About Conor King
Experience
§ Executive Director of the Innovative Research Universities, a network of seven universities, with significant impact on national policy development (2011 to 2021)
§ Principal Consultant with PhillipsKPA, providing highly regarded analyses and advice concerning higher education, vocational education and further education policy and programs (2009 to 2010)
§ Institutional Strategist at Victoria University, a major multi sector education provider covering senior secondary, further, vocational and higher education (2006 to 2008)
§ Director of Policy for the major higher education lobby group, the Australian Vice-Chancellors’ Committee, now Universities Australia (1998 to 2006)
§ Commonwealth Senior Executive experience in disability employment services and aged care in the then Department of Human Services and Health (1994 to 1997)
Attributes
§ An excellent grasp of policy issues generating feasible options attuned to the needs of the contractor but which engage with the needs of their target stakeholders
§ The ability to work with people of all levels across a wide range of areas bringing a sense of integrity and honesty that wins respect
§ Extensive experience interacting with Ministers, politicians, media and senior public servants leading to better outcomes through considered, constructive advocacy
§ Focuses on producing work outcomes, dealing with challenges both conceptual and personnel, while retaining a sense of calm mixed with understated humour
§ A succinct writing style, adaptable to a wide range of outputs from short briefs, analyses of hot issues, media articles to public statements and policy papers
§ A large network across Australian and international tertiary education
§ Works with a wide range of issues and relate them to the needs of the contracting organisation
§ Works equally well with qualitative and quantitative information, adapting each to the needs of the audience
Government committee memberships
§ Advisory Group for the Ian Watt review of Research Policy and Funding Arrangements (2015)
§ ARC Performance and Incentives Working group supporting development of a national research engagement and impact assessment (2016-17)
§ Admission Transparency Implementation Working Group (2017-18) to establish more transparent arrangements for university admission, including being chair of the Terminology Sub-Working Group