Lost in Translation: Bridging the Gap Between Policy Making and Academia

How can researchers make their expertise more useful to government? And how can academics better understand what policymakers need when decisions are being made under pressure?

Join the UWA Public Policy Institute and Peter Varghese AO for a practical workshop exploring how academics and policy professionals can build stronger connections between research and government.

The workshop will examine some of the challenges that can make meaningful engagement difficult, from competing priorities and limited time to engage with experts, to the gap between political priorities and longer-term policy considerations.

The session will explore three key areas:

• Understanding the policy environment:
  What challenges are policymakers facing, and what does this mean for how academics engage with government?

• What policymakers find useful:
  How can researchers communicate complex ideas in ways that are useful and digestible? We will consider the policy ecosystem, time pressures, linkages across issues and the value of concise formats such as one-page briefs.

• Building meaningful collaboration:
  What does effective collaboration between academia and government look like in practice? The session will explore defining the scope of a policy challenge, maintaining an ongoing dialogue and keeping implementation in focus.

Throughout the workshop, participants will explore practical tips, including the do's and don'ts of knowledge exchange, policy engagement and translating research for policy audiences.

The session will include morning tea and an opportunity for informal conversation.

Speaker:

Peter Varghese AO is Chair of the Australian Public Policy Institute and an Adjunct Professor at The University of Queensland. He served as Chancellor of The University of Queensland from 2016 to 2026 and spent 38 years in the Australian Public Service, including as Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, High Commissioner to India and Malaysia, Director-General of the Office of National Assessments, and Senior Advisor (International) to the Prime Minister. He is also the author of the India Economic Strategy to 2035 and an Honorary Fellow of the Australian Academy of the Humanities and Fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs.

Please note: This workshop is intended for academics, researchers and leaders with an interest in engaging with government and public policy. The workshop will be limited to approximately 20 participants to allow for discussion and interaction.