Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Timeline
Generic

KATE NOBLE

Elsternwick,VIC

Summary

Accomplished policy thinker and advocate with experience working across a broad range of policy issues, in Australia and internationally. Proven track record in securing significant ocean conservation outcomes. Excels at leading and motivating lean, high-performing teams. Outstanding communicator and media performer.

Overview

26
26
years of professional experience

Work History

Senior Manager Oceans Policy

WWF-Australia
Melbourne
04.2021 - Current
  • Reporting to the Head of Oceans/Saltwater, I am responsible for WWF's day-to-day oceans policy work, including inside-track advocacy at the national, regional, and international levels, and the strategic use of campaign tools to advocate for ocean health and resilience.
  • The role involves regular engagement at ministerial and adviser level and has been highly influential in securing significant ocean conservation commitments made by the Albanese Government during this and the previous Parliament.
  • In addition to leading WWF-Australia’s oceans policy program, I co-chair WWF’s international Marine 30x30 Working Group, which coordinates and shares information and strategy to advance ocean protection and effective management, aligned with Global Biodiversity Framework goals.
  • Prior to this role I managed WWF-Australia’s No Plastic in Nature policy program, representing WWF-Australia on WWF’s delegation to UN plastic pollution treaty negotiations, and leading a substantial program of work at national and subnational levels in Australia.
  • This work was highly influential in the roll-out of law reform/single-use plastic bans in the majority of states and territories in Australia.
  • Significant achievements included leadership of global polling of people in 32 countries to ascertain public opinion on a new plastic pollution treaty; this report was covered by media in more than five languages, with a reach exceeding five million globally.

Councillor

Australian Conservation Foundation
Melbourne
01.2022 - 01.2024
  • I was elected by ACF’s Victorian membership to serve a three-year term on the Council, alongside 20 other Councillors from all Australian states and territories.
  • Councillors play a key role in governance of ACF, including appointment and oversight of the Board.

Policy Fellow

Mitchell Institute for Education and Health Policy at Victoria University
Melbourne
01.2019 - 01.2021
  • Highly autonomous role leading the Institute's early childhood education and care program.
  • Thought leadership and proactive policy research; authorship of high-profile policy outputs; frequent engagement with policymakers at the political and technical levels to advocate systemic change and improve educational outcomes for Australians.
  • Key publications included 'COVID-19, employment stress and student vulnerability in Australia' and 'Increasing childcare subsidies is urgently required to support children, families and the economy'.
  • One of Victoria University's top Conversation authors with a total reach of nearly 160,000; my opinion pieces have been republished by SBS, Women’s Agenda, India Gazette, Beijing News, and others.

Analyst

Australian Conservation Foundation
Melbourne
05.2020 - 09.2020
  • Working with two other volunteers, I undertook extensive analysis and led the production of the major report, 'Access Denied: How Australia's Freedom of Information Regime Is Failing Our Environment.'
  • Tasks included scoping and refining the research plan; policy research; analysis of multiple datasets; and drafting the final report, including recommendations.
  • Report was extensively covered by national media and influenced advocacy in Parliament on the FOI system.

Senior Adviser to the Deputy Leader

Australian Greens Victoria
Melbourne
01.2016 - 01.2018
  • Led policy and communications across several portfolios including key economic portfolios; health and human services; plastic pollution and waste reduction; and digital rights.
  • Responsibilities included staff management; campaigns and communications strategy development; reviewing and developing legislation; speech-writing; policy research and analysis; and negotiations on proposed legislation with advocates, peak bodies and ministerial advisers.
  • Managed and mentored a small team communications, campaigns and research staff and contractors.
  • Achievements included leadership on development of a bill to introduce a container deposit (recycling) scheme to Victoria, involving management of public and industry consultation on the bill; briefing and negotiations with ministerial and opposition spokesperson’s staff; and associated media and campaigning.
  • Led on development of election platform initiatives on early childhood education; preventive health; community health and dental; out-of-home care; and drug law reform.

Consultant

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
London
01.2014 - 01.2015
  • While on maternity leave, I undertook two pieces of work for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance.
  • I developed content for its online electoral assistance tool, the Online Electoral Cycle, and was a contributing author to the Institute's first major report on media assistance to support democratic electoral processes.

Senior Adviser – Governance and Human Rights

BBC Media Action
London
01.2010 - 01.2013
  • I was the first person appointed to this role, charged with developing and supporting the implementation of BBC Media Action’s governance strategy, and building governance and human rights capacity across the organization (in more than 20 countries).
  • Managed several global projects and a small team of staff and contractors, and provided high-level advice and support to country directors.
  • Represented the organisation externally, including in international development policy fora and consortium negotiations.
  • Led and contributed to internal and external policy publications.
  • Part five-person proposal development team that secured a £90 million grant from the UK Department for International Development (DFID); the largest grant ever provided to a media development organisation.

Communications Officer

Secretariat of the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA)
London
01.2006 - 01.2007
  • I was responsible for communications capacity-building across an international network of more than 500 civil society organizations that work on arms control and gun violence issues.
  • Played a key role in implementation of the Control Arms Campaign in cooperation with co-leads Oxfam and Amnesty International.
  • The Control Arms campaign represented global civil society throughout the UN process, and was pivotal in the development of the global Arms Trade Treaty, which came into force in 2014, following a decade of campaigning and negotiation.

Public Affairs Officer (Captain)

Australian Army
Canberra, Brisbane, Baghdad
01.2000 - 01.2005
  • Responsibilities included providing communications support to commanders; speech writing; preparation of briefs and talking points; strategy development; spokesperson training; drafting/clearing digital content websites; public affairs budget oversight; and deployment on overseas operations.
  • Appointed to the role of Senior Public Affairs Officer in the Middle East in 2003/04 and deployed to Aceh on Operation Tsunami Assist in 2005.
  • This role demanded sound political judgement and the ability to produce high quality output in demanding and politically sensitive situations.

Education

Master of Maritime Policy -

University of Wollongong
06-2026

Climate Reality Leadership Training -

Climate Reality Project
01.2020

Master of International Relations -

Griffith University And Sciences Po
06-2006

Diploma of Personnel and Operations Management and Diploma of Management (Government) -

Royal Military College – Duntroon
01.2001

Bachelor of Arts - Journalism, television journalism and English literature

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
12-1998

Victorian Certificate of Education -

Gippsland Grammar School
12-1995

Skills

  • Policy analysis
  • Strategic advocacy
  • Research-policy translation
  • Written and verbal communication
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Leadership development

Timeline

Councillor

Australian Conservation Foundation
01.2022 - 01.2024

Senior Manager Oceans Policy

WWF-Australia
04.2021 - Current

Analyst

Australian Conservation Foundation
05.2020 - 09.2020

Policy Fellow

Mitchell Institute for Education and Health Policy at Victoria University
01.2019 - 01.2021

Senior Adviser to the Deputy Leader

Australian Greens Victoria
01.2016 - 01.2018

Consultant

International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance
01.2014 - 01.2015

Senior Adviser – Governance and Human Rights

BBC Media Action
01.2010 - 01.2013

Communications Officer

Secretariat of the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA)
01.2006 - 01.2007

Public Affairs Officer (Captain)

Australian Army
01.2000 - 01.2005

Master of Maritime Policy -

University of Wollongong

Climate Reality Leadership Training -

Climate Reality Project

Master of International Relations -

Griffith University And Sciences Po

Diploma of Personnel and Operations Management and Diploma of Management (Government) -

Royal Military College – Duntroon

Bachelor of Arts - Journalism, television journalism and English literature

Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology

Victorian Certificate of Education -

Gippsland Grammar School

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