Rachel brings extensive expertise in public policy development, assessment and organisational strategic planning. Known for her strong strategic and analytical skills, she has successfully navigated complex, high-profile policy issues across diverse sectors, including health, justice, international trade, the creative sector and higher education and training. Before joining dandolo, Rachel held senior executive roles at the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet and served as a policy manager, economic advisor and policy advisor in several key New Zealand government departments, including the Treasury and the Pharmaceutical Management Agency.

Influential work at dandolo:

• Developing a strategy and action plan to improve school attendance in Western Australia’s most remote and highly disadvantaged communities    

• Reviewing the funding approaches the Victorian Government uses to support sole traders, micro-businesses, and small to medium organisations in Victoria’s creative industries

• Identifying opportunities to incentivise Registered Training Organisation (RTO) excellence through the Standards for RTOs 2015

• Developing a strategic plan for a state government education authority

• Developed a strategic plan for a state government education authority. 

• Developing several successful funding proposals for a large philanthropic organisation, including in relation to justice reinvestment, corrections wrap-around support and health justice partnerships  

• Undertaking a multi-year evaluation of four foundational education training pilots in remote Australian communities

• The development of resources to support capability building of RTOs to better support student mental health

• The development of a strategic plan for the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority

• A post-implementation review of the National Skills Commission

• A post-implementation review of Undergraduate Certificates

Rachel has a Master’s in Public Administration from the Maxwell School at Syracuse University in New York, and a Bachelor of Commerce in economics and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of Canterbury.