Jim Davidson

Jim works mainly with public sector clients in human services, health strategy and policy, education and training and intergovernmental negotiations.

Project experience

As Deputy Secretary, DEEWR:

• liaised and negotiated with senior stakeholders in industry, universities, state and territory governments and other commonwealth departments to ensure the cohesive development and implementation of policy for tertiary education in the 2009/10 Budget.
• negotiated two Commonwealth/State agreements for vocational education and training
• held responsibility for the Department's programs and services in Tertiary Education, Youth and International Programs
• participated in strategic direction and policy setting for the COAG productivity agenda.

As Deputy Secretary, Department of Education and Training, Victoria:

• led the Office of Training and Tertiary Education with full policy and management responsibility for Higher Education, Vocational Education and Training and Adult and Community Education
• prepared the incoming government briefs for the Department of Human Services for the 2002 Victorian state election requirements.
• provided authoritative advice, intellectual rigour and service support to Ministers, the Secretary and DE&T Executive on corporate and strategic planning, performance monitoring and review, corporate and portfolio services, development and implementation of policy relating to tertiary education.

As Deputy Secretary/Executive Director Human Services:

• developed and disseminated the Human Services Portfolio Strategic Plan as the key planning framework for all agencies within the portfolio and management of the development of business plans by divisions and entities within the portfolio
• managed departmental flagship projects including workforce planning, metropolitan health strategy, rural human services strategy and partnerships with funded agencies
• developed and implemented a whole of department approach to cabinet submissions lodged through the Social Development Committee of Cabinet.

Education / accreditation / board membership

• Master's Degree in Social Administration, Flinders University
• Bachelor of Arts (psychology) (honours), University of Adelaide
• Graduate Diploma in Applied Science (social statistics), Swinburne University

Past employment

Prior to his association with Nous, Jim was the deputy secretary (tertiary, youth and international) with the Australian Government Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and managing director of TVET Australia, a company owned by Australia’s Ministers for Education and Training.