From an early age, I was inspired by people - both great national leaders and working people like my Mum (a brilliant nurse) and Dad (a gifted teacher) - whose mission was to contribute to the big picture: working with energy, passion and leadership to create opportunity for people to fulfil their potential.My working life has been devoted to devising reforms - through policy advice, strategy and research - then using persuasive communications and a broad network of relationships to secure change as a senior executive in government, higher education and not-for-profit organisations.I enjoyed 15 great years in the Federal Government. In Treasury (2000-2007) and Finance (2010), I worked to develop 10 successive Federal Budgets. I worked with departments to develop reforms across most portfolios in government - such as early childhood education, schools, VET, higher education, skilled migration, social services, innovation and economic development. I developed expertise in influencing across government - with officials, advisers and Ministers - to secure support for high value reforms. As a Senior Executive in Finance, I attended and briefed Cabinet when they deliberated on proposals from the FAHCSIA portfolio.From 2010-14, I had the privilege of working as Chief of Staff to University of Melbourne Vice-Chancellor Glyn Davis. We engaged with government to advocate for policies to foster higher education and support University of Melbourne initiatives, worked to develop projects like the Melbourne Connect innovation precinct, and developed the Growing Esteem organisational strategy.As Deputy Secretary, Policy, in Victoria’s innovation and industry portfolio (2014-15), I developed initiatives to support economic growth in Victoria, such as development of a manufacturing package and work on privatising Melbourne’s port.One of my proudest achievements was running a major national government relations campaign to secure ongoing funding for Teach For Australia, a program that recruits Australia’s top talent to be teachers and lifelong leaders in schools in low income communities (2015-17).I worked as General Manager of Strategy and Policy at Beyond Blue, where I developed a new organisational strategy, advocated for mental health policy reform, and helped to secure government funding. I played a similar role at headspace as Executive Director, Strategy, Impact and Policy.I worked with government to develop an agenda to double giving to charity by 2030 as Executive Director, Policy, Government Relations and Research at Philanthropy Australia.