Penny Dakin
Penny Dakin picture
CEO, Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth

Penny Dakin is the CEO of ARACY, the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth.

Penny’s career has encompassed public policy, population health, community engagement, sociology and child and youth development and wellbeing. She has worked in the public sector, not-for-profits and as a consultant. Penny is an invited representative on key leadership and policy committees across sectors.

Before joining ARACY Penny led the implementation of the $72 million Healthy Communities initiative of the National Partnership Agreement on Preventive Health including pilot development and the design of national and local evaluation strategies. 

Penny is a skilled and passionate advocate for children, young people and their families with an extensive national and international network across the third sector, government and philanthropy.

She is a strategic and innovative thinker who has led a number of pivotal collaborations, advocacy consortia and research projects, forging strong relationships with Commonwealth and state governments, industry and philanthropy to achieve substantial outcomes.