Barry Sandison

DIRECTOR, INDEPENDENT

Barry Sandison is a research fellow with the Australian National University School of Health and Medicine and also with the Paul Ramsay Foundation. With over 38 years’ experience in the public sector across more than 13 agencies, Barry’s expertise covers a wide range of health- and welfare-related work, with previous senior roles in both policy and service delivery.

From 2016 to 2021, Barry was the CEO of the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW). While there, he focused on sharpening AIHW’s strategic focus, and broadening the range of health and welfare data products it manages. Recognition of AIHW’s growing capabilities can be seen in its doubling in size over the five-year period.

Barry is a member on three national Boards (ANROWS, the Alcohol and Drug Foundation and the National Centre for Vocational Education Research) and one local Canberra not-for-profit (NFP) organisation, and is a member of the Aged Care Safety and Quality Advisory Council. He is also a strategic advisor to a number of commercial and NFP organisations.

Barry is known across the Australian Public Service and with state/territory agencies for his interest and leadership in data and information management across government and institutional settings.  This same enthusiasm about better use of data is now being applied to the NFP sector.

Appointed Director, Independent August 2021.