Shamit Saggar is the inaugural director of UWA’s Public Policy Institute. Professor Saggar joins from the University of Essex, where he Associate PVC R, working on policy engagement, research impact and doctoral education. He is a former policy advisor to Tony Blair and most recently head of the UK Academy of Social Sciences advocacy group.

The Institute’s focus is on WA and the nation in the Indo-Pacific. It will report on policy, teach short courses and provide professional development programmes.

Former federal Labor defence and foreign minister Stephen Smith chairs in the Institute’s board.

In features this morning: Shamit Saggar on the five books that influence his work.

Megan Smith is new science dean at Charles Sturt U. She is an internal appointment, replacing Tim Wess, who moved to the University of the Sunshine Coast to become DVC A.

Chris Stoltz becomes a professor of practise in engineering at La Trobe U.  The La Trobe U graduate is founder and MD of specialist engineering and geospatial IT company Spatial Partners and a former Victorian president of Engineers Australia and mayor of Bendigo.

ANU will today award an hon doc to alumni Peter Garrett (as in Labor federal cabinet minister and Midnight Oils singer). The university honours him as “one of Australia’s most well-respected and effective campaigners for principled public policy.”