the BPhil; overseeing the work of the Associate BPhil coordinator.
Participating in the governance of the Philosophy Faculty, Oxford University.
Setting and marking exams for the PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) degree at Oxford University.
Achievements:
As BPhil coordinator I undertook a much-needed reform of admissions, teaching provision, and admissions methods in the BPhil degrees. This involved redrafting the job descriptions of the Primary and Associate BPhil coordinators; writing guidelines for supervisors and seminar leaders; establishing new procedures for admission to the degree; and bringing all of these changes before the relevant bodies for approval; forming strategic alliances to ensure passage of reforms through committees.
These reforms successfully increase the participation of under-represented groups, especially women, in the BPhil.
Personnel resources (relating to my role as BPhil coordinator):
60 students in the BPhil (30 per cohort)
A pool of 80 potential supervisors.
A committee of 10 admissions assessors.
1 associate coordinator acting under my supervision.
Tutorial Fellow in Philosophy, Corpus Christi College, Oxford, 2011-2016
Responsibilities:
Teaching in the PPE (Philosophy, Politics, and Economics) programme at Corpus Christi College (CCC).
As Senior PPE tutor, acting as team leader to the other PPE tutors.
Employing and overseeing the work of college lecturers in philosophy at CCC.
As Lead PPE Admissions Tutor, long-listing candidates for admission to CCC, and taking a lead role in short-listing and final admissions decisions.
As a member of CCC Governing Body, acting as the trustee of a charity.
As a member of CCC Academic Committee, participating in the executive leadership of the college.
Personnel resources:
(as Tutorial Fellow in Philosophy) 1 college lecturer.
(as Senior PPE tutor) 2 tutorial fellows (in politics and economics).
Senior Lecturer in Philosophy, Otago University, 2006-2011
Responsibilities:
Carrying out academic research.
Designing curriculum, giving lectures, and supervising graduate students.
Employing, training, and supervising tutors in philosophy.
Sitting on university committees and participating in university governance.
Achievements:
In 2011, I acted as Conference Coordinator for the Australasian Association of Philosophy annual conference (AAP 2011). The AAP is the largest (~350 delegates) and most prestigious conference in philosophy in the southern hemisphere, and this was the third time in its 70 year history that it took place in NZ. This involved advertising; budgeting; arranging accomodation, travel, conference rooms, and catering; scheduling presentations; inviting keynote speakers; liaising with the AAP council; liaising with representatives of local iwi (Kāi Tahu).
Redrafted the Division’s policy on tutorial employment, making employment practices more consistent, and transparent across the Division.
