My Expertise
I am a transdisciplinary researcher at the International Centre for Future Health Systems, focusing on the design and functioning of future health and social service systems with the aim to improve access, effectiveness and efficiency of public services. My research examines how systems are organised and interact, how the way services are organised affects their outcomes, and how different cohorts access and experience those services. My research is informed by a range of lenses, including transaction cost economics, intersectional theory, and human rights. In addition to my work within the centre, I collaborate with colleagues from across the university and other institutions on research that considers how systems can better respond to future populations needs. Key areas of interest include service organisation and funding, commissioning, place-based initiatives, co-governance, how services respond to the social determinants of health, and the design and function of care spaces (interaction between buildings, workforce, care recipients, and technology).
Keywords
Fields of Research (FoR)
Public sector organisation and management, Health policy, Health systems, Primary health care, Social policySEO tags
Biography
Shona joined the International Centre for Future Health Systems in June 2024. Prior to this, Shona spent 12 years working at the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) at UNSW as a researcher and project manager. During this time, Shona delivered a range of multidisciplinary mixed methods research studies and evaluations for service providers, advocacy organisations, Australian state and federal government agencies, as well as international...view more
Shona joined the International Centre for Future Health Systems in June 2024. Prior to this, Shona spent 12 years working at the Social Policy Research Centre (SPRC) at UNSW as a researcher and project manager. During this time, Shona delivered a range of multidisciplinary mixed methods research studies and evaluations for service providers, advocacy organisations, Australian state and federal government agencies, as well as international funders.
Shona has over 30 years’ experience in policy and program analysis, project management, stakeholder engagement, partnership management, quality assurance and risk management, reporting, and communication. Prior to joining UNSW, Shona worked for a number of government organisations in both Australia and England, as well as working for the financing arm of the European Institutions (European Investment Bank) in Luxembourg developing and implementing both environmental and social policy.
My Grants
Australian Institute of Criminology (CRG42/24-25): Longitudinal study of the impact of access to NDIS supports on recidivism for people with disability (to be completed late 2026).
My Qualifications
- PhD, UTS Business School (August 2021)
- MSc Environmental Legislation & Management (Brunel University, UK, 1999)
- BSc Environmental Science and German (University of East London, 1995)
My Research Supervision
Areas of supervision
Public administration, human services (both health and social services).