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 Course Director of Monash's Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics - https://www.monash.edu/study/courses/find-a-course/politics,-philosophy-and-economics-a2010
Mitzi is also 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 the 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
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
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):
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SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being -
SDG 7 Affordable and Clean Energy -
SDG 8 Decent Work and Economic Growth -
SDG 9 Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure -
SDG 12 Responsible Consumption and Production -
SDG 14 Life Below Water -
SDG 15 Life on Land -
SDG 16 Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions -
SDG 17 Partnerships for the Goals
Collaborations and top research areas from the last five years
Recent external collaboration on country/territory level. Dive into details by clicking on the dots or
Projects
- 7 Finished
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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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A novel method for assessing chemical leaching from surface water-pavement interactions applied to recycled-tyre reuse products
Srivastava, P., Bolton, M., Boxall, N. J., Mayakaduwage, S., Igalavithana, A., Rayner, J. L. & Davis, G. B., 28 Jan 2026, In: Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts. 28, 1, p. 149-159 11 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Uncovering the directionality of innovation in artificial intelligence for energy transitions: a global perspective on the twin transition using patent analysis
Kumar, S., Pasimeni, F., Bolton, M., Hadfield, P. & Raven, R., Sept 2026, In: Energy Research & Social Science. 139, 17 p., 104895.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile -
Understanding how chemical risk can be managed in a circular economy
Boxall, N. J., Bolton, M., Navarro, D. A., Joll, C. A., Heitz, A., Niven, R. K., Wong, B. B., Williams, M. & Davis, G. B., 15 Jan 2026, In: Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 225, 12 p., 108600.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review Article › Research › peer-review
Open AccessFile3 Link opens in a new tab Citations (Scopus) -
Factsheet Series - Advancing the safe management of chemicals in the circular economy: Project 2: Assessing the Ecotoxicity of Leachates from Tyre Wastes
Davis, G., Boxall, N., Bolton, M., Fisher, S., Golding, L., Kumar, A., Wong, B. B. M., Niven, R. & Joll, C. A., 2025, 1 p. NSW Australia : National Environmental Science Program (NESP) Sustainable Communities and Waste.Research output: Other contribution › Other
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Guidance on sampling complex waste materials: Sampling plan design principles applied to end of life tyres and rubber materials
Boxall, N. J., Davis, G., Navarro, D. A., Williams, M., Joll, C., Heitz, A., Niven, R., Wong, B. B. M. & Bolton, M., Jun 2025, 1.2 ed. Clayton, Australia: CSIRO Publishing. 31 p.Research output: Book/Report › Commissioned Report › Research
Open Access
Prizes
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Best paper honorable mention award: ACM Designing Interactive Systems
Grierson, M. (Recipient), Varghese, D. (Recipient), Bolton, M. (Recipient) & Olivier, P. (Recipient), 2022
Prize: Prize (including medals and awards)
File -
Activities
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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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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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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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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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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