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Summary

Biography

Since 2023 I have served as the Director of the Crawford School of Public Policy, one of the world's leading multidisciplinary public policy schools, and the premier school in the Asia-Pacific region. Situated at the Australian National University, the Crawford School shapes public policy through excellence in research, postgraduate education, and policy engagement. We educate people who change the world, and undertake research that helps policy makers navigate an increasingly complex environment.

The Crawford School is a large postgraduate school, with approx. 1000 students, including 130 undertaking doctoral studies. With three main teaching departments, and sixteen research centres/institutes, the Crawford School offers a range of Masters level programs, and a growing portfolio of domestic and international executive education. Crawford also hosts three government-ANU collaborations - the National Security College, the Pacific Security College, and the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. 

As Director of the Crawford School, I serve on the College Executive, working with colleagues to develop the new (est. 2025) ANU College of Law, Governance and Policy. 

My academic expertise is in public management, with major research interests in public sector reform and relational dynamics. I have made major contributions to the field in areas such as public value, paradigmatic change, collaboration, government contracting, and performance. Most recently my work has focused on staking out the foundations of a human(e) government, and deepening our understanding of a more positive public administration. Alongside these areas, I have been exploring the intersection of public management practices and morality in areas of extreme complexity, and doing prospective work on future directions for the field. 

My collaborative research projects have received several academic awards including: best articles in Public Administration Review and Review of Public Personnel Administration; the best book award at the Academy of Management (public nonprofit division); and several best paper awards at the Academy of Management. In 2025, I was honoured to deliver the Donald C. Stone Lecture at the American Society for Public Administration conference in Washington D.C. This was later published in Perspectives on Public Management and Governance (2025). 

My most recent co-edited books are Pathways to Positive Public Administration (2024 ) and Research Handbook on Public Management and COVID-19 (2024). Both focus on complex challenges, and involved large groups of colleagues from across the world, providing global insight into big questions for the field. 

I have served as an Associate Editor at Public Management Review (2022-2024), and as an Editor of  the Australian Journal of Public Administration (2015-2021). Currently, I serve on several editorial boards:  Public AdministrationPublic Management Review Policy Design and Practice;  Global Public Policy and Governance; Halduskultuur: The Estonian Journal of Administrative Culture and Digital Governance; and Australian Journal of Public Administration. Previously I have served on the editorial boards of: Public Administration ReviewJournal of Teaching Public Administration; Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration; International Journal of Public Administration;Journal of Public Affairs Education; Canadian Public Administration;and Journal of Management & Organization

In education my focus has been on management issues in the public sector and the challenges faced by contemporary leaders in pursuit of public purpose. For most of my career I have worked with experienced professionals from across the world in both executive education and postgraduate programs and have been recognised for teaching excellence through various college, university and national level awards. As a public management expert with deep international networks, I have had the opportunity to provide expert counsel to a range of policymakers through advisory engagements and executive education program including in Australia, Chile, Bhutan, New Zealand, the United States of America, Vietnam, Canada, China and Singapore.

From 2021 to 2025 I served as an  elected member of the Board of Directors for the Public Management Research Association. Between  2012-2018 I was an elected member of the Executive Board of the International Research Society for Public Management. In 2022 I was appointed to the Australian Capital Territory Institute of Public Administration Australia Council, and have represented the ACT on the National Council of the Institute of Public Administration Australia since 2024.

In 2022 I was elected as a fellow of the (US) National Academy of Public Administration and in 2013 I was appointed a fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (VIC). In 2022, I was appointed by the Minister to the Advisory Board of the Victorian Public Sector Commission  and served until 2025. Previously I was a member of the Advisory Board for the Australian Public Service Centre for Leadership and Learning (2018-2020) and a member of the Infrastructure Victoria Expert Panel on the Role of Infrastructure in Addressing Regional Disadvantage (2019-2020). Since 2021 I have been a member of the Centre for Public Impact Australia and New Zealand Research Committee, and co-chair the Research Committee. 

In 2019, I was commissioned to co-author a major research paper to  inform the work of the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service in relation to how commissioning and contracting could be done by the federal government: 2030 and Beyond: Getting the Work of Government Done. This work has helped to shape the reform agenda in Australia.   In 2025 I was invited to join the Advisory Panel to oversee the development of a white paper ont he future of public service in New South Wales, developed by the Institute of Public Administration Australia (NSW). 

Together my various activities across research, education and engagement seek to better understand how government works and to contribute to improving the outcomes of those activities. 

formal qualifications

Doctor of Philosophy

Faculty of Economics and Commerce, University of Melbourne [now faculty of business and economics]
19982004

My PhD focused on the introduction of competition to public services. My fieldwork was undertaken in the Victorian local government sector where radical reform was being undertaken, including the adoption of a compulsory competitive tendering approach. The thesis explored tendering processes, markets, and organisational aspects of reform. My PhD was supervised by Janet Walsh and John Alford and examined by George Boyne and Graeme Hodge. It was submitted in 2003 and conferred in 2004.

1998-2003 Australian Postgraduate Award with stipend.

1998-1999 Queens Trust Young Achiever Award to undertake study tour in the United Kingdom on the impact of local government reform.

Bachelor of Commerce (Honours - first class)

Faculty of Economics and Commerce, University of Melbourne [now faculty of business and economICS]
19921997

My honours thesis focused on the employment effects of public sector reform, specifically the introduction of competition to the local government sector. 

1997-1998 Kinsman Scholar awarded for summer research studentship to high achieving honours students. 

1997 Australian Chamber of Manufacturers Prize for academic excellence awarded to the highest achieving student in the honours program: Department of Management and Industrial Relations.

1997 Australian Human Resources Institute of Australia Award for academic excellence awarded to highest achieving student in the honours program: Department of Management and Industrial Relations.

Academic Appointments

distinguished fellow

Australia and new zealand school of government
2025

In 2025, I was appointed a Distinguished Fellow of the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. This is an appointment made by the ANZSOG Board in recognition of outstanding contribution to the School and to the public sector. Conferred in July 2025.

director

crawford school of public policy, college of law, governance and policy, australian national university
january 2023ongoing

Since 2023 I have been Director of the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, one of the world's leading multidisciplinary public policy schools. In this role I lead a large postgraduate school with three departments, several partnerships, numerous research centres, several degree programs, and a substantial multidisciplinary PhD program. I am a member of the executive of the new College of Law, Governance and Policy (established 2025), and prior to this was a member of the executive team of the College of Asia and the Pacific where the Crawford School had been housed for 20 years. As Director of the Crawford School, I am a member of the ANU University Leadership Group. I take on the role of Acting Dean as required. 

At the Crawford School I have taught our cross-program higher degree by research course Fostering Public Policy Research, I provide guest lectures in a range of courses, and deliver programs and sessions in our executive education portfolio.

My current position is a fixed-term leadership contract with the continuing (tenured) position at the completion of my term. 

visiting professor

DEPARTMENT of public policy, City UNIVERSITy, hong kong
july 2020september 2020

As part of my sabbatical leave in 2020 I was appointed as  Visiting Professor at the Department of Public Policy, City University, Hong Kong. 

Visiting position cancelled due to COVID-19.

Professor of Public Management

Australia and New Zealand School of Government
July 2018january 2023

From July 2018 to January 2023 I was Professor of Public Management at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. This was an extended secondment (2018-2023) from the University of Melbourne where I remained Professor of  Public Management. At ANZSOG, I was Academic Director of the Executive Master of Public Administration (Acting - 2019), led a review of ANZSOG's education programs and commissioned experts to a new curriculum as part of ANZSOG reform strategy. I was subject leader for Delivering Public Value in the Executive Master of Public Administration. During 2022 I held the position of Deputy Dean (Engagement) at ANZSOG. 

Visiting Professor

Dr Seaker Chan Center for Comparative Political Development Studies, Fudan University
2017

Invited visitor in October 2017 to the Centre for Comparative Political Development Studies, Fudan University, Shanghai and co-chair of the 5th Public Governance Forum in Greater China on "Evidence-based Policy Making in Greater China and Australia".

Professor of Public Management

University of Melbourne
march 2013january 2023

I was appointed Professor of Public Management, School of Social and Political Sciences (Faculty of Arts) in 2013 and I held a joint appointment in the Melbourne School of Government from 2014.  At Melbourne, I led the development of a cross-faculty Master of Public Administration program. I was the Director of the Master of Public Administration 2013-2018 and Director of the Master of Public Policy and Management 2013-2016. From 2015-2018 I was the Director of Education in the Melbourne School of Government. 

During my time at the University of Melbourne I led the subjects Public Management; World of Public Administration (Master of Public Administration), and I co-led International Public Management (Master of Public Policy and Management); . I have delivered guest lectures in: Commissioning Public Services, World of Public Administration, and Administrative Challenges in Practice. I also oversaw the minor thesis for students in both the MPA and the MPPM. 

I held a continuing (tenured) position at the University of Melbourne and resigned to take up a position as Director of the Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University. 

Adjunct Professor

Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG)
20112018

In 2011 I was appointed as an Adjunct Professor on the ANZSOG faculty. ANZSOG is a consortium of university and government partners in Australia and New Zealand, providing education and research programs. My appointment at ANZSOG recognised several years of contribution including  to the Executive Fellows Program and the Executive Masters of Public Administration, supervising student projects, and being a member of several reviews. 

Professor

Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University
20072013

I was promoted to Professor at the Crawford School of Public Policy in September 2012. Prior to this I was Associate Professor/Reader (2012), Senior Lecturer (2010-2011) and Lecturer/Research Fellow (2008-2009) in the Crawford School. During 2007-2008 I held a joint appointment at the Research School of Social Sciences (Political Science) and the Crawford School of Economics and Government. From end-2009 to mid-2012 I served as the Director of Education at the Crawford School. 

During my time at the Crawford School I led the subjects Case Studies in Public Sector Management (Master of Public Administration; Master of Public Policy); Government, Markets and Global Change (compulsory for all students); and People and Performance in Public Organisations (MPP). I also delivered guest lectures in: Managing Government Finances; Economics for Government; Research Design; Research Methods; and Social Policy and Service Delivery.

I held a continuing (tenured) position at the Australian National University from 2009 and resigned to take up a position at the University of Melbourne. My initial position was a fixed-term role. 

Visiting Fellow

Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University and ANZSOG
2006

As part of sabbatical leave I was a Visiting Fellow at the Research School of Social Sciences, Australian National University and also at the Australia and New Zealand School of Government. 

Senior Lecturer

School of Business and Government, University of Canberra
20042007

I was appointed as Lecturer in 2004 and promoted to Senior Lecturer in 2007. 

During my time in the School of Business and Government I led the subjects Public Sector Management (undergraduate); Public Administration (Master of Public Administration); and Public Administration at the Interface (MPA). I also delivered guest lectures in: Leadership, Innovation and Change (undergraduate); and Leadership and Change Management (MPA). 

I held a continuing (tenured) position at the University of Canberra and resigned to take up a position at the Australian National University. 

Lecturer

Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Commerce, University of Melbourne
20032003

I was appointed as Lecturer in the Department of Management where I led the subjects Management (undergraduate) and Human Resource Management (Master of Management).

This was a fixed term position and I resigned to take up a role at the University of Canberra. 

Research Fellow

Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Commerce, University of Melbourne
20002002

I was appointed as a Research Fellow (part-time) and worked with a team on the Programme for the Practice of Diversity of Management, funded by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs. The project involved working with a group of Australian firms to undertake research on diversity management  and produce a range of resources for use in practice. This included an evidence-based business case, a range of business models, and several toolkits for managers. 

This was a part-time, fixed term position while I undertook my PhD studies. 

Tutor

Department of Management, Faculty of Economics and Commerce, University of Melbourne
19982000

During my PhD candidature I undertook sessional tutoring which included designing tutorials, grading of assessment tasks, and student consultation. I was a tutor in: Industrial Relations Policy; Comparative Industrial Relations; and Organisational Analysis. 

prizes, awards, honours, esteem indictors (Selected)

Included here are all prizes, awards and honours but a select listing of prominent esteem indicators. For a full list please see sections Service to the Field and Engagement Activities

Pacific partner

american society for public administration
2025

Invited by the President of the American Society for Public Administration to accept an appointment as a Pacific Partner of ASPA.  Pacific Partners are distinguished scholars and practitioners appointed to build ASPAs connections with Pacific nations.  Appointed July 2025. 

advisory panel member

Institute of public administration australia (nsw)
2025

Invited to join the Advisory Panel to develop a white paper on the Future of the New South Wales public service. Convened by the Institute of Public Administration Australia (NSW). The anticipated release of the white paper is early 2026 as part of the the IPAA NSW 90th anniversary celebrations. 

anzsog distinguished fellow

australia and new zealand school of government
2025ongoing

Awarded the title of Distinguished Fellow by the Australia and New Zealand School of Government Board in recognition of outstanding contribution to ANZSOG and to the public sector. 

member, evaluation committee

australian public service commission
2024

Invited member of the Capability Reinvestment Fund Evaluation Committee which considers applications for funding under the scheme to invest in the organisational capability of the Australian Public Service. This was a key tenet of the government's reform agenda. $6.5M in funding was allocated to nine projects. Appointed by the Australian Public Service Commissioner. 

national council member

institute of public administration australia
2024ongoing

The ACT representative on the National Council of the Institute of Public Administration Australia. My term began in 2024. IPAA is the professional association for public servants across Australia, with the National Council having membership from each of the state/territory divisions. 

member, governance group

National Centre for Place-Based Collaboration Foundation Partner Governance Group
20232024

Invited member of the National Centre for Place-Based Collaboration (NEXUS Centre) Foundation Partner Governance Group. The Governance Group provides oversight and supports the work of the Foundation Partner, bringing  together leaders from a range of stakeholder groups including place-based backbone organisations, government, philanthropy, business, intermediaries, research, and community organisations, along with advisors from the Commonwealth Government and members of the Foundation Partner consortium.

This prospectus developed by NEXUS was the foundation of  PLACE (Partnerships for Local Action and Community Empowerment) which was funded over $38M by the Australian government and philanthropy in late 2024. PLACE is a national organisation established to support community-led, place-based approaches to address social and economic challenges in communities and disrupt entrenched disadvantage.

Council member

Institute of public administration australia
2022ongoing

Member of the Institute of Public Administration Australia, Australian Capital Territory Council. Appointed in 2022. 

advisory board member

victorian public sector commission
20222025

Ministerial appointment to the Victorian Public Sector Commission Advisory Board. I served on the board from 2022-2025, completing my term in July 2025. 

journal editor

public management review
20222024

I was Associate Editor for Public Management Review for an initial 2-year term. I voluntarily stepped down from the role in 2024, but remain on the Editorial Board. PMR is one of the leading journals in the field of public administration and management. Q1 in JCR, 5 year IF 6.3, ranked 6 in JCR 2024, ranked 3 in Public Policy and Administration on Google.

elected fellow of napa

National Academy of Public administration (US)
2022ongoing

Nominated and elected Fellow of the United States National Academy of Public Administration. NAPA is an independent, partisan organisation chartered by the US Congress to provide advice on advancing government practice. Fellows include former politicians, career public administrators, prominent scholars, and non-profit and business executives. Thirty-five new fellows were elected to the Class of 2022 in recognition of their expertise in public administration. I am the second Australian to be elected as a NAPA Fellow. I was nominated by G. Edward DeSeve, former senior advisor to President Barack Obama and Dan Chenok, Executive Director of the IBM Center for the Business of Government. 

expert panel member

infrastructure victoria
20192020

Appointed member of the Infrastructure Victoria Expert Panel on the Role of Infrastructure in Addressing Regional Disadvantage. Appointed by the CEO of Infrastructure Victoria. 

advisory board member

australian public service commission
20182020

Member of the Advisory Board of the former Australian Public Service Centre for Leadership and Learning. Appointed by the Australian Public Service Commissioner.

journal editor

australian journal of public administration
20152021

Editor of the Australian Journal of Public Administration between 2015 and 2021. I served as Editor in Chief for the first two years, and then we rotated the EIC role between editors. JCR Q1 in sociology and political science/Q2 in public administration, A in the Australian Business Dean's Council list, 5 year IF 2.3. The AJPA is the journal of the Institute of Public Administration Australia, was first published in 1937, and is one of the oldest  public administration journals in the world. During our editorship we substantially internationalised the journal and doubled the impact factor. Under the former Editor, I held roles as Associate Editor and Deputy Editor of the journal. During that time I curated the first virtual issues of the AJPA, including several which supported the IPAA Annual Conference. 

Carolyn Dexter Award (nominee)

Academy of Management
2014

An all-academy award for the paper that best meets the objectives of internationalising the Academy of Management. Nominee award presented at the Academy of Management annual conference in Philadelphia for the paper Enhancing Performance in the Australian Public Service: A Case of Co-Production.

Best Book Award

Academy of Management
2014

Awarded to the best public/non-profit book published in the three years prior. Presented at the 2014 Academy of Management annual conference in Philadelphia for Rethinking Public Service Delivery: Managing with External Providers. 

Carlo Masini Award

Academy of Management
2013

Awarded for outstanding scholarship in the fields of public and nonprofit management to the best paper from across the Academy of Management that examines the behaviour of public or nonprofit organisations. Presented at the Academy of Management annual conference in Orlando for Managing Expectations to Create High Performance Organisations.

Charles H Levine Award

Academy of Management
2013

Awarded to the best paper in the public and nonprofit division. Presented at the Academy of Management annual conference in Orlando for Managing Expectations to Create High Performance Organisations. 

IPAA Fellow (VIC)

Institute of public administration australia
2013Ongoing

Nominated and appointed a Fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria) in recognition of contribution to the field of public administration. 

Teaching Excellence Award (nominee)

Office of Learning and Teaching
2012

Nominated by the Australian National University for national award presented to Australia's most outstanding university teachers.  

Citation for Outstanding Contribution to Student Learning

Australian Learning and Teaching Council
2011

Awarded for significant and sustained contributions to the quality of student learning. The specific citation was: For empowering and assisting professional students to connect theory and practice meaningfully and assisting them to develop complex managerial decision-making and policy advice skills. All nominees are nominated by their university for these national awards. Prize of A$10000.

Vice Chancellor's Award for Teaching Excellence

Australian National University
2009

The university's highest award for teaching which is awarded in recognition of excellence in teaching, outstanding presentation skills, and broad and deep contribution to  enhancing the quality of learning and teaching at the Australian National University. Prize of A$4000.

College of Asia and the Pacific Award for Teaching Excellence

Australian National University
2009

The College's highest recognition of teaching excellence. Prize of A$1000. 

australian postgraduate award scholarship

australian government
19982003

1998-2003 Australian Postgraduate Award with stipend to undertake PhD studies. 

queens trust young achiever award

queens trust of australia
19981999

1998-1999 Queens Trust Young Achiever Award to undertake study tour in the United Kingdom on the impact of local government reform. [Now the Kings Trust of Australia]

kinsmans scholar

university of melbourne
19971998

1997-1998 Kinsman Scholar awarded for summer research studentship to high achieving honours students. 

Australian Human resources institute award

university of melbourne
1997

1997 Australian Human Resources Institute of Australia Award for academic excellence awarded to highest achieving student in the honours program: Department of Management and Industrial Relations.

australian chamber of manufactures prize

university of melbourne
1997

1997 Australian Chamber of Manufacturers Prize for academic excellence awarded to the highest achieving student in the honours program: Department of Management and Industrial Relations.

Research data summary

Google Scholar Data as at 02 January, 2026. Full details at Google Scholar profile

Summary
Total citations 6783
Citations since 2020 2962
h-index all 32
h-index since 2020 22
i10-index all 55
i10-index since 2020 36

Google Scholar most cited (Top 10) as at 02 January, 2026

Citations Year of Publication Author/s Publication Type
From New Public Management to Public Value: Paradigmatic Change and Managerial Implications 2088 2007 O'Flynn

Journal article

Australian Journal of Public Administration

Making Sense of Public Value: Concepts, Critiques and Emergent Meanings 1066 2009 Alford and O'Flynn

Journal article

International Journal of Public Administration

Rethinking Public Service Delivery: Managing with External Providers 493 2012 Alford and O'Flynn

Authored book

Palgrave Macmillan

Collaborative Governance: A New Era of Public Policy in Australia? 302 2008 O'Flynn and Wanna

Edited book

ANU Press

The Cult of Collaboration in Public Policy 194 2009 O'Flynn

Journal article

Australian Journal of Public Administration

The Future of Public Administration Research: An Editor's Perspective 178 2022 McDonald, Hall, O'Flynn, Van Thiel

Journal article

Public Administration

You Win Some Your Lose Some: Experiments with Joined-up Government 149 2011 O'Flynn, Buick, Blackman, Halligan

Journal article

International Journal of Public Administration

Where to for Public Value? Taking Stock and Moving on 127 2021 O'Flynn

Journal article

International Journal of Public Administration

Can Enhanced Performance Management Support Public Sector Change? 118 2015 Buick, Blackman, O'Donnell, O'Flynn, West

Journal Article

Journal of Organizational Change Management

Evaluating Outcomes in Health and Social Care 115 2016 Dickinson and O'Flynn

Authored book

Policy Press

SciVal data as at 23 December, 2025. Full details at SciVal profile

Public Administration (2020-2025)
Field-Weighted Citation Impact 8.36
Citation count 328
Citations per publication 46.9
Share of publications in top 10% most cited publications worldwide 71.4%

SciVal highest Field-Weighted Citation Impact at at 23 December, 2025

2020-2025 FWCI Citations Year Authors
Rising to Ostroms Challenge: An Invitation to Take a Walk on the Bright Side 28.4 74 2021 Douglas et al 
The Future of Public Administration Research: An Editor's Perspective 11.47 91 2023 McDonald, Hall, O'Flynn, Van Thiel
The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Public Administration: An Agenda for Future Research 7.45 25 2024 McDonald et al
Confronting the Big Challenges of Our Time: Making a Difference During and After COVID-19 6.95 69 2021 O'Flynn
Where to for Public Value: Taking Stock and Moving On 3.93 68 2021 O'Flynn

Publications: Books

All metrics (e.g. views and citations) current as at 02 January, 2026 and citations as per google scholar

Lucas, P., Nabatchi, T., o'flynn, J. and 't hart, pa. (eds.)

2024

Pathways to Positive Public Administration: An International Perspective, Edward Elgar. 

The book builds on the original positive public administration (PPA) article published in 2021 (Douglas et al) by 15 leading scholars in the field. A subset of these authors took the ideas forward into an edited collection which includes 57 authors from across the world. In developing the book, we set out important principles to guide us including a commitment to being truly international, to fostering the next generation of scholars, and to ensuring the book was open access. We invested considerable effort in building up potential contacts across the world, and ensured we broke out of 'the club' of countries and writers that have dominated public administration for so long. The book started with three editors, all senior scholars, and then expanded to include a fourth (Patrick Lucas) who was a PhD student at the time, and had been my research assistant. We held a series of interactive workshops where we adopted a developmental and inclusive approach, and held an in-person workshop alongside a major conference in Utrecht which gave us an opportunity to test ideas and showcase several of the cases that would appear in the book. We are proud to have 57 contributors from every continent, and to publish some authors for the first time, alongside other very prominent scholars. 

Endorsements

  • This compelling collection takes us for a walk on the “bright side” through its elaboration of the core tenets and intriguing case studies of Positive Public Administration (PPA). Contributors provide a strong rationale for a renewed focus on ‘what works’ in public administration with a clear recognition that a PPA perspective requires both rigorous and critical scholarship and an explicit articulation of “what good looks like”. Addressing the question of why some policies, practices and processes produce improved societal outcomes when others fail, the collection aims to promote an open conversation about PPA, drawing on a variety of ideas, approaches, successes and failures, and to speak directly with professional practice ... By charting a course for this nascent area of scholarship without shying away from problematic aspects of democracies and public services, this volume provides a refreshing and rigorous perspective on positive public administration. It will have a significant impact on the study and practice of public administration and should provoke and inspire in equal measure. Rachel Ashworth, Cardiff University, UK
  • The popular and academic literature is replete with examples of the failure of government, and the public servants responsible for providing services to the public. This collection of studies is a useful counter to that conventional wisdom. The examples contained here point out that governments can and do deliver the goods, and do so in settings where poor governance is assumed to be endemic. B. Guy Peters, University of Pittsburgh, US

Dickinson, H., Smith, C. , Yates, s. and O'FLynn, J. (Eds.)

2024

Research Handbook on Public Management and COVID-19, Edward Elgar, Cheltenham.

Endorsements

  • This Handbook draws together theory and empirical evidence to tease out important implications for understanding the role of public management in the pandemic, across a wide range of countries and public services, and with insights across a range of themes of relevance to government, public organizations, and citizens. Read it to understand this complex recent past – and also to understand how to prepare for the future. A fine collection of chapters. Professor Jean Hartley, The Open University, UK
  • This remarkable book analyzes the COVID-19 crisis through the eyes of some of the most insightful and creative public policy and public management scholars in the world. It is a “must read” – now and in the future – for anyone interested in improving our collective response to global public challenges. Professor Rosemary O''Leary, University of Kansas, US
  • A fascinating collection on the potential and limitations of public management to meet the challenges posed by COVID-19. A key message is that mainstream public management theory and practice is fatally flawed by its ongoing failure to take account of structural inequality. Happily, it offers ideas and evidence of how to do better in the future. Professor Helen Sullivan, Australian National University
  • The COVID-19 pandemic posed unprecedented public management challenges and exposed weaknesses that had festered for a long time. This is a timely book on the challenges and how they were addressed. Public management scholars and practitioners around the world will find the book useful. Professor M. Ramesh, National University of Singapore

Dickinson, H. and O'Flynn, J.

2016

Evaluating Outcomes in Health and Social Care (2nd edition) Policy Press, Bristol 

Reviews

  • Provides a sound foundation for consideration of how to untangle the complex web of factors involved in the evaluation of outcomes and partnership working ... this is a useful second edition which achieves what it aims to do in locating a trio of tricky issues in the context of new evidence and of more recent policy ...  It is to be hoped that the book will encourage the production of further patches to contribute to the evidential quilt long sought in relation to partnership working. Dr Emma Miller, University of Strathclyde, 2017, Medical History, 61(2)

 115 citations

O'Flynn, J., Blackman, D., and Halligan, J. (eds.)

2014

Crossing Boundaries in Public Management and Policy: The International Experience Routledge, London.

Endorsements

  • This book’s critical examination of crossing boundaries—organizational, jurisdictional, sectoral, international—is vital reading for those unsatisfied with typical discussions of collaboration and network management. The questions addressed in this volume demonstrate that overcoming such boundaries is the signature governing issue of our time. Professor Michael McGuire, Indiana University, USA
  • A rich and satisfying collection that rewards the continuing policy and scholarly interest in the theory and practice of cross boundary working by drawing on international experiences, detailed cases and innovative methods to offer new insights on fundamental questions. Professor Helen Sullivan, University of Melbourne, Australia
  • This book assembles a diverse and inter-disciplinary set of contributions highlighting the importance of ‘boundaries’ as sites of ambiguity, conflict and potential in the theory and practice of international public policy and management. It represents a valuable and thought-provoking addition to the existing literature on this important subject. Professor Paul Williams, Cardiff Metropolitan University, UK

111 citations

Alford, J. and O'Flynn, J.

2012

Rethinking Public Service Delivery: Managing with External Providers Palgrave, Basingstoke.

Winner of the Best Book Award (2014) at the Academy of Management, Public Nonprofit division. 

Reviews

  • Book reviews

    • There is no other work that I am aware of which brings together so effectively the wide range of lessons we have learned about the consideration, initiation and management of the many new (and not so new) forms of alternative service delivery. ... This book provides a sophisticated framework of analysis, a grand tour of possible external providers and some important lessons for managers in public sector organizations. Professor John Langford, University of Victoria, British Columbia, Canadian Public Administration, 2013 56(4)
    • It is in many ways a milestone work, both in its mapping of the complex 21st Century landscape of public service delivery, but also in offering a clear framework for practitioners. Alastair Hill, political consultant, LSE Review of Books, 2013
    • In the wake of the global financial crisis and the ensuing economic turmoil, public service delivery is being rethought across a swathe of countries by leaders and managers perhaps still only partially aware of the extraordinary challenges they face. Alford and O'Flynn's intervention could not have been better timed and fortunately for the public managers that this book is aimed at it is a contribution from two public management scholars at the top of their game. Already garlanded with praise by academics and senior public servants nationally and internationally this book is a valuable resource for public managers seeking to understand how they might secure public services in a very uncertain future. Combining rigorous analysis with detailed empirical examples ... These are the new frontiers of the debate about public service futures that public managers, politicians and citizens are involved in and to which Alford and O’Flynn’s book makes a vital contribution. Professor Helen Sullivan, University of Melbourne, Australian Journal of Public Administration, 2013, 72(2)

  • Endorsements

    • This excellent book provides a useful and innovative framework for understanding effective delivery of public services. Professor Steven Rathgeb Smith, University of Washington, Seattle
    • A brilliant introduction to new ideas and techniques for delivering public services, backed by convincing examples and analyses. Knut Eggum Johansen, Special Adviser, Government Reform, Norway 
    • Should be required reading for all who want to understand the costs and benefits of different forms of public service provision, and the circumstances that influence their relative effectiveness. Professor George Boyne, Cardiff Business School 
    • A landmark survey. The framework can be used by both scholars and practitioners and will significantly advance the cause of creating public value. G. Edward DeSeve, former Senior Advisor to President Barack Obama
    • Drawing on lively case examples, this compelling book introduces differing types of engagement, concepts for choosing them, and techniques for managing them. Terry Moran, former head, Prime Minister's Department, Australia

    Several authored or co-authored pieces exploring aspects of the book appeared in the press and in professional publications. For example: Ethos, published by the Singapore Civil Service Commission; the Guardian (UK); The Conversation; Radio National (Australia)

 493 citations 

Publications: Journal Articles

All metrics (e.g. views and citations) current as at 02 January, 2026 and citations as per google scholar

McDonald III, B., Hatcher, W., Bacot, H., Evans, M.E., McCandless, S.A., McDougle, L.M., Young, S.L., Elliott, I.C., Emas, R., Lu, E.Y., E. Abbott, M.E., Bearfield, D.A., Berry-James, R.M., Blessett, B., Borry, E.L., Diamond, J., Franklin, A.L., Gaynor, T.S., Gong, T., Goodman, D., Guy, M.E., Hall, J.L., Hatch, M., Jin, M.H., Jordan, M.M., Daniel, J.L., Love, J.M., Craig S., Maher, C.S., Menifield, C., O’Flynn, J., O’Leary, R., Liu, P., Pliscoff, C., Puron-Cid, G., Rinfret, S.R., Sowa, J.E., Stazyk, E.C., Stewart, K., Torneo, A.R., Wiley, K.K., and Zhang, Y.

2024

The Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Public Administration: An Agenda for Future ResearchJournal of Public Affairs Education, 30(1), 11-27.

Q1, 5-year impact factor 1.9.  7.45 field weighted citation impact (2020-2025), 1327 views, 28 citations.

Mcdonald, B., Hall, J,. O'Flynn, J. and Van thiel, s.

2022

The Future of Public Administration Research: An Editor's Perspective. Public Administration, 100(1), 59-71.

Q1, 5-year impact factor 5.5, Ranked 5 in public administration on SJR, ranked 5 in public policy and administration on google, 178 citations, 11.47 field-weighted citation impact (2020-2024).

Featured in the special issue Celebrating 100 Years of Public Administration 

Althaus, C., Dickinson, H., Katsonis, M. and O'Flynn, J.

2021

Back to the Future: Reflections and PredictionsAustralian Journal of Public Administration, 80(4), 647-651. 

Q1 sociology and political science/Q2 public administration, 5-year impact factor 2.3, 3 citations.

Blackman, D., Buick, F., O'Flynn, J., O'Donnell, M. and West, D.

2019

Managing Expectations to Create High Performance Government. Review of Public Personnel Administration, 39(2), 185-208. 

Q1, 5-year impact factor 4.8, 60 citations.

Awarded Best Article in ROPPA for 2019; nominated for Best Article in Public Nonprofit division at the Academy of Management conference. 

McTaggart, D. and O'Flynn, J.

2015

Public Sector Reform. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 74(1), 13-22.

Q1 sociology and political science/Q2 public administration, 5-year impact factor 2.3, 48 citations.

O'Flynn, J.

2009

The Cult of Collaboration. Australian Journal of Public Administration, 68(1), 112-116.

Q1 sociology and political science/Q2 public administration, 5-year impact factor 2.3, 194 citations

O'Flynn, J.

2008

The Skippy Saga, Australian Capital Territory Political Chronicles. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 54(2), 336-341.

Q2 history/Q3 political science and international relations.

O'Flynn, J.

2008

The Skippy Saga: Dedux, Australian Capital Territory Political Chronicles, Australian Journal of Politics and History, 54(4), 657-662.

Q2 history/Q3 political science and international relations.

O'Flynn, J.

2007

Release of the Coronial Inquiry into the 2003 Bushfires: Finally: Australian Capital Territory Political Chronicles. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 53(2), 330-336.

Q2 history/Q3 political science and international relations.

O'Flynn, J.

2007

Deconstructing Jon: Australian Capital Territory Political Chronicles. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 53(4), 662-667.

Q2 history/Q3 political science and international relations.

O'Flynn, J.

2006

Accolades and Brickbats: Stanhope's Anti-Terrorism Crusade, Australian Capital Territory Political Chronicles. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 52(2), 332-336.

Q2 history/Q3 political science and international relations.

O'Flynn, J.

2006

The Struggle for Territory Independence: The Civil Unions Bill, Australian Capital Territory Political Chronicles. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 52(4), 684-689.

Q2 history/Q3 political science and international relations.

O'Flynn, J.

2005

 The Bushfire Inquest, Australian Capital Territory Political Chronicles. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 51(4), 622-627.

Q2 history/Q3 political science and international relations.

O'Flynn, J.

2005

Australian Capital Territory Election Processes, Australian Capital Territory Political Chronicles. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 51(2), 322-326.

Q2 history/Q3 political science and international relations.

O'Flynn, J.

2004

Human Rights in the Australian Capital Territory, Australian Capital Territory Political Chronicles. Australian Journal of Politics and History, 50(4), 636-639.

Q2 history/Q3 political science and international relations.

Publications: Book Chapters & ENCYCLOPEDIA entries

All metrics (e.g. views and citations) current as at 14 November 2025 and citations as per google scholar

Yates, S., O'Flynn, J., Dickinson, H. and Smith, C.

2024

The Future of Public Management as we Emerge from the Acute Phase of COVID-19: Key Themes and Future Trajectories. In H. Dickinson, S. Yates, J. O'Flynn and C. Smith (eds.) Research Handbook on Public Management and COVID-19, Edward Elgar.

Dickinson, H., Smith, C., Yates, S. and O'Flynn, J.

2024

Introduction to the Research Handbook on Public Management and COVID-19. In H. Dickinson, S. Yates, J. O'Flynn and C. Smith Research Handbook on Public Management and COVID-19, Edward Elgar.

5 citations.

O'Flynn, J.

2022

A Global Perspective on Public Administration?  The Dynamics Shaping the Field and What it Means for Teaching and Learning. In K. Bottom, P. Dunning, I. Elliot and J. Diamond (eds). Handbook of Teaching Public Administration. Edward Elgar. 

11 citations.

O'Flynn, J.

2021

High-performance government. In Oxford Research Encyclopedia of Politics. Oxford University Press. doi: https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190228637.013.1375

Dickinson, H. and O'Flynn, J.

2021

The Changing Nature of Work: Time to Return to Performance Fundamentals? in D. Blackman (ed) Handbook on Performance Management in the Public SectorEdward Elgar.

2 citations.                                                                                                                                                                           

Lucas, P., O'Flynn, J. and Poole, A.

2021

Trajectories of Reform: Where (and Who) Are the Public Servants? in in H. Sullivan, H. Dickinson and H. Henderson (eds.) The Palgrave Handbook of the Public ServantPalgrave. 

O'Flynn, J.

2018

Lessons from the Experience of Australian Public Sector Reform, in I. Aninat, and S. Razmilic (eds), Un Estado para la Ciudadanía. Estudios para su modernización [A State for Citizenship: Studies in Modernization]Centro de Estudios Públicos [Center for Public Studies), Santiago, Chile. (Spanish only; English version available on request). 

5 citations.

Alford, J. and O’Flynn, J.

2015

Making Sense of Public Value: Concepts, Critiques and Emergent Meanings, in B. Guy Peters and Jon Pierre (eds.) Public Administration Sage, volume 3, chapter 45, pp. 305-324. Reprinted from: International Journal of Public Administration 32(3-4).

1066 citations [original journal article].

Halligan, J., Buick, F. and O’Flynn, J.

2011

Experiments with Joined-Up, Horizontal and Whole-of-Government in Anglophone Countries, in A. Massey (ed.) International Handbook on Civil Services Systems Edward Elgar, Cheltenham, pp. 74-101.

91 citations.

Publications: Refereed Conference Papers

Blackman, D., Buick, F., O'Donnell, M., O'Flynn, J. and West, D.

2013

Managing Expectations to Create High Performance Government. Presented at the annual conference of the Academy of Management and published in Academy of Management Proceedings doi: 10.5465/AMBPP.2013.11

Awarded the Carlo Masini Award and the Charles H Levine Award at Academy of Management

Reports and Briefs

O'Flynn, J.

2025

Foundations for A More Human(e) Government: Big Ideas to Shape Our Future. Policy Brief, Issue 32, School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, The American University in Cairo, Egypt.  

O'Flynn, J. and sturgess, G.

2019

2030 and Beyond: Getting the Work of Government Done. is a research paper commissioned by the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service, Canberra, Australia. 

16 citations

I was invited to co-author a major research paper to inform the work of the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service. The review sought to examine the capability, culture and operating model of the APS and to make practical recommendations to ensure the APS is ready, over the coming decades, to best serve Australia. The Panel commissioned six research papers via ANZSOG from leading academics and practitioners to provide a rigorous and independent perspective on public sector reform. Authors also invited expert reference panels to guide their advice. 

The paper focused on the topic of commissioning and contracting and set out a model for the future in terms of how the APS could engage with others to get the work of government done, and deliver valued outcomes for all Australians. The recommendations focused particularly on the notions of strategic commissioning and system stewardship, with advice on how to improve current practice and build a bold approach for the future. The report drew heavily on my research over the 20 years prior, and combined this with practitioner insights from my co-author.

Policy Impact

  • Key ideas from the report featured in Our Public Service, Our Future, the final report of the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service, which also endorsed some of our key recommendations. The report we produced shifted the Review's thinking: initially the secretariat asked us to prepare a report on what government should do itself, and what it should contract out, but our work shifted that view. 
  • The Review's final report stated: More fundamentally, the review endorses the conclusion of ANZSOG research conducted for the review that the APS needs to take a strategic commissioning approach to the delivery of public services. Rather than start with an assumption about which services should be delivered by the Government or other providers, the APS should objectively decide which services and products to deliver itself and which should be should be purchased from or delivered by other providers, and how they should be bought or delivered – in order to deliver the best services or outcomes for the public. (p. 266)
  • Recommendation 35 in the final report speaks directly to how the APS should seek to transform its approach to commissioning based on our work: "Deliver value for money and better outcomes through a new strategic, service-wide approach to using external providers" (p. 268). In October 2023, the Australian government released its Strategic Commissioning Framework as part of its major reform program across the Australian Public Service. Its new approach seeks deliver on its commitment to reduce outsourcing and strengthen the capability of the APS.

O'Flynn, J.

2018

Lessons from the Australian Experience of Public Sector Reform. Prepared for Centro de Estudios Públicos (Center of Public Studies), Chile. [Spanish]

Dickinson, H., O'Flynn, J. and Sullivan, H.

2014

Valuing the Community Sector: A Report. Prepared for the Community Sector Reform Council, Melbourne. [No public release]

Research Grants and Consultancies

Lessons from the Australian Experience of Public Sector Reform

Commissioned by Centro de Estudios Públicos, Chile
2016

Produced one of several country studies commissioned by the think tank Centro de Estudios Públicos to provide a historical overview and analysis of public sector reform in Australia to inform their advice to the Chilean government on reforming the public sector. 

Valuing the Community Sector

Commissioned by the Victorian Community Sector Reform Council
2014

Joint project with Helen Dickinson and Helen Sullivan to identify the various forms of value produced by the community sector in Victoria. Commissioned by the Community Sector Reform Council, jointly chaired by the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet and the President of the Victorian Council of Social Services. Report under embargo.  

Competencies for Effective Reform

Funded by the Australia and New Zealand School of Government
2013

Multi-year joint project with Deborah Blackman to identify competencies of effective reformers. 

Diagnosing Readiness: Testing Organisations Capabilities

Funded by the Australia and New Zealand School of Government
2012

Multi-year joint project with Deborah Blackman to develop initial tool to diagnose organisational readiness to undertake complex change. Read a report here

Strengthening the Performance Framework

Funded by the Australian Public Service Commission
20112014

Joint project with Fiona Buick, Deborah Blackman and Michael O'Donnell. A multi-year collaboration with the Australian Public Service Commission to design performance principles for the Australian Public Service. Read a report here.

Balancing Trust and Control in the Provision of Employment Services: Comparing outcomes for Disability Employment Service Users

Funded by the Australian Research Council: $66,690
20092011

Multi-year ARC Linkage project with Ann Nevile, Ian Marsh and Daniel Perkins (Brotherhood of St Laurence) - LP0990530, $66,690. Industry Partners: Brotherhood of St Laurence; Jobs Australia; Ace National Network

Whole of Government: Evaluating Frameworks for Integrating Policy Development, Implementation and Delivery of Public Services.

Funded by the Australian Research Council
2008

Multi-year ARC Linkage project with Deborah Blackman, John Halligan and Ian Marsh - LP0776807, $236,000. Industry Partners: Australian Public Service Commission; Australian Government Information Office; Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry; Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs; Department of Health and Ageing. 

Other Publications

Selected examples

articles for the conversation

the conversation
Ongoing

For the full list of articles please see my profile page at The Conversation. As at 02 January, 2026. 

  • 13 articles written
  • 82.234 reads

Most popular articles:

articles and expert commentary for The Mandarin

the mandarin
Ongoing

For the full list of articles please see my profile page at The Mandarin.

Lucas, P. and O'Flynn, J.

2020

Australia Post Case Study. Agile Government Center, National Academy of Public Administration, United States of America. 

O’Flynn, J.

2015

Productivity Paradox. Public Administration Today, pp. 8-9. Invited.

O'Flynn, J. et al

2002

Corporate Attitudes to Indigenous Employment. HRMonthly, Australian Human Resources Institute, Melbourne, June.

O’Flynn, J. et al

2001

The Diversity Dividend. HRMonthly, Australian Human Resources Institute, Melbourne, June.

Walsh, J. and O’Flynn, J.

1999

Managing Through Contracts: The Employment Effects of Compulsory Competitive Tendering in Australian Local Government. Working Papers in Human Resource Management, Employee Relations and Organisation Studies Series, No. 3, Department of Management, The University of Melbourne, Australia.

Research Higher Degree Students

current doctoral students

Emba, Australian National University. Secondary supervisor. Commenced 2024. Merit in the Indonesian Public Service. Australia Awards Scholar. 

Ms Gabrielle Lawrence, Australian National University. Primary supervisor. Commenced 2023.  Lived Experience in Australian Public Policy Making. Sir Roland Wilson Scholar. 

Ms Holly Noble, Australian National University. Panel member. Commenced 2025. Meaningful Performance Reporting in the Australian Public Service. Sir Roland Wilson Scholar. 

Thaarramali (Mali) Pearson. Secondary supervisor. Commenced 2025 . Investigating the Application of the Australian Government's Budget Rules and Their Influence on Policy Making. Pat Turner Scholar.

Alfie Syarien. Primary supervisor. Commencing 2026. Australia Award Scholar. 

On leave

Ms Eleanor Malbon, Australian National University. Panel member. 

graduated

2020 Dr Primatia Wulandari The Embeddedness of  Policy Learning in Reform-Oriented Policy Change: The Case of Indonesian Public Administration Reform . The University of Melbourne. Primary supervisor.

  • Post-PhD Career: Knowledge Sector Initiative,  Alinea International, Indonesia. Senior Consultant, Aliena International. 

2020 Dr (Elizabeth) Chloe Duncan Implementing Breastfeeding Policy in Victoria: A Study of the Role of Discourse in Policy Implementation in Institutional VoidsThe University of Melbourne. Primary supervisor.

  • Post-PhD Career: University of New South Wales, Victorian Public Service. Senior Policy Officer, VPS.

2016 Dr Stephen Perryman Enacting ICT Strategy in Victorian Public Hospitals. The University of Melbourne. Second supervisor. 

  • Post-PhD Career: Academic appointments at Monash University, University of Melbourne. 

2014 Dr Lhawang Ugyel The Dynamics of Public Sector Reform : Implementation of the Position Classification System in Bhutan. The Australian National University. Primary supervisor. 

  • Post-PhD Career: Academic appointments at UNSW  and ANU. Senior Lecturer, ANU.

2014 Dr John Butcher Compacts Between Government and the Not-For-Profit Sector: A Comparative Case Study of National and Sub-National Cross-Sector Policy FrameworksThe Australian National University.  Panel member. 

  • Post-PhD Career: Adjunct positions at Australia and New Zealand School of Government, Curtin University. Retired. 

2013 Dr Herath (Soma) Jayatunge The Effects of Bureaucratic Power on the Policy Process: The Case of Sri Lanka's Poverty Reduction Policy. The Australian National University. Second supervisor. 

  • Post-PhD Career: Public servant, Sri Lanka. 

2012 Dr Fiona Buick Organisational Culture as the Panacea for Joined-Up Working : the Rhetoric and Reality Gap. The University of Canberra. Joint supervisor. 

  • Post-PhD Career: Academic appointments at University of Canberra, University of New South Wales. Associate Professor, UNSW.

2011 Dr Brent Jackson A Work Values  Perspective of the Generation Y - Australian Public Service Employment RelationshipThe Australian National University.  Second supervisor. 

  • Post-PhD Career: Private sector member organisations,  University of Canberra. Professor at University of Canberra. 

2009 Dr Lisa Arnold The Devolution Revolution: The Effect of Human Resource Management Reform in the Australian Public ServiceThe Australian National University. Primary supervisor.

  • Career: OECD, Australian Public Service. Assistant Director-General, APS. 

Invited Presentations, Keynotes, Major events

Selected Examples

Keynote

Academy of journalism and communication, ho chi minh national academy of politics
2025

Human(e) Government: Foundations for the Future of Public Administration and Management. Academy of Journalism and Communication, Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, Vietnam. October 29. 

keynote

Victorian department of premier and cabinet
2025

New Foundations for an Increasingly Hostile World. Invited presentation to the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet staff forum. July 23, 2025.

masterclass

australian public service academy
2025

Academia and the Public Service. Masterclass session with the Australian Public Service Academy. 

Keynote

Towards world class bureaucracy conference
2024

Innovation and Leadership at the Towards World Class Bureaucracy conference, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia, November 5-7. Joint conference of Asian Association for Public Administration (AAPA), the Eastern Regional Organization for Public Administration (EROPA), the Asian Group of Public Administration (AGPA) and the Indonesian Association for Public Administration (IAPA), with the Ministry of Administrative Reform of Indonesia, National Institute of Public Administration (NIPA), and Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM). (Invited keynote).

keynote

Australian public service commission
2024

Vision and values. Presentation for the Australian Public Service Commission Graduate Development Program, Canberra, February 22. 

co-chair ANU Crawford Leadership forum

australian national university
2023

Co-chair of the 2023 ANU Crawford Leadership Forum, Canberra, October 30-31. Arranging the program and hosting the Crawford Oration delivered by Professor Stan Grant. 

in conversation

crawford school of public policy
2023

Budget Beyond the Numbers, in conversation with Hon. Dr Jim Chalmers MP, the Treasurer. Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University, May 31. Podcast available here.

keynote

communites in control
2022

Confronting the Big Challenges of our Times: Reshaping the Government and Public Service Systems that Drive Community Groups Bananas. Invited Keynote Address, Communities in Control Conference, Melbourne,  May 23. (Unable to attend due to COVID).

panel member

melbourne school of government, UNIVERSITY of melbourne
2021

Outsourcing of Digital Government. Invited panelist for the Disruptive Ideas Seminar, Melbourne School of Government, University of Melbourne, November 8. 

keynote

Public service accounting and accountability group
2021

Public Value: Opportunities and Challenges. Invited Scholars Keynote Address, Public Service Accounting and Accountability Group, Annual Conference, Utrecht University School of Governance and Dutch GOAL Network, October 26. 

Panel member

Government vs the virus
2020

Expert interviewee for Government vs The Virus series developed by Professor Colin Talbot to explore how governments, and other actors, were responding to COVID-19. April 2020. 

plenary chair

Academy of management
2019

(In)Civility. Academy of Management annual conference. Invited to convene the Public Nonprofit Division plenary, Boston, August 9-14.

presenter

school of political science and international studies, university of queensland
2019

Where to for Public Value Research? Taking Stock and Moving On. Understanding Public Value workshop, School of Political Science and International Studies, University of Queensland, July 11-12. Invited presenter and workshop funded by the Australian Political Studies Association. 

keynote

Australia and new Zealand school of government
2019

Getting the Work of Government Done: Thinking Differently About Commissioning and Contracting. Invited keynote, Australia and New Zealand School of Government and Chartered Accountants of Australia and New Zealand, Melbourne, June 11. 

panel member

Sir roland wilson foundation, australian national university
2019

Miracles or Mayhem? Post-Election Policy Forum. Invited panel member, Sir Roland Wilson Foundation, Australian National University, Canberra, June 18. Listen to the Policy Forum podcast recorded after the panel.

panel member

Public Management research association
2018

The 21st Century Public Manager: Challenges, Skills, Training. Invited presentation and panel discussion, Public Management Research Association annual conference, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, Singapore, June 1. 

presentation

school of political science and economics, waseda university
2018

A (Modern) History of Public Administration in Australia. Invited presentation, School of Political Science and Economics, Waseda University, Japan, March 2.

keynote

australian association for professional & applied ethics
2017

How Thinking about Misery and Misfortune Can Help Us to Bring Ethics Back into Public Administration and Management. Invited keynote, Australian Association for Professional & Applied Ethics Annual Conference, University of Technology Sydney. June 23.

invited Participant

john hopkins and unicef
2016

Governing Multisectoral Action. Invited expert at workshop arranged by Johns Hopkins and UNICEF at Bellagio Rockefeller Centre. Invited participant; declined due to prior commitment.

panel member

international research society for public management
2016

Invited member of the Editors Panel, a conference event with editors of public administration journals, at the annual IRSPM conference, Hong Kong. 

Keynote

PORTUGUESE Public ADMINISTRATIve Directorate-General for the Qualification of Public Workers and the PORTUGUESE Forum for INTEGRATED Governance
2015

Integrated Governance: International Experiences and Challenges for Portugal. Portuguese Public Administrative Directorate-General for the Qualification of Public Workers and the Portuguese Forum for Integrated Governance, Lisbon, October 15-16. Invited keynote; declined due to prior commitment.  

Participant

General directorate for public investment, MINISTRY of economy and FINANCE, peru and the world bank
2015

International Seminar on National Public Investment Systems. General Directorate for Public Investment, Ministry of Economy and Finance Peru, Seminar sponsored by the World Bank, Lima, July 5-6. Invited participant; declined due to prior commitment. 

Public lecture

civil service college, singapore
2014

Strategic Public Management in Complex Times: Reforms, Relationships and Results. Invited public lecture, Civil Service College, Singapore, July 22.

ipresentation

DEPARTMENT of Premier and cabinet, victoria
2014

Rethinking Public Service Delivery. Invited Departmental Seminar, Department of Premier and Cabinet, Victoria. March 27. 

Presentation

cisco public sector summit
2014

Innovation, Productivity and Delivery. Invited presentation, Cisco Public Sector Summit, Yarra Valley, February 17-19 .

keynote

national public sector women in leadership conference
2013

Rethinking Public Service Delivery: The Leadership Challenge. National Public Sector Women in Leadership Summit, Canberra, December 3.

presentation

DEPARTMENT of Finance, australia
2013

Rethinking Public Service Delivery. Invited Departmental Seminar, Commonwealth Department of Finance, Canberra, November 21.

keynote

Jobs Australia national conference
2013

Rethinking Public Service Delivery: Managing with External Providers. Invited Keynote, Jobs Australia Annual Conference, Sydney, September 25.

presentation

Australia and new zealand school of government conference
2013

Performance Anxiety: Measuring Workforce Performance and Innovation from the Front Line. Invited presentation, ANZSOG Annual Conference, Brisbane, August 7. Co-presented with Deborah Blackman and Damian West.

Keynote

jeff whalan learning group
2013

It All Depends. Invited keynote for the Jeff Whalan Learning Group Alumni, Canberra, July 2.

Keynote

hanover welfare services
2012

Rethinking Public Service Delivery. Invited keynote, Hanover Welfare Services, Annual General Meeting, Melbourne, November 27.

presentation

L21 Public Sector leadership series
2012

Why Reformers Succeed and Fail. Invited presentation, L21 Public Sector Leadership Series, Sydney, October 16.

Keynote

14th World human resource conference
2012

Developing High Performance: Performance Management in the Australian Public Service. Invited keynote, 14th World Human Resources Conference, Melbourne, September 25.

Presentation

Government performance coalition, washington dc
2012

Developing a New Performance Management Framework for the Australian Public Service. Invited presentation, Government Performance Coalition, Washington D.C., April 24. 

Presentation

State services authority of victoria and the australia and new zealand school of government
2011

Does Working Together Always Work? Reflections on Joining up in the Real World. Invited presentation, State Services Authority of Victoria and the Australia and New Zealand School of Government, Melbourne, July 1.

Presentation

ACADEMY of the social sciences in australia
2010

The Degradation of the Professional Capacity of the Australian Public Service. Invited presentation. Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia, Canberra, November 8.

Service to the field

Selected Examples

editorial board member

Current

  • Public Administration
  • Public Management Review
  • Policy Design and Practice
  • Australian Journal of Public Administration
  • Global Public Policy and Governance
  • Halduskultuur: The Estonian Journal of Administrative Culture and DIgital Governance

Previous

  • Public Administration Review
  • Teaching Public Administration
  • Journal of Public Affairs Education
  • International Journal of Public Administration
  • Asia Pacific Journal of Public Administration
  • Canadian Public Administration
  • Journal of Management & Organization

Co-Chair committee

Public management research association
2025

Co-chair of the conference selection committee for the Public Management Research Conference. 

prize committee member

american political science association
2024

Committee member for the Leonard D. White Award for best doctoral dissertation in the field of Public Administration, for the Amercian Political Science Association. 

council member

Institute OF public administration AUSTRALIA
2024

Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) Australian Capital Territory representative on IPAA National Council. 

prize committee chair

academy of management
2024

Chair of the committee to award the Best Book Award for the Public Nonprofit Division of the Academy of Management. 

prize committee chair

public management research association
2023

Chair of the Camilla Stivers prize committee, which selects the best article published in Perspectives on Public Management and Governance in 2023 and 2024. 

selection committee member

public management research association
20222023

Member of the selection committee to appoint the editors of Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory; ranked 2nd in SJR for public administration. 

journal editor

Public management review
20222024

Appointed Associate Editor for Public Management Review with an initial term of 2 years. 

mentor Athena swan

university of melbourne
2022

Mentor of the Athena SWAN Supporting Talent & Enabling Talent (STEP) Program at the University of Melbourne. This pilot program is especially focused on mentoring women for promotion from Level C (Senior Lecturer) to Level D (Associate Professor).

guest lecture

University of BIRMINGHAM
2021

Invited lecture in the subject Leadership in Public Services. Subject leader: Professor Catherine Durose, December 2021. 

board member

Public management research association
20212025

Elected to the Public Management Research Association Board in May 2021 and served until 2025. Member of several subcomittees. 

guest lecture

australian national university
2021

Invited lecture in the subject Public Sector Management, Crawford School of Public Policy. Subject Leader: Dr Azad Singh Bali, March 2021. 

guest lecture

cardiff university
2021

Invited lecture in the subject Contemporary Challenges in Public Service Leadership, Cardiff Business School. Subject Leader: Dr Catherine Farrell, February 2021. 

conference program committee

Public Management Research Association
2021

Member of the program committee for the Public Management Research Association Annual Conference, Hawaii.

prize committee chair

academy of management
20212022

Invited to Chair the Keith Provan Award Committee for the Public NonProfit Division at the Academy of Management, 2021-2022. The award is given annually in Keith Provan's honour for distinguished contribution to the field of Public Administration. 

journal editors panel

Fudan university
2020

Invited member of International Editor Panel, December 4th convened by the Institute for Global Public Policy (Fudan University), LSE-Fudan Research Centre for Global Public Policy, School of International Relations and Public Affairs (Fudan University). Journal editors included: Australian Journal of Public Administration, Global Public Policy and Governance, International Public Management Journal, Public Management Review, Public Policy and Administration 

guest lecture

University of georgia
2020

Invited guest lecture on public sector reform in the subject Public Administration and Democracy, School of Public and International Affairs, Department of Public Administration and Policy, University of Georgia. Subject leader: Professor Eric Zeemering. September 2020.

journal editors panel

International Research Society for Public Management
2020

Virtual Meet the Editors session for early career researchers. This would normally be held at the International Research Society for Public Management annual conference in Finland. June. 

conference program committee

public management research ASSOCIATION
2020

Member of the program committee for the Annual Public Management Research Association Conference in Hawaii.

plenary host and journal editors panel

International Research Society for Public Management
2019

Hosted the opening plenary at the IRSPM conference and invited to participate in Meet the Editors panel for early career researchers. April, Wellington, New Zealand. 

external reviewer

australian national univeristy
2019

External member of the Review of ANU Academic Programmes on Public Administration: Graduate Diploma of Public Policy, Master of Public Administration, and Executive Master of Public Administration. Undertaken by the College of Asia & the Pacific for the ANU Academic Quality Assurance Committee. 

prize committee member

journal of public administration research and theory
2019

Member of the judging committee for the Beryl Radin Award for best paper published in 2018 in the Journal of Public Administration Research and Theory.

committee members

Public management research association
20182019

Member of the Public Management Research Association internationalisation committee.

journal editors panel

International Research Society for Public Management
2018

Invited to participate in the Meet the Editors panel for early career researchers. April, Edinburgh, Scotland.

conference program committee

Public Management research association
2018

Member of the program committee for the Annual Conference in Singapore.

journal editors panel

International Research Society for Public Management
2017

Invited to participate in Meet the Editors Panel for early career researchers at the annual IRSPM conference. April, Budapest, Hungary. 

program review chair

Flinders University
2015

Chair of the review panel for the five year review of Graduate Programs in Public Administration at Flinders University, Australia.

board member

International research society for public management
20122018

Elected At-Large member of the Executive Board of the International Research Society for Public Management. 

journal editor

Australian journal of public administration
20152021

Co-editor of the Australian Journal of Public Administration. Appointed in 2015 by the Institute of Public Administration Australia following a competitive selection process and renewed for additional term. Previously had been Deputy Editor and Associate Editor. 

engagement activities

Selected Examples

Advisory panel

institute of public administration australia (NSW)
20252026

Invited to join Advisory Panel for The Future of Public Service in New South Wales white paper. A landmark paper to be undertaking by the Institute of Public Administration Australia (NSW) as part of its 90th anniversary. 

recommendation committee

attorney-general's department, commonwealth of australia
2025

Invited member of recommendation panel for appointment of the Freedom of Information Commissioner, Commonwealth of Australia. The panel comprised two Commonwealth Government secretaries and the Australian Information Commissioner. 

panel member

australia and new zealand school of government
2025

Speaker at the launch of the Pathways to Positive Public Administration book hosted by the Australia and New Zealand School of Government, featuring a panel of the editors and public servants from Aotearoa New Zealand and Australia. February. Video link. 

mentor

american society for public administration
2025

Mentor for American Society for Public Administration Founders Fellows program working with the next generation of public service leaders. My mentee is Ms Addie Murphy, George Washington University. 

member, evaluation committee

australian public service commission
2024

Invited member of the Capability Reinvestment Fund Evaluation Committee, which considers applications for funding under the scheme to invest in the organisational capability of the Australian Public Service. This was a key tenet of the governments reform agenda. $6.5M in funding was allocated to nine projects. Appointed by the Australian Public Service Commissioner. 

national council member

institute of public administration australia
2024ongoing

Australian Capital Territory representative on the Institute of Public Administration Australia National Council

Foundation Partner governance group

national centre for place-based collaboration
20232024

Invited member of the National Centre for Place-Based Collaboration (NEXUS Centre) Foundation Partner Governance Group. The Governance Group provide oversight and support the work of the Foundation Partner., bringing  together leaders from a range of stakeholder groups including place-based backbone organisations, government, philanthropy, business, intermediaries, research, and community organisations, along with advisors from the Commonwealth Government and members of the Foundation Partner consortium

book launch

2023

Hosted launch of the Policy Policy Handbook co-authored by Professor Glyn Davis, Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and the Cabinet. May. In collaboration with the Public Services Research Group, UNSW Canberra. 

Annual address on public sector reform

2023

Hosted the inaugural Annual Address on Public Sector Reform and in conversation with the Minister of Finance, Women and the Public Service. November.

budget beyond the numbers

2023

Hosted address and in conversation Budget Beyond the Numbers with the Australian Treasurer, the Hon. Dr Jim Chalmers at the Crawford School of Public Policy. May. 

Council member

Institute of Public administration australia (ACT)
2022ongoing

Appointed member of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (ACT) Council

advisory board member

victorian public sector commission
20222025

Ministerial appointment to the Advisory Board for the Victorian Public Sector Commission. I served on the board from 2022 to 2025, providing advice to the Commissioner. 

chair Research committee

Centre for Public impact AUstralia
20212026

Invited to join the Centre for Public Impact Australia Research Committee which provides advice to the board on the research program of CPI, determines funding and approval for  new projects, and monitors and evaluates projects. Appointed Chair of the Research Committee from June, 2023. CPI is Boston Consulting Group Foundation. 

expert advice

chartered association of business schools
october 2020

International subject expert invited to provide input into the Chartered Association of Business Schools’ Academic Journal Guide, UK. 

program review

UK public policy profession
JUNE 2020

Engaged by the Policy Profession, UK Civil Service to provide a review and evaluation of the Executive Master of Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science. In collaboration with Catherine Althaus and Lisa Carson. 

expert panel

Infrastructure victoria
20192020

Appointed member of the Infrastructure Victoria Expert Panel on the Role of Infrastructure in Addressing Regional Disadvantage. Appointed by the CEO of Infrastructure Victoria, Michael Masson. 

Advisory Board member

AUSTRALIAN public service commission
20182020

Invited member of the Advisory Board of the Australian Public Service Centre for Leadership and Learning. Appointed by the Australian Public Service Commissioner, Peter Woolcott. 

recent podcasts

various

Selected recent examples

2025 

  • Institutional Integrity Amid Uncertainty: Key Insights from the American Society for Public Administration COnference. Work with Purpose podcast in conjunction with the Australian Public Service Commission and Institute of Public Administration Australia, August.
  • On a Journey of Continuous Reform Part 1 and Part 2. Work with Purpose podcast, in conjunction with the Australian Public Service Commission and Institute of Public Administration Australia, March. 

2024

2023

2021

2018

recent media engagement

education activities

This section includes detail on courses taught since 2003, and  student experience survey data  (where available) from 2017 onwards. Student experience data covers teaching at the University of Melbourne, Australia and New Zealand School of Government, and the Australian National University. 

I have also undertaken considerable guest teaching at the Australian National University, University of Melbourne, Australia and New Zealand School of Government, and for a range of international universities e.g Cardiff Business School, University of Georgia, Tallinn University of Technology, University of Birmingham.

Examples of executive education/professional development programs are also provided. 

fostering public policy research

australian national university
20232024

Responsible for the design and delivery of Fostering Public Policy Research, a 3-day intensive course. Compulsory course for all HDR students in the Crawford School of Public Policy, created in response to the School Review undertaken in 2017/2018. Delivery mode: face-to-face. Undertook all grading. 

Year 2023 2024
Enrolment 9 20

Note that the low response rate means that student experience data is not available. 

delivering public value

australia and new zealand school of government
20192022

Responsible for the full design and delivery of Delivering Public Value, a 4-day intensive course. Compulsory opening course in the Executive Master of Public Administration at ANZSOG. Delivery mode: both face-to-face and online (during COVID). Participants are sponsored by their government and come from jurisdictions across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. Consistently the highest student evaluation scores at ANZSOG. Undertook majority of grading. 

Mean score provided. Ratings are out of 5.0. 

Year 2019 2020 2021 (online)* 2022 (online)**
Enrolment 111 (n=60) 96 (n=66) 94 (n=56) 103 (n=40)
Student Experience

4.5 -The subject overall met my expectations

4.61 -The subject overall met my expectations

4.86 - How would you rate Janine O'Flynn as a subject leader?

4.65 - How would you rate Janine O’Flynn as a subject leader ?

4.43- The learnings from the subject are transferable to my workplace 4.52- The learnings from the subject are transferable to my workplace 4.36 - How would you rate the overall student experience?  4.35 - How would you rate your overall experience of the subject?
4.43 - The quality of faculty and guest practitioners met my expectations 4.76 - The quality of faculty and guest practitioners met my expectations 4.57 - The subject provided a valuable learning experience 4.48 - The subject provided a valuable learning experience

* survey questions changed 

** due to technical error, the survey was distributed in August 2022, rather than March. 

2019 - participant comments

  • I found Janine's style incredibly effective and engaging. Thanks for a great week!
  • Very relevant to the work I do and a great way to start my EMPA. Thanks!!
  • Loved it. I walked out Friday so excited about how the concepts I've learned could be applied to my day to day work.
  • The theme of adding public value was not a concept I had really thought about until EMPA. It has opened my eyes in regard to what my role is in the public sector and already I am thinking differently about what I do.
  • I had not really made the link between strategic thinking and value creation – I found this has broadened my thinking and will influence how I develop and deliver programs.
  • Truly sensational first week. The effort and dedication that went into it were highly visible and we all benefited greatly.
  • Janine O’Flynn was hands down the best educator, facilitator and deliverer of information I’ve ever encountered. Such a brilliant subject leader with insane knowledge and ability to make it practical and able to be implemented. Total asset to ANZSOG
  • Janine was amazing. She sustained an incredible level of energy across the four days – not only during sessions but throughout the breaks and into the evening. Her style, which mixed both the credibility of knowledge, ability to share that knowledge effectively with a diverse group and her ability to keep us entertained and engaged was a real highlight for me.

2020 - participant comments

  • It was really useful to have a framework to apply to my thinking and then consider the individual components of that framework as it applies to my daily work. What I liked was that the days were varied, informative and so very applicable to what I do every day.
  • I left the week of lectures with greater courage to challenge what my agency does and why.
  • It was brilliant. It crystallised lots of things I've been thinking about and trying to articulate over a number of years. I felt like my instincts were validated and that I was given a language to explain it.
  • Very professional and relatable to my work, the presenters are incredibly generous with their time and their willingness to share their skills and knowledge.
  • The themes and content were very well pitched, a great mix that prompted thinking about how we as senior public service managers could look to improve the way we do things, or at least, the way we think about and analyse problems.
  • Personally I found the 4 days enlightening. I feel that based on the stories told by the presenters, that I actually have the skills to take on many different roles within the public service. Previously I didn't know if I could or not.
  • DPV was an outstanding way to kick off my EMPA. I found the content, delivery and flow outstanding. The quality of the speakers and relevance to working in government today was great. Janine is a legend – could listen to her for hours!
  • Janine did a great job of teaching this course. She is engaging and knowledgeable. Her warmth and respect for her colleagues and students promoted a collaborative and positive atmosphere.

2021 - participant comments

  • I have already started applying the strategy triangle at work. Also – I can't stop sharing the concept of co–production at work. Really clicked in my head the importance of place when determining strategies and engaging with the community.
  • Janine's overviews really consolidated learning and its application, panels were great, course content and materials are absolutely top notch.
  • Overall I really appreciated the planning and thought that went into the resource materials, including mix of formats, competing views, space for discussion. It was really fantastic.
  • The course was fantastic. The pivot early to link the theory to the challenges made it much better, more real and allowed for better experiential learning.
  • The online support was excellent, the experience was very interactive despite seeing everyone in 2D! Thank you Janine, great content, great panel participants and interaction with us.
  • Janine is a fantastic teacher, who brought in interesting speakers and articles for us to review. She summarised and linked all the material together well, and had empathy that we have other jobs.
  • It was better than expected for an online experience, and Janine and team did a beautiful job of a) tailoring to an online mode; b) responding to early feedback; and c) acknowledging and empathising with some of the challenges of this mode.
  • The breadth and depth of guest practitioners was excellent. Janine’s collation and sequencing of materials was exceptionally good as was her masterful management of the on–line day.
  • The challenge group approach was brilliant – I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to work with such inspiring, talented, and humanistic teammates and the discussions we had together as we worked through our assignments made the classroom days so much more meaningful.

2022 - participant comments

  • DPV was a great experience, the live sessions were very interesting and engaging, the assessment well structured and it was great way to start the EMPA. The group assignment was well designed and interesting and gave me an opportunity to establish a network which I am still using in my EMPA studies today.
  • This was a really good unit to start with and it was clear that ANZSOG has given a lot of thought to optimising the online learning environment. The platform itself is intuitive and the mix of articles and videos provides a variety of materials that might not be able to be used as effectively in a live environment.
  • The faculty structured the course really well. All the topics flowed. The guests were very knowledgeable and their talks on their experiences were very insightful.
  • I found the quality very high in both the instructor, the guest speakers and the learning materials.
  • I thought the course was very well structured and I took a lot from the learnings. It was a great experience.
  • Overall I thought this was an excellent foundational subject that provided an engaging and theoretically sophisticated intro to the course as a whole.

world of public administration

university of melbourne
20142018

Responsible for full design and delivery of  World of Public Administration, a 5-day Masters level intensive course. Compulsory opening course in the Master of Public Administration at the University of Melbourne. I undertook all grading. Delivery mode: face-to-face.

I taught this course from 2014 to 2018 with student enrolments of: 7 (2014); 8 (semester 1, 2015), 9 (semester 2, 2015). 

Mean score provided. Ratings are out of 5.0. 

Year 2017 2018
Enrolment 10 11
Student Experience

4.7 - Overall, this subject has been well-taught

4.5 - Overall, this subject has been well-taught

4.7- Overall, the experience gained through this subject has been intellectually stimulating 4.5 - Overall, the experience gained through this subject has been intellectually stimulating

2017 - participant comments

  • Janine brings in-depth knowledge, insight and real examples which keeps the subject interesting. She always relates the contents of the subject to the issues that students wrote in their first paper, which helps the students to engage in the subject and try to apply the themes of the subject to the issue that was presented. Overall this helps the class to have an interactive, discussion based environment where students learn from each other as well.
  • The lecturer was great and at the same time very supportive. Allow students to share and explore further.
  • Learning from the group was the best part of the subject I felt. Everyone had diverse experiences that were valuable. I also felt it was valuable to have the guest speakers come in to break up the days and answer our questions.
  • The teaching was excellent. It was grueling to deliver 9-5 mon-fri but we got through a lot of theory and it was very engaging. Lots of great examples from current issues, lots of relevant reading.

2018 - participant comments

  • Tremendous learning experience in class and getting to witness how theories are applied in practice through guest lectures.
  • Great mentoring and teaching.

public management

UNIVERSITY of melbourne
20132018

Responsible for the full design and delivery of Public Management, a 6-day Masters level intensive course. A double-credit, compulsory course in the Master of Public Policy and Management at the University of Melbourne.  I undertook all grading in most years, and shared grading in 2017 and 2018. Delivery mode: face-to-face.

I taught this course from 2013 to 2018 with student enrolments of: 47 (semester 1, 2013), 39 (semester 2, 2013); 57 (2014); 58 (2015); 55 (2016). 

Mean score provided. Ratings are out of 5.0. 

Year 2017 2018
Enrolment 40 57
Student Experience

4.7 - Overall, this subject has been intellectually stimulating

4.45 - Overall, this subject has been intellectually stimulating

4.7 - Overall, this subject has been well-taught 4.4 - Overall, this subject has been well-taught

2017 - participant comments

  • Public management is my favourite subject that I have ever done. I was constantly intellectually stimulated, and found class to be interesting and enjoyable throughout the whole day. Janine is a fantastic lecturer and an asset to Melbourne University.
  • I thought that cases were a great way to see how the theory of public management worked in practise.
  • The subject matter was really interesting and I enjoyed how practical the examples were. I also really liked the subject format of having three blocks of two day intensives. This was useful as it allowed me to focus my learning because there was time to go into depth on a topic over two days but it also wasn't as intense as if the subject was all completed in one block.
  • Janine is wonderful in explaining theories of public management.
  • Janine O'Flynn coordinated the subject wonderfully. She was insightful and funny and had a thoughtful response for almost every question that was posed to her. She also went out of her way to send me additional resources that she believed would aid my research. On top of this, learning via case studies was a great way to link the theory of the course with the practice of the everyday public service. I appreciated this as I have not been provided with the same insight at any other point the light my degree.
  • Janine O'Flynn is a fantastic teacher and facilitator and I have benefited from being able to share in a highly stimulating learning environment as a result. The sense of humour and willingness to challenge and be challenged in the group which Janine facilitated was a rewarding learning experience. Learning by method of case study has been helpful in thinking about how to look at policy and practice in applied settings.
  • This was the best subject I have ever taken at university! Janine was an outstanding lecturer and teacher who made theoretical concepts practical and clear to understand. The classes were exceptionally well organised, the lecture slides were informative and useful, and the assignments were practical and interesting. I was so impressed with the way Janine ran the class - it felt so inclusive and collaborative, and she was outstanding at facilitating discussion and prompting us to think outside the box and challenge our preconceived ideas. I know from professional experience that this subject is reflective of real systems and problems faced in government, and I truly feel that doing this subject has contributed not only to my academic learning, but has been incredibly helpful professionally. The group element was great as it allowed us to get to know our classmates and collaborate but did not carry a groupwork-based grade. Letting students present on the second last day was also a highlight, as we got to learn so much from our peers. I could not recommend this subject more highly!

2018 - participant comments

  • It's interactive. Case studies and assignment requirements compel the student to apply theories in practical world governance problems and seek solutions.
  • I enjoyed the new approaches that were taught in this subject that assisted me to extend on my knowledge of current management issues, in both domestic and international contexts. Janine's the best! She made classes interesting, enjoyable and also challenging.
  • It was extremely engaging, with a lot of great examples.The way the case studies were "dissected" was extremely insightful. The best part is the Prof was not only knowledgeable, but passionate and highly experienced as an academic and practitioner in the field. I felt very inspired. Another bonus was to be taught by a known scholar (you do your own literature research and find others citing the lecturer). It gives you even more certainty of the quality of education you are receiving.
  • Professor O'Flynn is an excellent lecturer. Her enthusiasm for the subject matter was contagious and her ability to translate dry theory into interesting, contemporary contexts brought the subject alive. Her warm manner created a learning space which invited participation. Bali was also very affable and very constructive in the group discussions. The structure of the case based material was very relatable. I found it a really useful prism with which to view the content through. I found the assessment was very clearly explained and although I have found it challenging, the challenging aspect was not because it wasn't well explained.
  • I loved the way the classes were run—the lecture component, syndicate discussion groups and plenary discussions. It also helped that Janine was flexible in making changes to the day's agenda where necessary and allowed time for breaks. The course was very well managed. The material was intellectually stimulating and the class also contributed to some very interesting insights.
  • The case response approach really brought the theory to life. Janine has endless expertise - you can throw any public management issue at her and she'll have three books and a case example up her sleeve.
  • I did not think I could be induced to find the field of Public Management as interesting and engaging as I subsequently have. In addition to the content delivered in class, Janine referred me to a number of really interesting texts and books which have taught me a lot about the environment in which I work.

international public management

university of melbourne
20142015

Co-designed and co-delivered International Public Management, a 5-day Masters level intensive course in collaboration with the University of Birmingham. The course was delivered in Birmingham bringing together cohorts from both institutions to explore contemporary public management issues. A selective course for students enrolled in Masters level study.  Shared grading with co-convenor. Delivery mode: face-to-face.

I co- taught this course from 2014 to 2015 with student enrolments of 12 (2014); 13 (2015). 

researching politics and policy

university of melbourne
20132014

Responsible for the design and delivery of Researching Politics and Policy, the required PhD workshop, across semester 1 and semester 2. I undertook all grading. Delivery mode: face-to-face

I taught this course from 2013 to 2014 with student enrolments of 19 (2013); 12 (2014)

case studies in public MANAGEMENT

australian national university
20072012

Responsible for the design and delivery of Case Studies in Public Sector Management, a Masters level compulsory course in the Master of Public Administration. I undertook all grading for this course. 

I taught the course from 2007 to 2012 with student enrolments of: 15 (2007); 26 (2008); 37 (2009); 31 (2010); 58 (2011); 56 (2012)

government, markets, and global change

australian national university
20092011

Co-designed and co-delivered the postgraduate course Government, Markets and Global Change, a compulsory course for all students in the Crawford School. I was the course convenor overseeing all aspects of the course, including coordinating all teaching and professional staff,  preparing materials for workshops, and delivering separate assessment workshops for students. 

I taught the course from 2009 to 2011 with student enrolments of: 195 (2009); 156 (2010); 118 (2011)

people and performance in public organisations

australian national university
2008

Responsible for the design and delivery of People and Performance in Public Organisations, a Masters level course in the Master of Public Policy. I undertook all grading for the course. 

I taught the course in 2008 with student enrolments of 49. 

public administration

university of canberra
20042007

Responsible for the design and delivery of the postgraduate course Public Administration, a compulsory Masters level course in the Master of Public Administration. 

I taught the course from 2004 to 2007.

public administration at the interface

UNIVERSITY of canberra
20042006

Responsible for the design and delivery of the postgraduate course Public Administration at the Interface, a compulsory Masters level course in the Master of Public Administration. 

I taught the course from 2004 to 2006.

public sector management

univeristy of canberra
20042007

Responsible for the design and delivery of the undergraduate course Public Sector Management, a compulsory undergraduate level course in the Bachelor of Business. 

I taught the course from 2004 to 2007. 

management

university of melbourne
2003

Responsible for the design and co-delivery of the undergraduate course Management in the Bachelor of Commerce. 

I co-taught this course in 2003. 

human resource management

university of melbourne
2003

Responsible for the design and delivery of the postgraduate course Human Resource Management in the Master of Management.

I taught this course in 2003, semester 1 and semester 2.

Executive Education and Professional Development (selected examples)

2025

  • Strategic Policy Uplift Program for Department of Health and Aged Care, Crawford School of Public Policy - presenter
  • Leadership Study Tour for Royal Civil Service Commission, Crawford School of Public Policy - presenter
  • Deputies Program, Australia and New Zealand School of Government - presenter

2024

  • Public Leadership in a Digital Age, Australia and New Zealand School of Government - presenter
  • Jeff Whalan Learning Groups, Secretaries Group - presenter

2023

  • Senior Executive Service Leadership Challenge, Services Australia - design, deliver, present
  • Executive Fellows Program, Australia and New Zealand School of Government - presenter

2022

  • Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Malaysian Leadership Program, Australia and New Zealand School of Government - presenter

2021

  • The New Stewardship Program, Victorian Public Sector Commission - design, deliver, present
  • Leadership Conference, City of Port Phillip Executive Leadership Team - presenter 
  • Public Value, City of Port Phillip Manager Workshops - design, deliver, present (2019- 2021)

2020

  • Senior Executive Induction Program, Victorian Public Sector Commission - presenter
  • Ministerial Advisors Program, Melbourne School of Government - presenter

Education Leadership Roles

Academic director (acting)

australia and new zealand school of government
20192019

Academic Director (Acting) for the Executive Master of Public Administration, ANZSOG

director of education

UNIVERSITY of melbourne
20152018

Director of Education, Melbourne School of Government, University of Melbourne. Oversight of all postgraduate programs and strategic initiatives. 

program convenor

University of melbourne
20132018

Program convenor for the Master of Public Administration, University of Melbourne

program convenor

university of melbourne
20132016

Program convenor for the Master of Public Policy and Management, University of Melbourne

Director of education

australian NATIONAL university
20092012

Director of Education, Crawford School of Public Policy, Australian National University. Oversight of all postgraduate programs, and strategic initiatives. 

Education Reviews

review SUPPORT

AUSTRALIA and new zealand school of government
2021

Provided support to the Review Panel who undertook a review of the Executive Master of Public Administration at ANZSOG. Including undertaking longitudinal data analysis and reporting on student and alumni feedback. 

external reviewer

london school of economics and political science
2020

Engaged by the Policy Profession, UK Civil Service to provide a review and evaluation of the Executive Master of Public Policy at the London School of Economics and Political Science. In collaboration with Catherine Althaus and Lisa Carson. 

external reviewer

college of asia and the pacific, anu
2019

External member of the Review of ANU Academic Programmes on Public Administration: Graduate Diploma of Public Policy, Master of Public Administration, and Executive Master of Public Administration. Undertaken by the College of Asia & the Pacific for the ANU Academic Quality Assurance Committee. 

external reviewer

flinders university
2015

Chair of the review panel for the five year review of Graduate Programs in Public Administration at Flinders University, Australia. This involved chairing the review, and then preparing the review report for Flinders. 

service to the university

Selected examples only

australian national univeristy

2023

Leadership roles

2023 -current,  Director, Crawford School of Public Policy

2025 - Acting Dean, College of Law, Governance and Policy - as requested

Committees and panels

  • University Leadership Group
  • College of Law, Governance and Policy Executive Committee - member
  • College of Asia and the Pacific Executive Committee - member (2023-2024)
  • Crawford School of Public Policy Executive - chair
  • Crawford School of Public Policy IDEA committee - member
  • Advisory Board, Tax and Transfer Policy Institute - member
  • Advisory Board, Indonesia Project - member
  • Advisory Board, National Security College - member (2023-2024)
  • Various selection panels for academic and professional staff appointments - chair and member

Service examples

2025 - Hosted alumni dialogues in Australia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos

2024 - Hosted the annual Order of Australia Association Australian National University Lecture, A Possible World – Transforming Gender Relations for Sustainability

2023 - Co-convenor of the ANU Crawford Leadership Forum, Democratic Resilience and Renewal for the 21st Century. ACLF is university level event hosted annually. Hosted the Crawford oration as part of ACLF

Australia and new zealand school of government

20182023

Leadership roles

  • 2022 - Deputy Dean (Engagement)
  • 2019 - Academic Director of the Executive Master of Public Administration (Acting)

Committees and panels

  • Executive Leadership Team - member
  • Academic Management Team - member
  • Faculty Advisory Panel - member
  • Various selection panels for academic and professional staff

university of melbourne

20132023

Leadership roles

  • 2015-2018 - Director of Education
  • 2013-2018 - Convenor, Master of Public Administration
  • 2013-2016 - Convenor, Master of Public Policy and Management

Committees and panels

  • Melbourne School of Government Executive Committee - member
  • Melbourne School of Government and School of Social and Political Sciences Graduate Studies Committee - chair and member
  • Faculty of Arts Graduate Studies Committee - member; ad hoc taskforce member
  • Faculty of Arts panel advising Australian Research Council applicants - member 
  • Various selection panels across disciplines and levels
  • Academic Board - all Professors are members

australian national university

20072013

Leadership roles

  • 2009-2012 Director of Education

Committees and panels

  • College of Asia and Pacific Education Committee - member
  • Crawford School of Public Policy Management Committee - member
  • Crawford School of Public Policy Education Committee - chair
  • Crawford School of Public Policy Research Committee - member
  • Various selection panel for academic staff at all levels and across disciplines