Heath Pickering

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Heath Pickering is an Honorary Fellow at the KU Leuven Public Governance Institute. Previously, he was a Lecturer in Political Science in the School of Social and Political Sciences at the University of Melbourne. Heath examines political leadership and the operations of executive politics.

His book, "Chief of Staff: The Rise of Political Craft in Westminster Democracies", examines the prime minister's closest adviser -- exploring who they are, what they do, and why they matter.

His principal focus centres on exploring the institutional development of ministers’ offices and the rise of political advisers wedged between the nexus of politics and administration. Other research interests include the intersection of politics and the media, politicisation, elections, policy fulfilment, and voter behaviour.

Much of his work is comparative, commonly of the four traditional Westminster family members: Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.

Experience

  • 2025–present
    Fellow, KU Leuven
  • 2024–2025
    Lecturer, University of Melbourne
  • 2019–2023
    Research fellow, KU Leuven
  • 2015–2018
    Research assistant, University of Melbourne

Education

  • 2023 
    KU Leuven, PhD
  • 2014 
    University of Melbourne, Master of International Relations
  • 2009 
    Bond University, Bachelor of Arts (Journalism and Public Policy)

Professional Memberships

  • International Public Policy Association
  • Australian Political Studies Association

Contact Heath for

  • General
  • Media request
  • Speaking request
  • Consulting / Advising
  • Research collaboration
  • Research supervision