Go8 Staff

Mr Michael Gallagher

       Executive Director

Prior to his appointment in May 2007 as Executive Director of the Go8 Michael was Director of Policy and Planning at The Australian National University.

He was responsible for Commonwealth administration of higher  education from 1990-1994 and again  from 2000-2002. Between 1994 and 1996 he was head of Department of Employment Education and Training Corporate Services. From 2002 to 2003 he was head of Australian  Education International within the Department of Education, Science and Training.

He has a long  history in the education  industry including as a teacher and lecturer at  secondary and tertiary level and as a member of the Wran Committee on Higher Education Financing in 1987. Michael has worked overseas for the World Bank and also continues to undertake work for the OECD on higher education issues.
Email: executive.director@go8.edu.au

Ms Kerrie Thornton – Director, Communications & International Kerrie joined the Go8 team in 2004. She has worked in The Australian National University’s international education office and previous experience includes four years as an adviser in Federal Parliament, two years as an adviser in NSW Parliament and two years in media relations for the Sydney Symphony Orchestra. She speaks fluent German.		Mr Mike Teece – Director, Policy Mike comes to the Go8 after a nine year career with the Australian  Department of Education.  Mike has worked in the higher education group  for the past four years, most recently as Assistant Director of the  Performance and Analysis Unit. He has also worked on international  education in DEEWR. Mike has primary policy responsibility for  university financing, performance indicators and structural  diversity.  He will also have oversight of the group’s research and  analysis output more broadly.
Mr Alan Mackay – Director, Information Strategy Alan commenced with the Go8 in February 2008. Prior to that, he worked at senior levels in the Australian Bureau of Statistics. His career has included economic, industry, social and labour statistics as well as corporate projects. Alan has also worked on health financing policy development and program administration. He is a graduate of the University of New England and the Australian National University, with qualifications in Science and Economics.		Dr Ian McMahon – Director, Research Ian commenced with the Go8 in June 2009 being previously the Director  of  the Research Office at The Australian National University. He joined  the ANU after spending ten years in research and science policy in  Commonwealth Departments responsible for science, research  and  education. Ian is a graduate of The University of Queensland and  The Australian National University, holding a doctorate in Chemistry.
Ms Jane Liang – Director, Web Management & China Engagement Jane joined the Go8 in 2008. She is currently a PhD candidate in International, Political & Strategic Studies at the Australian National University. Jane holds a Master of New Media Arts (Digital Media) from ANU, a Graduate Diploma in Interpreting & Translation from UWS and is a NAATI accredited professional translator (English - Chinese). At Go8, Jane has responsibility for managing Go8-China collaboration and development. She also designs digital media products including Go8 website and videos.		Dr Martin Grabert - Senior Policy Advisor Martin  spent the past five years as Director of the COST Office  (European Co-operation in Science and Technology) in Brussels. Prior to this he  was the Inaugural Director of KoWi, the European liaison office of the  German research organisations, in Brussels and Bonn. Before moving to  Brussels he headed the research unit in the central administration  of  the Technical University Berlin, Germany. He has a PhD in  aeronautical engineering.
Dr Les  Rymer – Policy Advisor, Graduate Education Les has held senior positions in the Australian and New Zealand public service, most recently as Principal Adviser to the New Zealand Government on research and innovation. Les works primarily with the Go8 Deans of Graduate Studies and has responsibility for driving the research training agenda for the Go8.		Ms Helen Montesin – Manager, Information & Analysis Before commencing her work with Go8, Helen was previously the Statistics and Surveys Officer at The University of Canberra, and had worked in statistical consultancy for several years. Helen is a graduate of the  ANU and Canberra College of Advanced Education.
Ms Meagan James–Office Manager Meagan commenced with the Group of Eight in January 2010. After finishing year 12 in 2006 she worked in administration at a rehabilitation provider for 3 years. Meagan is currently undertaking the double degree, Bachelor of Laws/ Bachelor of Advertising and Marketing Communications at the University of Canberra.