Dr Nicole Bieske

Dr Nicole Bieske is the Director of the Social Policy and Research Centre (SPARC). Nicole has had an extensive career in social policy, advocacy and research with experience working in government, the community sector, academia, and business.

Before coming to BSL Nicole was a Director at Homes Victoria, where she led work on a wide variety of issues across social and affordable housing, the Big Housing Build, housing for people living with mental illness, and managed monitoring and evaluation work.

Nicole began her professional life as a corporate lawyer before completing a PhD in international law (human rights). Since then, she has worked as an academic at Monash University, as a human rights consultant for the United Nations, as a Head of Program at Transparency International, as the CEO for Inner Melbourne Community Legal, and as the Head of Public Policy and Advocacy for Oxfam Australia. Nicole served as the chair of the International Board of Amnesty International for four years and is currently on the Board of GenWest, a family violence support service in Melbourne’s west.