Our Team
Associate Professor Paul Maginn
Director
Associate Professor Paul Maginn is the Director of the UWA Public Policy Institute and co-ordinator of the Administration and Governance stream of the Masters of Public Policy at UWA.
Paul is an urban planner/geographer and has been at UWA since February 2007. He previously held positions at the University of South Australia and Edith Cowan University, having migrated to Australia in 2003.
He has co-edited a number of books, his latest—Suburbia in the 21st Century: From Dreamscape to Nightmare? alongside Professor Katrin Anacker (George Mason University, USA)—published in 2022 by Routledge. Paul is also Editor-in-Chief of Urban Policy and Research.
Professor David Gilchrist
Research Director
Professor David Gilchrist is Foundation Director of the Centre for Public Value at The University of Western Australia's Business School and is a professor of accounting at that institution. He has received funding from governments, peak bodies and individual organisations for various research projects predominantly related to the Not-for-profit human services sector, Not-for-profit accounting and financial reporting, financial sustainability and outcomes reporting, and policy and practice related to these areas. He has been a director and chair of a number of human services organisations over past years and is currently a director of a policy-focused charity in the education area.
David has worked in and around the human services sector for 30 years. He has held executive roles in, consulted to and been part of the governance team of various charitable human services organisations including in disability services, aged care and child protection. In all of these areas, David has contributed to policy and practice.
David has researched in the areas of nonprofit sustainability, economics and governance and has written over 100 industry reports and papers focusing on key issues related to the sector.
Clare Feenan
Senior Program Coordinator
Clare Feenan is the Senior Program Coordinator at the UWA Public Policy Institute and Program Manager for Pathways to Politics for Women UWA. She provides strategic planning, research, and project management for the Institute and is responsible for the Pathways program's curriculum and operations.
Before working at UWA, Clare worked in operations and analytics in the private sector. In previous managerial roles in business and in research she led large teams, implemented change, and reported on theoretical and empirical analysis. Her research outputs relate to human services and are intended to provide tools for advocacy and policy change by providing insight to decision makers.
Clare holds a Bachelor of Science (Statistics) from RMIT University, a Postgraduate Certificate of Business (Economics and Econometrics) from Monash University, and a Master of Economics from The University of Western Australia.
Ben Perks
Senior policy and communications officer
Ben Perks is the Senior Policy and Communications Officer at the UWA Public Policy Institute and a Research Fellow at the Centre for Public Value in The University of Western Australia Business School. His research interests include not-for-profit sustainability, economics of human services and welfare, government systems change, economic mobility, inequality and poverty, and social program evaluation.
Ben has previously worked in policy development for the Department of Social Services, contributing to major initiatives including the Not-for-profit Sector Development Blueprint and the Community Sector Grants Engagement Framework. He also serves on the Grants Committee and Board of Directors for two Western Australian charities, bringing practical insight to his academic and policy-focused roles.
Lucia Cronin
Communications officer
Lucia Cronin is the Communications Officer at the UWA Public Policy Institute, where she leads the Institute's communications operations and engagement strategies. Her work spans video editing, graphic design, website management, and the development of communication and outreach initiatives that strengthen the Institute's profile and impact.
Before joining the Institute, Lucia was the Marketing and Communications Officer at the Centre for Public Value UWA, where she combined creativity with strategic thinking to deliver campaigns that engaged diverse audiences and amplified the Centre's mission.
Recognised for her ability to work collaboratively, deliver under pressure, and bring a creative edge to every project, Lucia plays a key role in sharing the Institute's work with policymakers, stakeholders, and the public.
Lucia holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications and Media Studies and Applied Ethics from The University of Western Australia and is currently completing a Master's degree in International Relations.