Dr Frances Foster-Thorpe is a senior Australian public sector leader recognised for her work in strategic foresight, systems reform, data governance, and public sector innovation. She is currently Executive Director, Thriving Kids within South Australia's Office of Early Childhood Development, where she is leading the establishment and implementation of the state's Thriving Kids reform agenda focused on improving outcomes for children and families.
Prior to relocating to South Australia in 2026, Frances served as Executive Director of The Cabinet Office in the NSW Department of Premier and Cabinet, where she led the highly regarded Shaping Futures team. Established in 2019, Shaping Futures became one of Australia's leading government foresight and reform capabilities, bringing together strategic foresight, data insights, and systems-based approaches to address complex public policy challenges.
Across her career, Frances has worked on major national reform agendas including the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS), education funding reform, water management, data reform, and Closing the Gap initiatives. She has been a leading advocate for new approaches to collaboration between governments, communities, and stakeholders, with particular expertise in co-governance, shared decision-making, and Indigenous Data Sovereignty.
Frances holds a Doctor of Philosophy (DPhil) in Law from the University of Oxford, where her research examined governance and regulation in complex policy systems. Her work combines deep academic expertise with practical experience leading reform across jurisdictions and sectors.