Professor Calder has worked in health policy for more than two decades and heads up the Mitchell Institute's Australian Health Policy Collaboration (AHPC). AHPC brings together more than 60 of Australia's leading health policy experts to advise on the future direction of the country's health policy.

Professor Calder has held positions as a senior executive in health policy and administration in both State and Commonwealth Departments of Health and was head of the Office for the Status of Women in the Commonwealth Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet from 2000 to 2003. She was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2015 Australia Day Honours. She received the honour for “significant service to public administration, particularly in the areas of mental health and ageing, through academic roles, and to the community.” Professor Calder is a sociologist and began her career as a journalist with The Age

She is a member of the Expert Steering Committee advising the Federal Government on the development of a 10 year National Preventive Health Strategy.

Areas of expertise

  • Australian Health Policy Collaboration
  • Australia's health tracker
  • Chronic illness prevention
  • Chronic illness risk factors
  • Exercise
  • Diet
  • Alcohol rates
  • Smoking rates
  • Preventable deaths
  • Government health policy
  • National Preventive Health Strategy

Contact details

+61 (3) 9919 1161