I have spent my entire professional working life in the public service either as a science researcher, manager and leader (30 years) or as an elected member in a district council (3 years as a councilor and 3 as the Mayor). Public service institutions share many common features.
I believe that I have an excellent and diverse skill set that is well-matched to an era where we face many existential threats such as for instance from human-induced climate change.
Skills and knowledge:
• Critical thinking. As a scientist you learn how to critically evaluate information.
• Writing proposals for discovery science research project funding from public funding institutions.
• An ability to acquire knowledge and undertake robust analysis of technical and non-technical information (scholarship).
• Development of business cases and research plans.
• Research infrastructure development.
• Financial management of research projects. Preparation of business cases, plans and budgets.
• Preparation of government tenders and analysis of submissions (too numerous to mention).
• Leading and supervision of research teams comprising science professionals.
• Human capital development and people management, mentoring of staff, career development of staff ....
• Organization of meetings and workshops.
• Well-honed communication skills. I have delivered many oral presentations of research findings at national & international conferences and workshops and published more than 100 papers in top quality science journals.
• Having completed my first term as a local member I now know specifically how the council machine works.
• Much of what councils do has to do with the development of infrastructure and provision of services, including in the areas of water and waste management. I have had considerable specific technical experience in these areas having worked in the research & development of technology for water purification and radioactive waste management over several decades.
I am convinced that I tick all the boxes!.
For more details see my CV.