Tony's academic qualifications include economics and geography at the undergraduate level, a Masters of Environmental Studies, and a Graduate Certificate in Public Sector Management.
Through Capital Hill Consulting, Tony provides advice on large scale research funding, including strategic research management and cooperative research arrangements. He has been instrumental in helping source successful funding of a range of major research ventures in Australia, and advised governments on new programs for developing linkages and knowledge transfer between industry, universities and government research labs.
In recent years Tony has become involved in the scientifically-based decision-making framework, Holistic Management, which seeks to enhance Australian food and fibre through measuring the health and resilience of farmland over time. Holistic Management offers the insights and tools needed to work with the web of complexity that exists in nature, resulting in more informed decisions that balance key environmental, social and governance (ESG) considerations. Qualifications and activities in this area include:
Between 1993 and 1999, Tony was Manager of the Cooperative Research Centres (CRC) Programme in the Department of Industry, Science and Resources. He had a significant role supporting policy development for the CRC Programme, and managing secretariat support to the CRC Committee and its panels. The CRC Programme supports cooperative research, development, education and training activities in more than 65 CRCs, with approximately $140 million in program funds each year.
In 1995 he was Secretary to the CRC Programme Evaluation Steering Committee (Myers Committee). He was closely involved with analysing the Committee's 160 public submissions, briefing for the Committee and drafting its report. He also participated in the bulk of the Committee's 80 consultations held around Australia and its 25 overseas consultations.
Over a twenty-year career with the Commonwealth Public Service, Tony worked with seven Commonwealth agencies, including the Departments of Prime Minister and Cabinet; Industry, Science and Tourism; Immigration and Ethnic Affairs; Housing and Construction; Administrative Services, Social Security and the Australian Bureau of Statistics.