By the Leadership and Talent Development team at the APS Academy
The APS Academy congratulates Kerren Crosthwaite as the 2025 Dr Margot McCarthy Scholar.
Kerren is the First Assistant Secretary of Housing Division at the Commonwealth Department of the Treasury.
Kerren was selected from a field of outstanding applicants nominated by secretaries and heads of large agencies across the Commonwealth. While at the Department of the Treasury and during her broader public service, Kerren has made significant contributions to public policy and leadership, in very complex and high profile work areas whilst rebuilding relationships and effective governance with key stakeholders.
The Dr Margot McCarthy Scholarship will support Kerren to complete an intensive executive program relevant to her work at Treasury and an immersive professional experience to consolidate her public policy and leadership capability.
Kerren hopes to complete the Executive Public Leaders Programme at the Blavatnik School of Government, Oxford University mid-2025, followed by an immersive work experience in the UK.
After completing her scholarship, Kerren will share her learnings as an APS Academy practitioner to pass on what she has learned and her expertise.
About the Dr Margot McCarthy Scholarship
The Australian Public Service Commission and the Secretaries Talent Council created the Dr Margot McCarthy Scholarship to recognise Dr McCarthy’s contribution to the Australian Public Service (APS). Dr Margot McCarthy was a valued colleague, friend and mentor to many across the APS. She generously dedicated her time, passion and vision to significant public policy throughout her public service career.
Dr McCarthy built a strong career in the national security community. She served in various critical positions including the Australian Government’s National Security Adviser and leading Prime Minister and Cabinet’s (PM&C) National Security and International Policy Group. Later in her career Dr McCarthy moved into aged care, as Deputy Secretary of the Ageing and Aged Care Group at the Department of Health.
Dr McCarthy helped establish the APS Academy and the Faculty in 2021. She engaged across the APS, inspiring conversations and actions, contributing to improving the capability of the APS. She made a deep impact and is remembered as an exceptional leader and mentor.
For more information on the Dr Margot McCarthy Scholarship please visit The Dr Margot McCarthy Scholarship or email the team.
More learning programs
The APS Academy offers other programs in addition to the Dr Margot McCarthy Scholarship:
- The Jawun APS Secondment Program provides APS employees (APS6 and higher) virtual or in-place secondment opportunities across Jawun’s 12 regions of engagement. Participants support Indigenous organisations to achieve development goals while developing their own leadership.
- The Sir Roland Wilson Scholarship Program is open to Executive Level employees to pursue doctoral-level research at the Australian National University (ANU) on a topic of national significance.
- The Pat Turner Scholarship Program is open to APS4 to SES Band 1 First Nations employees to pursue postgraduate research or coursework at the ANU or Charles Darwin University.
- The SES Band 2 Leadership Development Program strengthens the leadership capability of senior executives to effectively perform their high-level responsibilities.
For leadership and development opportunities at various levels visit the Leadership and Management page on the APS Academy website.