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Patrick McKenna

Director, Strategic Projects (Research)

Patrick McKenna

EMBA, MPhil, GAICD

Director, Strategic Projects (Research)

Pat McKenna (EMBA, MPhil, GAICD) was appointed Director of Strategic Projects (Research) at Charles Sturt University in July 2022. Pat’s role is responsible for driving the delivery of a program of strategic projects comprising the University Research Strategy, including:

  • assisting the development, implementation and monitoring of three new Research Institutes and the AgriPark innovation ecosystem
  • facilitating a review of the Higher Degree by Research program and monitoring implementation of the recommendations
  • managing co-design projects relating to research, research services, and process improvements
  • raising the quality of Research Portfolio submissions to the university's governance committees;
  • developing emergent strategies and proposals for the Executive Leadership Team and University Council.

Prior to joining Charles Sturt, Pat held strategy, policy, senior finance, and executive management roles within the Commonwealth government, community and business sectors.

Pat also has a strong track record in corporate governance and is currently deputy chair of Directions Health Services Ltd, a not-for-profit healthcare provider in ACT and Regional NSW.

Research expertise

Pat's research interests are in the fields of organisational and social systems and strategy. Pat is an applied researcher and specialises in evaluation and strategy development for businesses, not-for-profits, governments, and universities. Pat has led contemporary research and evaluation projects relating to the governance, design, and delivery of emergency relief services, homelessness services, crisis accommodation, online gambling harm minimisation, employment services, and higher degree by research programs. These have included:

  • Emergency Relief and complex service delivery: Towards better outcomes
  • Integrated social services evaluation report: St Vincent de Paul Society Canberra/Goulburn
  • The Emergency Relief National Coordination Group: A self-assessment of the collaborative governance model
  • Critical systems thinking for the design and improvement of complex social service program outcomes
  • Systems thinking for a not-for-profit sector development blueprint
  • Systems thinking for the review of the Financial Wellbeing and Capability programs
  • Evaluating collaborative governance from a critical systems thinking perspective
  • Understanding the success factors in re-engagement with the workforce following a period of long-term unemployment on the Mid North Coast of Australia.

Pat is completing a PhD with the Faculty of Business, Justice and Behavioural Studies. His thesis is titled: Evaluating the Implementation and Outcomes of Collaborative Governance: a Critical Systems Thinking Perspective .