Projects per year
Personal profile
Biography
A strategic and interdisciplinary thinker, Dr Mitzi Bolton is passionate about finding and facilitating solutions to entrenched problems.
Mitzi is particularly interested in how systems leverage points can connect science and policy to assist the transition to more sustainable futures. In recent years, her research has focussed on the question of if and how AI might be applied in that transition. This focus sees her routinely collaborate across disciplines and sectors to produce truly transdisciplinary research.
Mitzi has a strong track record in public sector, industry and academic leadership. Her research is driven by the 12 years she spent in the Victorian and Australian public sectors, in which she held an array of leadership and policy roles across both technical and administrative functions.
Mitzi is currently an Academic Advisor to the National Steering Committee of the prestigious Australia and New Zealand School of Government National Regulators Community of Practice. She is also former Chair of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Vic) Sustainability Community of Practice, and a former non-Executive Director of the Australasian Land and Groundwater Association Ltd Board.
Research Interests
- Integrated decision-making and associated tools
- Optimising public decision-making
- Sustainable development
Expertise related to UN Sustainable Development Goals
In 2015, UN member states agreed to 17 global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure prosperity for all. This person’s work contributes towards the following SDG(s):
Education/Academic qualification
Public Policy; Sustainable Development, PhD, Factors influencing public sector decisions and the achievement of sustainable development in the State of Victoria, Australia, Australian National University (ANU)
Oct 2014 → Mar 2020
Award Date: 31 Jul 2020
Law (Environmental Law), MComLaw, Monash University
Science (Botany, Ecology), BSc (Hons), Arsenic & Phosphorus: Bioavailability, Absorption, & Implications for Mine Site Stablisation, University of Melbourne
External positions
Academic Advisor – Early Career Researcher, National Regulators Community of Practice, National Steering Committee, Australia and New Zealand School of Government
2022 → …
Chair - Sustainability Community of Practice (Vic), Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victorian Division) Inc (IPAA)
2019 → 2022
Sustainable Remediation Interest Group, Australasian Land and Groundwater Association (ALGA) Limited
2018 → …
Research area keywords
- Sustainable Development
- SDGs
- Public Policy
- Public Administration
- Integrated Decision Making
- Governance
- Regulation
- Contaminated Environments
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
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IP3.04 – Management of Hazardous Waste, Substances and Pollutants
Bolton, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Boxall, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Davis, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Williams, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Navarro, D. A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Joll, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Heitz, A. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wong, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Niven, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Saaristo, M. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/07/24 → 30/06/25
Project: Research
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Testing of two (2) end products, made with reprocessed tyre material and manufactured and sold within Australia, within year 3 (2023-2024) of the NESP2 IP3 research
Bolton, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Davis, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Boxall, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Raven, R. (Chief Investigator (CI))
27/07/23 → 30/04/24
Project: Research
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NESP2_Project IP3.03 - Management of Hazardous Waste, Substances and Pollutants
Bolton, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Wong, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Davis, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Boxall, N. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/04/23 → 31/03/24
Project: Research
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NESP2_Project IP3.02 – Management of Hazardous Waste, Substances and Pollutants
Bolton, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), Davis, G. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Boxall, N. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Wong, B. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Niven, R. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Joll, C. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Williams, M. (Chief Investigator (CI)), Navarro, D. A. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Johnston, C. (Chief Investigator (CI))
1/07/22 → 30/06/23
Project: Research
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Advanced AI techniques for better management and reuse of hazardous waste.
Bolton, M. (Primary Chief Investigator (PCI)), George, Y. (Chief Investigator (CI)) & Webb, G. (Associate Investigator (AI))
19/05/22 → 20/12/22
Project: Research
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Artificial intelligence and complex sustainability policy problems: translating promise into practice
O'Connor, R., Bolton, M., Saeri, A. K., Chan, T. & Pearson, R., 2024, In: Policy Design and Practice. 7, 3, p. 308-323 16 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile2 Citations (Scopus) -
Living review framework for better policy design and management of hazardous waste in Australia
Le-Khac, U. N., Bolton, M., Boxall, N. J., Wallace, S. M. N. & George, Y., 10 May 2024, In: Science of the Total Environment. 924, 16 p., 171556.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Citations (Scopus) -
Scoping article: research frontiers on the governance of the Sustainable Development Goals
Hickmann, T., Biermann, F., Sénit, C.-A., Sun, Y., Bexell, M., Bolton, M., Bornemann, B., Censoro, J., Charles, A., Coy, D., Dahlmann, F., Elder, M., Fritzsche, F., Galvão, T. G., Grainger-Brown, J., Inoue, C., Jönsson, K., Rosas, M. K., Krellenberg, K. & Moallemi, E. & 13 others, , 2024, In: Global Sustainability. 7, 12 p., e7.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open Access11 Citations (Scopus) -
What influences public decision-makers? An Australian case study
Bolton, M., Sept 2024, In: Australian Journal of Public Administration. 83, 3, p. 457-474 18 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Evidence and policy making
Bolton, M., 2023, Australian Politics and Policy: Senior Edition. Barry, N., Chen, P., Haigh, Y., Motta, S. C. & Perche, D. (eds.). 1st ed. Sydney NSW Australia: Sydney University Press, p. 878-898 21 p.Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (Book) › Other › peer-review
Open Access
Prizes
Activities
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Academic Advisor – Early Career Researcher, National Regulators Community of Practice, National Steering Committee.
Bolton, M. (Member)
Jun 2022 → …Activity: External Academic Engagement › Committees and working groups
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Leveraging Artificial Intelligence for Enhanced Sustainability Governance.
Bolton, M. (Contributor)
7 Dec 2022Activity: Community Talks, Presentations, Exhibitions and Events › Public lecture/debate/seminar
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Designing a digital tool to support people leaving prison
Bolton, M. (Supervisor)
2021Activity: Other Teaching Engagements and non-HDR Supervisions › Non-HDR Supervisions
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Leadership for Regulators (PDA1028)
Bolton, M. (Facilitator) & Mintrom, M. (Facilitator)
2021 → 2022Activity: Other Teaching Engagements and non-HDR Supervisions › Executive education programs
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Australasian Land and Groundwater Association (ALGA) Limited (External organisation)
Bolton, M. (Member)
2018 → …Activity: Industry, Government and Philanthropy Engagement and Partnerships › Membership of networks of excellence