Dr Vijaya Ramamurthy

Dr Vijaya Ramamurthy

Director

Vijaya has over 30 years’ professional experience and specialises in public sector finance, policy and governance; program evaluation and performance measurement; federal-state relations; and capability building in these areas.

Prior to joining Sapere, Vijaya held a range of senior to mid-range roles in the Western Australia public sector for 25 years, primarily in the Departments of Treasury and Health. Vijaya has practical knowledge and experience in the review and evaluation of government programs, public sector budget and policymaking processes, and proven ability in providing evidence-based advice to support policy and budget decision-making. She is highly effective in the coordination and preparation of program review and evaluation reports, budget submissions, business cases, policy and budget bilateral papers, Ministerial briefings and Expenditure Review Committee and Cabinet submissions.

Vijaya has been intimately involved in the design and implementation of several major WA Government reforms – the introduction of decentralised board governance in the WA health system (2014-16); the delivery of the Health Reform Committee’s A Healthy Future for Western Australians report (2003-04); and the establishment of a whole-of-government accrual budgeting and cash management framework (1998-2000).

Specialisations

Expertise

  • Data analytics
  • Economic and market analysis
  • Evaluations
  • Financial modelling
  • Regulatory and cost benefit analysis
  • Strategy and business cases

Industries

  • Climate and environment
  • Economic development
  • Energy and decarbonisation
  • Health and wellbeing
  • Public sector policy and finance
  • Science and innovation
  • State, regional and local government

Qualifications & accolades

  • PhD (Public Policy) from The John Curtin Institute of Public Policy, Curtin University
  • Certified Practising Accountant, CPA Australia
  • Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting, Finance and Systems) from the University of New South Wales
  • Member, Australian Evaluation Society

Recent work highlights include:

  • Implementation review of a state-wide, online system for environmental regulation and approvals
  • Support the development of a state public sector climate risk management framework
  • Implementation review of a state-based defence science centre
  • Support the development of a local government emergency management reform policy and action plan
  • Lapsing program evaluation of a state-based investment attraction grants program
  • Evaluation of a state-based science, knowledge and innovation endowment fund and fellowship program
  • Support the development of a business case for reducing community impacts in emergencies
  • Strategic review of an agency’s internal business case development and external budget processes following a machinery of government reform
  • National review of aged care services for older people experiencing, or at risk of, homelessness
  • Economic evaluation of a new industries fund
  • Financial and performance assessment of a tourism agency, to inform a Functional and Effectiveness Review.

 

Case studies

Development of a public sector financial management awareness training program for non-finance officials

The Australian primary healthcare experiment: a national survey of Medicare Locals

Challenges and opportunities for integration in health systems: an Australian perspective

Tied Grants and Policy Reform in Public Hospitals and Schools