Sir Roland Wilson Foundation

Warmest congratulations to Dr Pat Turner AO, Dr Nu Nu Win PSM and Dr Gordon de Brouwer AO PSM, three members of the Sir Roland Wilson Foundation community who have been acknowledged in The King’s Birthday 2026 Honours List. Their contributions have enriched us all.

Pat Turner scholarship namesake Dr Pat Turner was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to the Indigenous community through policy development, to governance and leadership roles, and to improving health outcomes.

Sir Roland Wilson alumna Dr Nu Nu Win received a Public Service Medal (PSM) for outstanding public service to improving the inclusiveness and diversity of the Australian Public Service.

Former Sir Roland Wilson Foundation Board member Dr Gordon de Brouwer PSM was appointed Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to public administration, policy and reform, to diversity, to environmental conservation, and to education.

This semester, we’ve really enjoyed running ‘Shut Up and Write’ sessions for Sir Roland Wilson and Pat Turner scholars.

Scholars work on anything related to their studies or research during the sessions – the mutual support and accountability means a lot gets done!

From extra help at home, through to residential nursing home care, more than one million Australians access aged care services each year.

Pat Turner scholar Dolly Nye is exploring ways to improve cultural safety in aged care for Aboriginal Australians.

Dolly is a Walbunja/Yuin woman from the south coast of New South Wales. She is studying a Master of Entrepreneurship and Innovation at The Australian National University ANU College of Business & Economics.

Dolly says her studies have given her the language to describe things she was already seeing through her work at Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing – and through her experience caring for her elderly mother.

“Studying innovation in my degree has helped me to understand problems differently. Studying entrepreneurship has helped me to find new solutions,” Dolly says.

Learn more about Dolly, her studies and research: https://srwfoundation.anu.edu.au/news/rethinking-cultural-safety-aged-care

Image: ANU College of Business and Economics

We all have a role to play in achieving reconciliation in Australia and the Sir Roland Wilson Foundation is this National Reconciliation Week - and every week.

Through the Pat Turner Scholarship Program, the Foundation is taking action to make positive change for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

The Pat Turner Scholarship enables strong Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander leadership through high-quality research and skills training, building on the legacy of Dr Pat Turner AM.

Scholars study in a range of fields, including public administration, economics, social policy, data and cybersecurity, law, foreign policy, and climate change.

They return to The Australian Public Service ready for successful leadership, equipped with expert analytical skills and strong connections to academia.

Congratulations Jami-Lee!

Jami-Lee Saxon was awarded the 'Outstanding Academic Achievement in Master of Public Policy', sponsored by Pathway to Politics NT, at the CDU Faculty of Arts and Society Prize Giving Ceremony.

Our thanks to Australia & New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG) Chief Policy Fellow Dr Andy Mycock, who shared insights on knowledge translation with Sir Roland Wilson and Pat Turner scholars and alumni yesterday.

Andy’s research explores research-government partnerships, with a focus on how academic knowledge is mobilised to support policymaking through systems of engagement, brokerage and partnership.

He is currently visiting Australia from University of Leeds so scholars and alumni were able to share and compare UK and Australian experiences.

Sir Roland Wilson and Pat Turner alumni work to improve government services in a variety of ways.

As Director at the Australian Bureau of Statistics Data Access and Confidentiality unit, Sir Roland Wilson alumnus Dr Joseph Chien is working on a synthetic data approach to make ABS data more accessible for research while ensuring confidentiality of the providers – an initiative that will help the ABS offer a better service.

Joseph’s PhD research at the ANU Mathematical Sciences Institute explored using administrative data to gain insights into the micro-drivers of productivity. He graduated in 2021.

https://srwfoundation.anu.edu.au/people/joseph-chien

Listen to Sir Roland Wilson alumna Dr Nu Nu Win, who recently appeared on the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) ACT Work With Purpose podcast to speak about her research.

Together with AusGov Infrastructure Secretary Jim Betts, Nu Nu explores cultural diversity in The Australian Public Service and the work underway to create a more inclusive and representative senior leadership pipeline.

The signals that shape careers: cultural diversity, leadership and change in the Australian public sector with Dr Nu Nu Win and Jim Betts - Institute of Public Administration Australia (ACT) Limited Drawing on new research and practical reform efforts, this episode of Work with Purpose explores persistent barriers to progression for culturally and linguistically diverse staff. Host David Pembroke, CEO of […]

The Sir Roland Wilson Foundation is pleased to announce two Pat Turner scholarships for commencement at The Australian National University (ANU) in Semester 2, 2026.

Our congratulations to:
- Amanda Lilley from Attorney-General's Department to study a Master of International Relations at Asia & the Pacific at ANU
- Dolly Nye from the Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing to study a Master of Philosophy at Science & Medicine at ANU.

https://srwfoundation.anu.edu.au/news/pat-turner-scholarships-awarded-semester-2-2026

Image: The Australian National University