B.A.(Hons), Diploma of Computer Science, Master of Engineering Science, Ph.D in Geography
Dr Jarvie has fourteen years experience in policy advice and programme management in the Australian Public Service, including in higher education and in economic and labour market analysis in the former Department of Employment, Education and Training and in the Bureau of Labour Market Research. Other positions held were in the Departments of Finance, Health and Family Services and Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Dr Jarvie also worked for three years (from 1998 to 2001) in the World Bank in Washington, where she was responsible for annual reports on the Bank's development effectiveness and evaluations of Bank processes. She was also manager of a taskforce developing the bank's strategy in middle-income countries.
Grahame Cook is one of four Deputy Secretaries in the Department of Education, Science and Training (DEST). His responsibilities include oversight of the Science, Innovation and Research Systems and Higher Education Groups of the Department as well as Questacon – The National Science and Technology Centre.
Grahame has previously held senior executive service positions in the Industry, Environment and Prime Minister and Cabinet Departments. He has worked in a diverse range of policy areas including science and innovation, industry policy, environment policy, natural resource management, and micro-economic reform.
Grahame has been responsible for much of the coordination and implementation of the Australian Government’s Backing Australia’s Ability initiatives.
Grahame was previously head of the Sydney 2000 Olympic and Paralympic Games Coordination Task Force and in 1997 he was awarded a Public Service Medal for his work on the Small Business Deregulation Task Force.
Grahame was Australian Public Service Fellow, Centre for Australian Studies, University of London in 1989-91. His publications include The Future of Antarctica: Exploitation Versus Preservation, and Australia and 1992: The Nature and Implications of the Single European Market.
Grahame has an Economics degree from the Australian National University.
Bill Burmester has a Bachelor of Economics and Graduate Diploma in Statistics from the Australian National University (ANU).
After a decade as a social statistician in the Australian Bureau of Statistics, he was appointed as senior policy adviser position in the Department of Finance in 1985. After working on 10 annual Budgets and numerous other economic statements he moved to the Funding Branch of Higher Education Division in the Department of Employment, Education and Training in 1995. Subsequent moves as a Group Manager to the Corporate and Information Technology areas culminated in a return to Higher Education coinciding with the 2002-03 “Crossroads Review”, and the subsequent implementation of the Governments reform agenda for the sector.
In April 2005 he was promoted to Deputy Secretary in the Department with responsibilities covering school, transitions, evaluation and analysis, as well as corporate strategies.
Mr Davidson was appointed Deputy Secretary of DEST in April 2005. He is responsible for overseeing the two Vocational and Technical Education Groups, (National Training Directions Group and Industry Skills Development Group) and the Information Services Group. These include newly transferred functions from the Australian National Training Authority, skill needs, New Apprenticeships and the development of the national training system.
Prior to this role, Mr Davidson was the Deputy Secretary for the Office of Training & Tertiary Education with the Department of Education and Training in Victoria. He was responsible for planning, purchasing and monitoring services offered by Technical and Further Education institutes, registered training organisations and adult community education. He also provided leadership and support in Victoria for the development of the Higher Education, Vocational Education and Training, and Adult and Community Education systems and legislation.
Mr Davidson has more than 30 years experience in the public sector with the Australian, Victorian and South Australian Governments including high-level experience in human services policy and planning, employment, training and industrial affairs.
Mr Davidson has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), Masters Degree in Social Administration and Graduate Diploma in Applied Science (Social Statistics).