Sian Harrison

As a highly motivated and dynamic policy adviser with over a decade of experience in the UK and Australian Governments, I have a proven capacity for developing expert policy advice, collaborating with stakeholders and managing a team. Over that time, I've developed expertise on strategic policy and international issues - including those related to the US, Europe, India and the Middle East and led teams on bilateral negotiations. I also have a track record of working on complex Government regulatory issues. I commit drive and energy to everything that I do, love working in team environments, and am always excited by a challenge. 

Jan-20 – current: The Department for International Trade, London, UK 

Head of Policy and Strategy 

• Managing team of negotiators to secure terms that benefit UK businesses in technology, digital, innovation and services sectors in Free Trade Agreement with Israel. 
• Ensuring delivery of effective negotiation strategy in line with Government public policy priorities, while factoring in risks and broader political and trade landscape, and advocating for approach with ministers and senior executives.
• Driving development of expertise in-team by upskilling team members to lead on trade and regulatory issues, including through ongoing engagement with subject matter experts and development of understanding of broader bilateral relationship with Israel. 
• Ensuring development of effective partnerships with a diverse range of stakeholders including businesses, legal, communications teams and other government departments to build policy approaches and advance the department’s wider goals. 

Senior Trade Negotiator

• Led chapter negotiations in free trade agreements with India, Japan, Turkey & Norway, securing outcomes to benefit and advance interests of UK businesses. 
• Led a cross-government team responsible for identifying, monitoring and analysing technical policy, competition and trade issues, including regulatory barriers for business, and developing clearly articulated and persuasive positions.
• Created strong collaborative relationships with multiple industry bodies and businesses, advocating on their behalf. 
• Project managed multiple streams of work, including development of negotiating strategies and handling tactics, work with cross-functional teams such as legal on the agreement text and briefing packs for the negotiations.

Mar-18 – Aug-19: The Department of Defence, Canberra, Australia

Assistant Director

• Led development of a significant government review including by shaping priority policy and regulatory issues, managing the writing of public reports, coordinating work across the team and delivering recommendations to ministers.
• Led negotiations with stakeholder groups including across government, business and Indigenous communities on complex issues like foreign investment and the impact of new technologies, advocating for mutually positive outcomes.
• Supervised staff by providing clear and consistent communication, setting performance standards and delegating responsibility to ensure outcome delivery. 

Feb 13 – Mar 18: The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Canberra, Australia

Senior Policy Adviser - International Division

• Delivered and led on complex briefing and analysis to support the Prime Minister’s bilateral meetings with foreign officials, including with the US Administration, and attendance at major multilateral summits such as the G20.
• Managed work with international interlocutors and across government to provide high-level analysis and strategies to the Prime Minister, Cabinet and departmental executive on current and emerging foreign policy and trade issues across North and South America.

Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister’s National Security Advisers 

• Responded to executive needs in a fast-paced and demanding environment, including during crises, by providing briefings, drafting speeches and correspondence and facilitating meetings with stakeholders.
• Coordinated workflows across multiple teams, including by delegating work to senior staff and by undertaking proactive problem-solving to ensure executives had timely and strategic advice.

Bachelor of Laws (Hons); Macquarie University 

Bachelor of Arts (History and Sociology); University of Sydney