Governance

Memorandum of Understanding

The Electoral Regulation Research Network is governed by a Memorandum of Understanding which has been regularly renewed since 2012.

The Network comprises three foundation members: Melbourne Law School; the Victorian Electoral Commission; and the NSW Electoral Commission; together with any additional members that the governance board determines to invite to participate in the activities of the Network from time to time.

“The objectives of the Network are to:

  • provide regular forums for policy and scholarly discussion of research relating to electoral regulation;

  • produce and enhance Australian research on electoral regulation;

  • facilitate research collaboration on the topic of electoral regulation; and

  • conduct courses on electoral regulation grounded in contemporary research.”

— Article 4, Memorandum of Understanding

Governance Board

The ERRN Memorandum of Understanding establishes a Governance Board, a Director and a Secretariat. The Governance Board provides a forum for electoral commission leaders to provide guidance and oversight for the Network’s activities.

Current Governance Board

The current members are:

Mr Sven Bluemmel, Electoral Commissioner of Victoria; Ms Rachel McCallum, Electoral Commissioner of New South Wales; and Professor Tomás Daly, Melbourne Law School.

Current Governance Board Members

Mr Sven Bluemmel Ms Rachel McCallum Prof. Tomás Daly

  • Sven Bluemmel was appointed Electoral Commissioner in August 2023. He previously served as the inaugural Victorian Information Commissioner, Western Australian Information Commissioner and has held senior positions in the Western Australian and Commonwealth public sectors. Mr Bluemmel practised law in the private sector in Melbourne and Perth in the areas of information and privacy law. He is a fellow of Leadership Western Australia and served as President of the Institute of Public Administration in Western Australia for three years. Mr Bluemmel holds a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and a Bachelor of Science, both from the Australian National University.

  • Rachel McCallum has a distinguished background in public administration and law, with significant experience in electoral matters. She has served as the NSW Information Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Information and Privacy Commission NSW, and previously held senior roles at the NSW Electoral Commission, including as Acting Electoral Commissioner. With over 30 years of legal and public sector experience, her career has spanned roles within the NSW Government, regulatory bodies, and the Commonwealth public sector. Her contributions have included overseeing key reforms in electoral funding laws and leading initiatives to enhance transparency, cybersecurity, and election integrity.

  • Tom is a Professor and Director of Research Impact at Melbourne Law School and Director of the global online research platform Demoptimism: www.demoptimism. org). His research focuses on democratic decay and renewal worldwide, institutional design, and comparative governance. His extensive policy work has included involvement as an expert in the Australian Senate Inquiry into nationhood, national identity and democracy (2020-2021) and consultancy leading or working on constitutional, political and legal reform in states and regions including Australia, Ireland, Georgia, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon, Maldives, the Pacific, Sri Lanka, and Turkey.

Director

The Director of ERRN steers the day-to-day management of the Network and, in collaboration with the Governance Board, provides strategic direction and engages in multi-year planning for the good governance, effectiveness, and growth of the Network in line with the objectives set out in the Memorandum of Understanding.

Since the Network’s inception, the Director has always been a senior academic based at Melbourne Law School. The inaugural Director was Professor Joo-Cheong Tham, who was succeeded by Professor Tomás Daly in 2023.

Current Director: Professor Tomás Daly

“At a time when elections are facing a range of challenges, the Network plays a vital role in sharpening our understanding of these challenges, as well as providing a platform for discussing best practice, fresh thinking, and innovation in electoral regulation, management and design.”

Secretariat

The ERRN Coordinator, based at Melbourne Law School, plays a central role in supporting the Network’s activities, including: organising Governance Board meetings; financial oversight; co-organising The Regulation of Australian Elections course; and leading on organising and publicising ERRN events throughout the year.

.

Current Coordinator: Dr Averyl Gaylor

  • Averyl is the Coordinator of the Electoral Regulation Research Network (ERRN) and a Senior Research Officer at the Office for Research at Melbourne Law School, playing a central role in the planning and implementation of Network actvities. Beyond her administrative role, her doctoral research explored the intersection of modern dance and hygiene culture in the twentieth-century.