Staff & Associates
Eric Sidoti, Director has been actively engaged in public policy development, strategic planning and communications throughout his career. For over a decade, prior to his appointment at the Whitlam Institute, Eric managed Strategic Options, his own small consultancy. This enabled him to develop long-term relationships with a small number of clients, principally the Dusseldorp Skills Forum and the Australian Red Cross in addition to the Enterprise and Careers Education Foundation, Greening Australia and Job Futures. He has been engaged in projects across a broad range of policy fields (education, training and employment; human rights; development; Indigenous land rights and education; humanitarian law and conflict; and welfare issues). Eric was the Executive Director of the Human Rights Council of Australia (HRCA) 1992 - 1995, Communications Director of Amnesty International Australia 1987 – 1992 and National Secretary of the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace 1985-1987. Anna Yeatman is currently a professorial research fellow attached to the Whitlam Institute in the University of Western Sydney. She is currently working on a suite of activities within the Human Rights and Public Life program. From 2008-2012 she was the director of the Centre for Citizenship and Public Policy at UWS. Before this she was a Canada Research Chair in Political Science at the University of Alberta (2003-8), and before that she was the Chair of Sociology at Macquarie University (1993-2003). Recent publications include: Individualization and the Delivery of Welfare Services (2009), and two co-edited collections, State, Security and Subject Formation (Continuum 2010) and Action and Appearance: Ethics and the Politics of Writing in Hannah Arendt (Continuum 2011). She is working on a set of essays on contemporary civil philosophy. She is also a trained Feldenkrais practitioner who sustains a modest Awareness through Movement (ATM) and Functional Integration (FI) practice. Read Professor Anna Yeatman's full CV here.
Eric commenced with the Whitlam Institute in mid 2007. 
Our program team:
Her work on a diverse range of projects including indigenous justice, consumer protection, workplace issues for people with disability, unlawful detention of young people, protection for refugees and education and training for not for profit community organisations, has enabled her to work closely with the public, private and community legal sectors and a range of community sector organisations and peak bodies. Sandra joined the Whitlam Institute in April 2008.
Sandra Stevenson is the Senior Program Manager. Sandra has a legal background in the private and community legal sectors. For the past 12 years she has worked at the Public Interest Advocacy Centre as solicitor and coordinator of the Public Interest Law Clearing House, managing its pro bono referral scheme and access to justice projects.
Amy Sambrooke is the Whitlam Institute's Communications Coordinator. Amy has a strong background in media and public relations. She has worked as a producer at 702 ABC Sydney as well as in commercial radio, and has presented and produced programs on various community stations. Amy has a Bachelor of Media in Writing from Macquarie University and a Graduate Diploma in Radio Broadcasting from the Australian Film, Television and Radio School. Amy joined the Whitlam Institute in January 2009.
 | Justine Chambers is the Whitlam Institute’s Education Project Officer. Justine has a strong passion and interest in public policy and social justice. Justine has completed a Bachelor of International and Global Studies with Honours in Anthropology at the University of Sydney and is currently undertaking a Masters of Social Development at the University of New South Wales. She has worked as a research assistant for the University of Sydney’s Anthropology Department and the University of Newcastle’s Architecture Department and on education projects for several NGOs in Australia, India and Southeast Asia. Justine joined the Whitlam Institute in August 2012. |
Our administration team:
Lorraine Starr is the Manager (Administration) with the Institute. Commencing with the Institute in December 2011, Lorraine has over nineteen years experience at UWS all within the Faculty, College, Schools and Centres in the Business and Commerce areas. Prior to joining the Institute her most recent appointment was as School Manager with the School of Accounting based on Parramatta Campus, where she has worked since the opening of the campus. Lorraine is a member of the Association for Tertiary Education Management (ATEM) and the Australian Institute of Management (AIM). 
Georgia Hannouch is the Project Support Officer at the Institute. Although new to the Institute, Georgia has previous experience at UWS, having most recently worked in the Assessment and Graduation Unit as a Graduation Officer. Her current role sees her supporting all program areas such as our events, exhibitions, schools program and publications. She has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Sydney, and she spends her free time dabbling in various crafts such as cake decorating. Georgia joined the Whitlam Institute in January 2012. 
Valerie Wilden is the Institute's Administrative Officer. Valerie joined the Institute as a permanent staff member in 2010. Valerie is very familiar with the Institute having spent several periods on the team in times of peak demand over the past few years. Valerie is greatly valued for her calm and methodical manner and her ability to get the job done efficiently no matter what 'the job' is. Valerie, trained at TAFE and elsewhere, has had a solid grounding in all facets of administration and customer service through her time with Lion Nathan Australia, Malt Shovel and others.
