Meet our new HDR representatives: Esther and Emma

We are excited to introduce RegNet’s Higher Degree Research (HDR) representatives for 2026, Esther McVicar and Emma Mills. They are keen to bring people together and strengthen connections across the HDR community, building on the fantastic work of last year’s reps Chelsea Hunnisett and Kristian Hollins, whose efforts through presentation practices, writing retreats and informal lunch gatherings brought immense value to the cohort.

Esther and Emma’s philosophy is simple: connection matters. They see their role as creating spaces where HDR students can go beyond the boundaries of their own research projects. It is about sharing challenges, testing ideas, workshopping solutions and building writing momentum together.

They are planning Canberra-based and away writing retreats, alongside monthly morning coffee catch-ups. There will also be opportunities to connect with visiting scholars and academic staff, enriching our community with new perspectives. Esther and Emma have also set up a Microsoft Teams chat, “RegNutters”, which serves as the main hub for announcements and engagement across the HDR cohort, complementing existing WhatsApp and cohort-specific chats.

They are working closely with RegNet’s HDR Director, Professor Nick Bainton, and HDR Convenor, Dr Elena Escalante Block, to gather student interest on additional training or development opportunities. The reps will also attend HDR Student Consultative Committee meetings and share key updates with the cohort.

Recently, Esther and Emma met with the College-level Associate Dean (HDR), Professor Nicolas Cherbuin, for a welcome discussion about committee governance and coordination. This meeting reinforced just how crucial clear communication and timely engagement are when raising HDR matters across the University.

Most importantly, Esther and Emma take an open-door approach and are keen to hear from HDR students with ideas, concerns or suggestions, or those who simply want to connect. They welcome input on workshops, peer review sessions, social events or skill-building activities—anything that will help make the HDR experience richer for everyone.

A little about them: Esther is exploring how is the Australian Public Sector is navigating the expanding use of artificial intelligence in its government, with research interests spanning emerging technologies, digitalisation, e-government, semantics, epistemology, and questions of trust and power. Emma, meanwhile, is exploring police practice in policymaking, using the ACT’s 2023 drug decriminalisation legislation as a lens to think about broader governance questions and the real-world impact of policy processes. In their free time, Esther loves to reconnect with the world outside academia, exploring the great outdoors and Canberra’s amazing foodie scene, and Emma enjoys cheese, wine and a good book—her preferred method of temporarily disassociating from parental responsibilities.

Together, Esther and Emma are here to connect and support our HDR community. They are looking forward to a year of collaboration, learning and shared success, and invite everyone to join them on the journey.