Amanda Walsh grew up in regional NSW. She moved to the city, lived overseas — then came home and started writing about what she’d learned. Amanda is a former diplomat, public servant and political adviser.
A proud product of the public education system, Amanda believes that education is one of the keys to defeating social and economic inequity.
Amanda entered the early years sector in 2013. Since then, she has worked for early years peak bodies and served as the CEO of Playgroup Australia. She was a member of the Australian Government’s Advisory Panel for the Early Years Strategy 2024-34. She is also on the Board of the Canberra PCYC.
Amanda has a PhD in Political Science and Political Economy from the University of Wollongong (2015); a Diploma in Polish Language and Culture from the Jagiellonian University (Krakow, 1999); a Graduate Diploma in Foreign Affairs and Trade from Monash University (1998); and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the Australian National University (1995).
Selected writing
Globalisation, the state and regional Australia (Sydney University Press, 2018)
‘Early childhood economics’, Inside Story, 10 August 2021
‘Markets, morals and Australian Labor governments’ in D. Freeman (ed.) The Market’s Morals: Responding to Jesse Norman, 2019
‘Welcome to Washminster’, Inside Story, 11 November 2019
‘How big ideas for Australia were given short shrift’, The Conversation, 19 February 2019
‘Report recommends big ideas for regional Australia – beyond decentralisation’, The Conversation, 29 May 2018
Correspondence on Political Amnesia, Quarterly Essay No 61 2016