Background

Smarter approaches to public policy are needed as the world faces challenges from population growth, climate change and environmental degradation. Governments need to better articulate policy challenges and objectives, engage effectively with stakeholders, and draw on a broader set of policy tools to generate desired outcomes. Aither’s policy advisors thrive on tackling complex public policy problems and understand the difficult operating environment that many policymakers need to navigate.

We use multi-disciplinary, collaborative and evidence-based approaches to support our clients in addressing challenges at each step of the policy cycle. Our team includes some of Australia’s leading public policy experts with extensive experience in natural resources, environment, primary industries, infrastructure and emergency management.

Lead Advisors
Wilfred Finn
Associate Director
Ryan Gormly
Principal
Martijn Gough
Principal

Subservices

  • Risk assessment and due diligence to assist clients in understanding regulatory, disclosure and reporting obligations
  • Business case preparation and review to support appraisal of proposed projects and programs (including with regard to government requirements and guidelines)
  • Policy development Policy implementation advice and assistance, including capability development.
  • Policy research and analysis research and advice on the development and design of legislative frameworks, policy, planning and other instruments; including options development and analysis

Selected Project Experience

WaterGuide (2017-current)

Aither developed a high-level guide to improved water resource management for the Australian Government to assist decision makers in developing and developed countries to diagnose existing issues in water resource management and set a roadmap for implementing the crucial elements of effective water policy and planning. WaterGuide has been used in bilateral dialogues in Iran, Mexico, Senegal and Jordan.

Classifying outcomes of inquiries and reviews (2017)

Aither was engaged to conduct a review of major post-disaster inquiries and reviews undertaken in Australia and New Zealand since 2009. The project involved identifying high level categories of findings across major post-event reviews, and assessing the degree to which these findings have been or are being matched by attention and reforms within Australia emergency service organisations

Review of EPBC Act interactions with Agricultural sector (2018).

Aither was engaged by the Commonwealth Government to support Dr Wendy Craik in undertaking a major independent review of interactions between the EPBC Act 1999 and the agriculture sector. The review involved a substantial stakeholder engagement, including a public submission process. A series of recommendations for improvement were provided to the Minister for consideration.