Amanda is passionate about supporting Australian research and researchers. She has led and contributed to every stage of the research lifecycle, including higher degree research training; grant writing and reviewing; research policy and strategy; research architecture and centres; research quality assurance, governance and integrity; analytics and return on investment; and national research assessment exercises.

Amanda has created and delivered successful researcher/professional development and mentoring programs, networks and initiatives for early, mid and senior career colleagues, especially focused on career planning, preparing for promotion, leveraging spheres of influence, and leading from any position. As the first in her family to attend university, she believes in “lifting as we climb”, supporting others to develop the social capital, situational awareness, and personal and collaborative skills to fulfil their dreams. She is proud to mentor a large circle of talented academic colleagues — both junior and senior in research intensive, teaching and research, and leadership positions — within Macquarie and beyond. And as the mother of two kids (one in University, one in high school), she deeply understands the challenges of balancing complex professional and personal lives and ambitions.

Amanda's cognitive science research on individual, collaborative, and collective memory and cognition explores the skills and processes that predict “emergence” or “consilience.” She applies these insights in her leadership, particularly of Macquarie's University Research Centres portfolio, to help create conditions where teams combine and coordinate their capabilities to become more than the sum of their parts. With more than 25 years of experience, Amanda collaborates across disciplines, institutions, and sectors to build research teams and cultures that are inclusive, impactful, and future-focused.