Ms Catriona Jackson is Editor, Pearls and Irritations, the independent news and opinion site founded John Menadue. She holds a range of non-executive director roles, including as a board members of the Centre for Australia, India Relations. She is a member of Chief Executive Women. Catriona was Chief Executive and Board Director of Universities Australia, the peak body representing Australia’s university sector, until the end of 2024. Catriona is a highly experienced advocate for higher education and has extensive experience in the policy making process. Prior to this appointment, she served as UA’s Deputy Chief Executive leading the policy team in developing sectoral policy. Catriona was CEO of Science and Technology Australia, press secretary and senior advisor to a federal government cabinet minister, director of government relations and communication at ANU, and a newspaper and radio journalist. Catriona has sat on a range of Government committees including on foreign interference, research assessment and bilateral relations. Catriona is an outstanding communicator who is held in strong regard in higher education, politics and the media. She has a life-long interest in food and food culture and has written on food for a range of publications over her whole professional life.