Qualifications:

BSc, MPhil, PhD, MBA

Senior member:

Australian Catholic Bishops’ Conference (National Centre for Pastoral Research)

Biography:

I am the Director of the National Centre for Pastoral Research, an agency of the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference. I specialise in managing complex projects and leading both quantitative and qualitative research.

I hold a doctorate in Pastoral Studies from the University of Divinity, with additional qualifications in Business, Community Resource Management, and Social Work. My PhD focused on the vitality of Australian Catholic parishes.

I was the lead researcher and Adjunct Secretary for the historic Plenary Council of the Catholic Church in Australia. More recently, I served as National Coordinator for the Synod on Synodality (2021–2024), and was appointed a full voting member of the Synod from the Oceania region—one of 52 women to participate in this capacity for the first time in the Church’s history.

I am the author of A Handbook for Building Stronger Parishes (2016) and have co-authored several publications on parish vitality, Catholic demographics, and faith practice in Australia. I also hold honorary appointments at the Australian Catholic University and the University of Divinity.