About me
Carolyn is an established leader in health and community services with over 22 years of experience across regional Victoria, Melbourne, and Ireland. She has held roles including CEO, executive director, policy officer, and researcher, specialising in community wellbeing and social determinants of health. At VicHealth, Carolyn drives the research agenda and impact evaluation, focusing on systems transformation in food, commercial, and neighborhood systems. Her leadership has been instrumental in developing VicHealth’s comprehensive Impact and Evaluation Framework, aimed at monitoring systems change and informing policy at local, state, and national levels.
A passionate advocate for gender equality, early childhood development, and social inclusion, Carolyn leverages her deep understanding of research to influence policy and practice. Her PhD, “Boundary Spanning for Health,” led to the creation of the Community Connector Framework, which has been widely applied in health and community services to engage with underserved populations.
Carolyn holds a PhD, MA in Public Policy and Management, and several other qualifications, including her Fellowship with the Australasian College of Health Service Management. She is recognized for her strategic expertise, partnership development, and leadership in advancing public health research and practice.