Professor Helen Sullivan is a political sociologist and public policy scholar whose work explores state-society relationships, and their interactions with public policy systems. She is the author/editor of nine books, including Collaboration and Public Policy. Agency in the Pursuit of Public Purpose (2022). Educated in the humanities and social sciences she holds degrees in Modern History and Political Science (BA Comb. Hons), Women’s Studies (MA), and Public Policy (PhD). She currently serves as Dean of the College of Asia and the Pacific at the Australian National University. 

Helen’s career is defined by a sustained commitment to bridging the gap between research and practice. She has designed and led multiple innovations in the UK and Australia. In 2013 she established the Melbourne School of Government – a multi-disciplinary School that broke new ground through its integration of engagement and impact with research and teaching. Between 2017 and 2021 she was Director of the Crawford School of Public Policy at the ANU, Asia and the Pacific’s leading graduate public policy school. 

Helen’s research has received ‘Best Paper/Publication’ awards from global academic societies including the Public Management Research Association and the International Research Society for Public Management. In 2003 Helen was awarded a Fellowship of the (now) Higher Education Academy in recognition of her innovative and interactive teaching. In 2017 she was made a National Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia in recognition of her significant contribution to public policy practice.