This year our judges for the competition are:
Dr Carly Sawatzki
Educational Researcher
Deakin University School of Education
Dr Carly Sawatzki is a provocateur who challenges thinking around schooling. She wants every student to get an excellent education so they can live their best life. Working as a mathematics teacher educator and educational researcher at Deakin University, Carly designs courses that support teachers to teach differently, by helping them to connect students’ classroom learning with the real world. She is internationally recognised for her thought leadership on young people’s financial capability and financial education at school.
Carly is widely published on these and other topics and has led research, curriculum and professional learning projects for education authorities across Australia. She is a dynamic and in-demand public speaker, writer, and influencer who loves exchanging ideas, sharing laughter and – above all – making a difference.
To find out more, go to www.carlysawatzki.com
Rowan Fox
Deputy Commissioner
Individuals and Intermediaries
Rowan Fox has more than 10 years’ experience as a senior executive in the Australian Taxation Office (ATO) in service delivery, program management, whole-of-government service delivery transformation, policy and law design, and enabling roles.
She has held public service roles in other Australian government departments and in the UK, and spent time in academia.
Rowan is currently acting Deputy Commissioner, Individuals and Intermediaries in the Client Engagement Group. Prior to this role, she was Assistant Commissioner of the Goods and Services Tax Fraud, Risk and Future branch.
As a passionate supporter of inclusion and diversity in the workplace, Rowan is proud to have been an ATO Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander SES champion since 2023.
Sarah Vawser
Assistant Commissioner
Individuals and Intermediaries
Sarah Vawser is a senior leader at the ATO, with significant leadership experience spanning a diverse range of portfolios across the ATO.
In her current role as Assistant Commissioner Engagement and Support, Individuals and Intermediaries, she works closely with the tax profession to enhance the overall experience of individuals and tax practitioners by ensuring they have the support and resources necessary to make it easier to comply, and ultimately meet their tax obligations.
Sarah is a keen advocate for building a strong public service through integrity, mentoring, and keeping the community at the heart of what we do to deliver public value.
Sarah holds a Master of Business Administration (Accounting) from the University of South Australia, and is currently completing the Executive Master of Public Administration through the Australia and New Zealand School of Government (ANZSOG).
Katherine Philp
Assistant Commissioner
Marketing and Communications
Kath is Assistant Commissioner, Marketing and Communications at the ATO.
She leads a large team working to communicate and engage with millions of Australians in the tax, superannuation and registry systems. Kath has worked in government for over 15 years and her previous roles include working at the Bureau of Meteorology as General Manager, Government Relations and Corporate Communication. Her passion for communication was honed in her earlier career as a journalist where a she held roles including senior political correspondent and executive producer at Network Ten and the ABC.