More than 250 policy professionals, researchers and other experts gathered on 22 September 2025 for the Australian Public Policy Institute (APPI)’s Policymaker Summit 2025, hosted at the University of Technology Sydney. Under the theme “What’s working in public policy?”, the summit explored best practice examples of how evidence, innovation, and collaboration are translating into meaningful outcomes for Australians.
The day began with an Acknowledgement of Country by Aunty Glendra Stubbs OAM, Elder-in-Residence at UTS. “We all want to leave our imprint on this bucket of life,” Aunty Glendra OAM said. “And when you change policies and do it for the better, that’s how you can make an imprint.”
In his opening remarks, Vice-Chancellor and President of UTS, Professor Andrew Parfitt stressed that when policy is informed by academic expertise, it becomes more robust, inclusive and future-ready. “Drawing on data, lived experience and multidisciplinary insight, research asks not just what works, but why it works and for whom it works, helping us move beyond short-term fixes to long-term solutions,” Professor Parfitt said.
“The past year has brought rapid change,” APPI CEO Professor Libby Hackett said. “Yet in the face of this complexity, policymakers in Australia have not turned away from research findings and evidence. They continue to seek out expert advice to guide decisions in priority areas such as housing supply and the energy transition.”
She stressed that as a joint venture between government and a growing coalition of universities, APPI provides a critical pathway for policymakers to access research leaders with deep subject matter expertise. “In doing so, we provide avenues for academics to inform policy solutions for the greater good.” She also noted that APPI has awarded over two million dollars in Policy Challenge Grants since 2021, supporting research in key areas.
APPI’s new Chair, Peter Varghese AO, was announced at the Summit, and he underscored the need for cross-sector collaboration: “Neither government, business, nor universities have a monopoly of knowledge or insight,” Varghese said. “Each can make a distinctive and complementary contribution to the crafting of public policy, anchored in expertise, evidence and a shared commitment to the public good.”
In his keynote address, Senator the Hon. Tim Ayres, Minister for Industry, Innovation and Minister for Science, emphasised the importance of stable, long-term frameworks for investment, highlighting domestic manufacturing opportunities as “nation-building objectives worth pursuing.” He pointed to initiatives such as the Green Iron Investment Fund, Battery Breakthrough Initiative, Green Aluminium Production Credit, and Net Zero Fund as levers to scale innovation and efficiency.
He also commented on APPI’s role in connecting policy with research expertise. “What impresses me most is the way the Institute is building a reliable pipeline of timely expertise that feeds directly into the policy process,” Minister Ayres said. “The Policy Challenge Grants are spectacular. They are mission-led, collaborative and directly geared to solving real-world problems that matter right now.”
Assistant Minister the Hon Patrick Gorman MP reflected on the challenges of delivering policy in a rapidly changing world. He emphasised that success is measured by what actually gets delivered. “The world is changing. And so too must the way we develop and deliver policy,” Assistant Minister Gorman said. He highlighted that the Albanese Government is applying this approach across various areas, including the Net Zero transition, home building, and Medicare investments, noting that cross-sector collaboration and agile, flexible policy design are key to keeping pace with change.
Assistant Minister Emma McBride MP drew on her clinical and public health experience to showcase people-centred, evidence-based policy. She outlined the rollout of Medicare Mental Health Centres, which are free, walk-in services linked to virtual specialist networks, particularly for regional and remote communities. Co-designed with stakeholders and people with lived experience, the centres combine national consistency with local insights. “The pace of change has been rapid,” McBride said. “And this has been achieved through genuine collaboration… ensuring services meet the needs of those seeking care.”
The second panel, on “Economic and Energy Transitions”, moderated by APPI’s Bonnie Bley, examined how Australia can balance productivity, workforce development, and equity in the shift to a low-carbon economy. Panellists included Professor Roy Green AM (UTS), Chloe Read (TAFE NSW), and Professor Heidi Norman (UNSW), who emphasised the importance of coordinated industrial policy, regional workforce strategies, and First Nations participation. The discussion highlighted that multistakeholder collaboration and regional engagement are essential for fair and productive transitions.
The second panel, on “Economic and Energy Transitions”, moderated by APPI’s Bonnie Bley, examined how Australia can balance productivity, workforce development, and equity in the shift to a low-carbon economy. Panellists included Professor Roy Green AM (UTS), Chloe Read (TAFE NSW), and Professor Heidi Norman (UNSW), who emphasised the importance of coordinated industrial policy, regional workforce strategies, and First Nations participation. The discussion highlighted that multistakeholder collaboration and regional engagement are essential for fair and productive transitions.
The Summit also showcased applied research through the Policy Impact Exhibition, featuring pioneering research centres from APPI’s partner universities, including the UTS Robotics Institute and the Domestic and Family Violence Research Network, Western Sydney University’s Centre for Smart Modern Construction, UNSW’s Smart Cities and Infrastructure Cluster, the University of Wollongong’s Molecular Horizons Institute, and the University of Sydney’s Centre for AI, Trust and Governance. The exhibition demonstrated how research in a wide range of policy areas is informing government initiatives and efforts to address the country’s greatest challenges today.
APPI extends thanks to UTS for hosting the Policymaker Summit, our government and university partners, and all our expert speakers and guests for participating in this collaborative effort to transform public policy in Australia. We will build on the insights and connections from the Summit through our ongoing programs and convenings, with the next major milestone being the APPI Oration 2025, delivered by the Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency the Hon Sam Mostyn AC.
