Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Timeline
Generic

Grant Dukes

Zuccoli,Australia

Summary

Strategic leader with over 18 years of experience driving policy development through data-informed decision-making across government agencies. Proven success in leading cross-sector initiatives, influencing national policy, and delivering measurable outcomes in equity-focused programs. Skilled in stakeholder engagement, governance, and translating complex data into actionable insights for systemic change.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Treasurer/ Parent Member (voluntary)

Department of Education and Training (DET) – Zuccoli School Council
02.2024 - Current
  • Oversaw financial governance and compliance for the school council, ensuring alignment with NT Department of Education and Training policies and funding guidelines
  • Managed budgeting processes, monitored expenditure, and provided transparent financial reporting to council members
  • Collaborated with school leadership to align financial decisions with strategic priorities, including inclusive education initiatives and infrastructure improvements
  • Led risk management efforts related to financial operations, ensuring accountability and sustainability of council-led programs
  • Developed and presented financial updates at council meetings, translating complex data into accessible formats to support informed decision-making

Assistant Director Inclusion Reform (SAO1)

Department of Education and Training (DET)
09.2022 - Current
  • Acted as Director Inclusion Reform (SAO2) on numerous occasions, providing strategic advice, guidance and leadership to a multidisciplinary team, including teaching and administrative staff
  • Program managed the Framework for Inclusion 2019-2029, the department’s 10-year strategic plan for building a more inclusive education system
  • Provided strategic advice and guidance to senior leaders to support strategic negotiations on building inclusive education, including forums such as the interagency Disability Reform Taskforce and the interjurisdictional Disability Standards for Education Review
  • Represented the Northern Territory in inter-jurisdictional policy conversations forums such as the Inclusive Education – Interjurisdictional meeting
  • Led the departmental High-Extensive funding process, including review and planning for delivery of the process in 2023
  • Developed automated reporting on the National Consistent Collection of Data on Students with Disability (NCCD) for departmental business planning at the School, NT and regional levels
  • Developed the plan for establishing a Student Outreach program to increase schools’ capacity to work with students with disability and become more inclusive
  • Planned and led numerous recruitment actions to key staff within the team and participated in recruitment actions for other teams providing my expertise in finding the right person
  • Initiated, planned and delivered complex strategic projects including initiatives arising from Cabinet, ensure their alignment to outcomes through evaluation practices, and provide progress reporting
  • Coordinated, researched, and prepared high level briefs, submissions, reports and correspondence to enable policy decision making at a Minister and senior executive level
  • Developed and maintained effective partnerships, consulting, liaising and negotiating strategically on commissioned evidence-based projects and policy positions
  • Established and promoted organisational project management and evaluation frameworks and processes and ensured that these are embedded into planning and delivery of initiatives relating to the Framework for Inclusion 2019-2029.
  • Contributed to the senior management team by ensuring staff understanding and participation in the unit’s project planning, evaluation and reporting responsibilities

Assistant Director Early Years Strategic Policy (SAO1)

Department of Education (DoE) – Early Years Strategic Policy
03.2017 - 09.2022
  • Acted as Director Early Years Strategic Policy (SAO2) on numerous occasions, providing strategic advice, guidance and leadership to the Early Years Strategic Policy team
  • Led the Northern Territory response to the Preschool Reform Agreement, including negotiating with central agencies and the Commonwealth Government and developing briefings and policy positions
  • Led the project planning for the establishment of Three-Year-Old Preschool project in the Northern Territory
  • Provided strategic leadership and programmatic support to the early childhood services subsidy team that provides early childhood services with $5 million of annual funding
  • Led the Northern Territory’s data response to the Lifting our Game report
  • Represented the Northern Territory on several national working groups such as the Preschool Reform Agreement Implementation Committee Technical Working Group
  • Led the provision of ongoing support, policy development and reporting for the Three-Year-Old Preschool trial schools
  • Provided strategic and operational leadership, including mentoring and guidance, to junior Early Years Strategic Policy staff members and acted in the Director Early Years Strategic Policy
  • Provided leadership and reporting expertise to successful discharge the National Partnership Agreement on Universal Access to Early Childhood Education
  • Participated in the bilateral and multilateral negotiation meetings to establish a Preschool Reform Agreement with the Australian Government
  • Fostered and built quality relationships with internal and external stakeholders that allowed me to leverage information and deliver better outcomes
  • Prepared high level written and in-depth technical correspondence which included Cabinet Submissions, ministerials, Chief Executive memorandums, reports and general correspondence at an officer level between agencies
  • Coordinated whole of Department responses to interdepartmental and interjurisdictional working groups
  • Participated in inter-jurisdictional policy conversations in forums such as the Early Childhood Data Subgroup
  • Provided systems training on Early Childhood Program Attendance System to individuals and small groups
  • Presented to medium sized groups of staff about data and the Early Childhood Program Attendance System
  • Provided secretariat services for the Early Childhood Principal Reference Committee
  • Undertook visits to remote localities to gain a contextual understanding of remote service provision
  • Lead data submission for the South Australian/Northern Territory joint policy
  • Developed a funding allocation model for the potential redevelopment of early childhood education
  • Developed draft report and interim data capture tool for the Integrated Services team
  • Provided on-going expert advice on reporting and data to the division and guidance to staff on data analysis and reporting
  • Participated in the procurement panel for a new Families as First Teachers data tool, providing technical and systems oversight
  • Developed a new counting methodology for the Families as First Teachers performance indicators and prepared Executive Board papers to have the indicator re-benchmarked

Project Officer – Reporting (AO6)

Department of Education (DoE) – Early Childhood Policy and Programs
08.2015 - 03.2017
  • Provided secretariat services for the Early Childhood Principal Reference Committee
  • Lead the Early Childhood Education and Care records management review
  • Participated in the Northern Territory Education and Care Awards planning committee and provided website administration
  • Provided systems training and support on Early Childhood Program Attendance System to individuals and small groups
  • Accredited 3a (Abecedarian Approach Australia) practitioner
  • Developed draft Families as First Teachers (FaFT) report
  • Developed and documented counting rules for FaFT report
  • Produced analysis of 2015 FaFT attendance data
  • Established list of foundation reports for development in Business Objects
  • Fostered internal and external relationships with key stakeholders
  • Collaboratively developed data templates for Child and Family Centres (CFCs)
  • Provided advice to program managers on reporting
  • Provided analysis of data to program managers
  • Developed Service Level Agreement for use in schools and non-government services
  • Prepared, wrote and collated reports to the Commonwealth Government
  • Reviewed and amended Chief Minister’s Award applications
  • Provided ad-hoc data to program areas
  • Produced work process manuals

Data Management Officer (AO6)

Department of Children and Families (DCF) – Performance Data and Reporting Unit
03.2013 - 08.2015
  • Established reporting on Australian Government funded programs
  • Established monthly report for the Remote Service programs
  • Provided analysis of data to program manager
  • Undertook analysis of the Remote Aboriginal Family Community Worker on-line database
  • Prepared, wrote and collated Estimates and Legislative Assembly briefs
  • Provided data for the Annual report
  • Provide training and support for use of the Mobile Outreach Services Database (MOD)
  • Produced work process manuals
  • Reviewed and amended work place practices and manuals

Research and Analytical Officer (AO6)

Office of Children and Families (OCF) – Corporate Performance and Reporting Unit
01.2011 - 03.2013
  • Established reporting methodologies for Budget Paper 3 (BP3) Key Performance Indicators
  • Produced work process manuals
  • Reviewed and amended work place practices and manuals
  • Provided daily, weekly and monthly exception reports
  • Prepared, wrote and collated Estimates and Legislative Assembly briefs
  • Provided data for the Annual report
  • Undertook a validation process of the data being supplied to the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare
  • Undertook projects as they arose

Research and Analytical Officer (AO6)

Department of Children and Families (DCF) – Regional Services Executive Team
11.2010 - 12.2011
  • Developed the Workforce Allocation Tool
  • Developed the DCF Regional Service Weekly report
  • Developed standardised reporting for monitoring the progress of the Backlog Reduction team
  • Provided comprehensive HR and Systems advice to the Executive Director, Regional Services
  • Prepared, wrote and collated Estimates and Legislative Assembly briefs
  • Coordinated Regional Service reporting on Board of Inquiry initiatives
  • Assisted in the preparation of reporting on Whole of Government initiatives

Workforce Reporting Officer (AO4)

Department of Health and Families (DHF) – Workforce Support Unit
06.2009 - 11.2010
  • Provided a comprehensive staffing service to DCF staff
  • First point of contact for DCF staff enquires relating to workforce processes
  • Assisted in the preparation of Estimates and Legislative Assembly briefs
  • Undertook accurate and timely data entry, analysis and reporting on the human resource information systems/reporting tools
  • Represented DHF at a number of career’s expo days both within the Territory and interstate
  • Administration of the professional development database
  • Provided ad hoc reports regarding the Personnel Information Payroll System (PIPS) data
  • Complied and developed a report based around a DHF staff survey

Assistant Teacher Recruitment Officer (AO4)

Department of Education & Training (DET) – People & Learning Unit
06.2008 - 06.2009
  • Developed the Teacher Increment Calculator
  • Provided a comprehensive staffing service to schools in the Northern Territory and to the Teacher Recruitment Team
  • First point of contact for DET’s Teacher Recruitment Hotline
  • Administration of the generic teacher email and respondent to a wide range of enquiries giving appropriate and accurate advice
  • Undertook accurate and timely data entry, analysis and reporting on the human resource information systems/reporting tools
  • Assisted with the coordination and running of the Teaching in the Territory stall at the Darwin Careers Expo as well as the National Careers expo
  • Administration of the Teacher Recruitment website’s applicant database
  • Administration of the Human Resource Management Information System (HRMIS)
  • Redeveloped the available teachers register excel spreadsheet
  • Assisted with quality assurance checking of teacher probation forms
  • Supported the Teacher Recruitment Team with follow up action and processing functions, as a result of the teacher recruitment process

HR Support Officer

Department of Corporate and Information Services
02.2007 - 06.2008
  • Supported team members with administrative tasks and documentation management.
  • Coordinated communication between departments to enhance information flow.
  • Assisted in maintaining databases and ensuring data accuracy for reporting.
  • Organized training sessions and workshops for staff development initiatives.
  • Developed user guides and instructional materials for system usage.

Education

Graduate Certificate - Business (Public Sector Management)

Queensland University of Technology
Brisbane, QLD
01.2019

MBA - (Currently enrolled)

Australian Institute of Business
Adelaide, SA

Skills

  • Financial governance and corporate governance
  • Strategic planning and business planning
  • Policy writing and documentation
  • Data analysis and reporting
  • Program and project management
  • Stakeholder engagement and relationship management
  • Effective communication skills
  • Problem solving and critical thinking
  • Recruitment and hiring processes
  • Meeting facilitation and coordination
  • Staff development and training

References

  • Masuda, Khatoon, Assistant Director Inclusion Reform (Previously acting Director Inclusion Reform), Masuda.Khatoon@education.nt.gov.au, (08) 8901 1305, Student Wellbeing, Inclusion Programs and Services
  • Susan, Edwards, Director, Susan.Edwards1@education.nt.gov.au, (08) 8944 9241, Agency Services Department of Education

Timeline

Treasurer/ Parent Member (voluntary)

Department of Education and Training (DET) – Zuccoli School Council
02.2024 - Current

Assistant Director Inclusion Reform (SAO1)

Department of Education and Training (DET)
09.2022 - Current

Assistant Director Early Years Strategic Policy (SAO1)

Department of Education (DoE) – Early Years Strategic Policy
03.2017 - 09.2022

Project Officer – Reporting (AO6)

Department of Education (DoE) – Early Childhood Policy and Programs
08.2015 - 03.2017

Data Management Officer (AO6)

Department of Children and Families (DCF) – Performance Data and Reporting Unit
03.2013 - 08.2015

Research and Analytical Officer (AO6)

Office of Children and Families (OCF) – Corporate Performance and Reporting Unit
01.2011 - 03.2013

Research and Analytical Officer (AO6)

Department of Children and Families (DCF) – Regional Services Executive Team
11.2010 - 12.2011

Workforce Reporting Officer (AO4)

Department of Health and Families (DHF) – Workforce Support Unit
06.2009 - 11.2010

Assistant Teacher Recruitment Officer (AO4)

Department of Education & Training (DET) – People & Learning Unit
06.2008 - 06.2009

HR Support Officer

Department of Corporate and Information Services
02.2007 - 06.2008

Graduate Certificate - Business (Public Sector Management)

Queensland University of Technology

MBA - (Currently enrolled)

Australian Institute of Business

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Grant Dukes