Bettina Söderbaum

Bettina has had a lengthy career as a policy adviser and senior manager in the Australian Public Service and the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) in Paris, in fields as diverse as tourism, environment, development assistance and climate change.

Highlights of her career have included working on environmental protection for the Great Barrier Reef, representing Australia at international climate talks, encouraging good environmental practices in developing countries, promoting Australian tourism and trade in Europe, and officiating at the Bicentennial Australia Day celebrations.

However, over the past three decades she has returned regularly to ANU as a volunteer in alumni relations and good governance.

While studying at ANU Bettina lived on campus at Burgmann College, and holds this period of her life in great affection. She extensively gives back her time and expertise to the College as a member of the Board of Burgmann College, Vice-President of the Burgmann Alumni Association and Secretary of the Burgmann College Council.

Bettina recently left the Public Service to pursue some personal projects, including fundraising, philanthropy, creative writing and music. She currently leads a busy life volunteering in the arts, education and multicultural affairs and singing in two choirs.

Bettina has been a key player in developing and implementing a framework for alumni volunteering at ANU. The result of her contributions has been the new ANU Alumni Volunteer Leadership Program.

Bettina gave her time and expertise in addressing the graduating cohort at the ANU College of Arts and Social Sciences graduation ceremony in 2013. In doing so she shared the value she gets out of dedicating her time to the University and Burgmann College and encouraged others to do the same.