
Dr Fiona Buick is a Senior Lecturer in the School of Business at UNSW, Canberra. My research identifies key people management challenges within public sector organisations and how to address them. In particular, how to improve human resource practices and processes to build capacity and achieve desired outcomes.
Specific areas of focus so far have been organisational culture, performance management, middle manager capability development, machinery of government changes, employee well-being, and hybrid working.
I was the lead on the ANZSOG / ACT Public Service research project "Flexible working in the Australian Capital Territory Public Service" (see https://anzsog.edu.au/news/how-public-services-can-meet-employees-preference-for-flexible-work/). I was also the lead on the National Disability Research Partnership work on disability research capacity (see https://www.ndrp.org.au/research-capacity).
I obtained my Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Management, Masters of Human Resource Management, Graduate Diploma in Employment Relations and a Bachelor of Applied Psychology, all from the University of Canberra. Prior to commencing my PhD, I worked as a human resource practitioner in the Australian Public Service and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation.
I am available to supervise Higher Degree by Research (HDR) candidates, particularly PhD candidates.
I contribute to the overall performance of the Capability stream of the Public Service Research Group. My contributions are as follows:
In the media:
Weeratunga, V., Glennie, M., Tani, M. and Buick, F. 2022. Public sector organisations aren’t ready to unleash the power of data. Mandarin. 17 March. https://www.themandarin.com.au/184394-public-sector-organisations-arent-ready-to-unleash-the-power-of-data/
ANZSOG. 2022. How public services can meet employees’ preference for flexible work, 7 October. https://anzsog.edu.au/news/how-public-services-can-meet-employees-preference-for-flexible-work/. Article promoting a research project I led.
ANZSOG. 2021. ANZSOG funds research into how the public sector can support flexible working, 21 September. https://anzsog.edu.au/news/anzsog-funds-research-into-how-the-public-sector-can-support-flexible-working/. Article promoting a research project I led.
Carey, G. and Buick, F. 2019. What Do Morrison’s Changes to The APS Mean for Public Servants And Policy? Australian Institute of International Affairs, https://www.internationalaffairs.org.au/australianoutlook/what-do-morrisons-changes-to-the-aps-mean-for-public-servants-and-policy/.
Podcasts:
Blackman, D. and Buick, F. 2022. Public Sector Perspectives podcast: Wellbeing in the public purpose sector. IPAA Victoria Podcast. Public Sector Perspectives podcast: Wellbeing in the public purpose sector — IPAA Victoria
Webinars:
Contributed to The boundaries between Australian disability services and prisons (with Mindy Sotiri, Caroline Doyle, Shannon Dodd, Sophie Yates and Helen Dickinson)
Contributions to reviews:
Blackman D; Dickinson H; Gardner K; Buick F; Johnson S; Olney S. 2018. Submission to the Independent Review of the Australian Public Service. Public Service Research Group, School of Business, UNSW Canberra.
My Teaching
I am interested in how organisations can optimise their success through more proactive, systematic and strategic people management; this underpins my teaching which currently covers Developing Organisational Capability (ZBUS8316) and Workforce Planning (ZBUS8317).
I am also the key contact for our Master of Workforce Planning program.
I have previously taught a range of human resource management courses, including: