Dr Cheryl Sykes

Dr Cheryl Sykes is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Policy Futures.  Throughout her career, Cheryl has been deeply interested in exploring the factors that influence human behaviour at the system, organisational, and individual levels, examining the intended and unintended consequences for people within these frameworks.  Cheryl holds a PhD focused on the Australian employment services system and an Executive MBA, which provide her with a valuable blend of analytical and managerial expertise.  Her extensive business experience across diverse sectors enriches her research with practical insights and strategic perspectives.

Cheryl’s research has highlighted the limitations of traditional employment services models and their adverse impact on unemployed individuals.  Currently she is focused on the employment services reform agenda and the proposed integration of social enterprises into this system. Using both advanced quantitative and qualitative methods, her work has been published in the Australian Journal of Labour Economics and by the Centre of Excellence in Population Ageing Research.

Cheryl’s vision is to contribute to policy development that delivers meaningful and sustainable work opportunities for marginalised individuals. Through applied research and active engagement with industry and government, she aims to foster a more diverse and productive workforce and ultimately supporting a more equitable Australian society.