Tanya Smith
Principal
I love developing long-term strategy - especially where reform is involved - and translating that into direct, immediate action. The complex stuff is the interesting stuff, and extracting order from chaos is what appeals.
Tanya is passionate about strategy and the interface between politics, policy and wider business and community interests. She relishes navigating complex issues that cross sectors and/or jurisdictions, and which engage a wide range of stakeholders. As a former senior government official who has designed and driven major reforms, she also has expertise in public sector leadership and organisational improvement. Having worked in South Australia for six years and headed up Nous’s office there, Tanya has a particular appreciation of that state’s issues and potential.
Tanya knows government policy-making processes at the national and state level. She understands the issues in and dynamics of federal-state relations and key issues in the national reform agenda – notably around health, housing, schooling, infrastructure and VET. With 17 years in DFAT and three years on the National Counter-Terrorism Committee, she also has expertise in national security and emergency management.
Project experience
Tanya has directed Nous projects to redesign industry engagement mechanisms for the Victorian Skills Commission, and to consider the challenges and opportunities of Australia’s schooling system nationally. She has assisted businesses with strategic planning and participated in organisational reviews. Tanya has also delivered training on how to understand and operate within government successfully.
Education / accreditation / board membership
Tanya’s academic background is in political science, with a specialisation in Islamic politics. She served on South Australia’s Social Inclusion Board and on several COAG Working Groups. Tanya completed the Executive Fellowship Program (2009) at the ANZSOG and is a Director on the Australian American Association Ltd Board
Past employment
Tanya is former diplomat who served in the UK and the USA before moving to South Australia to work on the state’s landmark strategic plan. In 2007 she became Deputy Chief Executive in the Department of the Premier and Cabinet, where she was responsible for whole-of-government policy coordination and representing the state in COAG negotiations.
Interests
Tanya came to Nous because she wanted to continue to influence public policy development at the state and national level, both by providing advice in a targeted, direct and timely way, and by helping improve the capability of people engaged in that type of work day-to-day. Consulting allows her to blend creative thinking and variety on the one hand with discipline and focus on the other.
Recent projects
Funding proposal for Heads of Treasuries promotes national climate change action
Service lines
- Public policy
Policy reform to meet Australia’s schooling challenges and opportunities
Service lines
- Public policy
Organisational review delivers new structure and enthusiasm for change
Service lines
- Organisational capability
Recent project team members
Mark Burford
Principal
Service lines
- Public policy
- Business strategy
Richard Rawling
Principal
Service lines
- Organisational capability
James Orr
Senior Consultant
Service lines
- Organisational capability
Lauren Douge
Senior Consultant
Service lines
- Organisational capability
Zac Ashkanasy
Principal
Service lines
- Business strategy
- Public policy
Anna Moegerlein
Consultant
Service lines
- Public policy
- Business strategy
Benjamin Battisson
Senior Consultant
Service lines
- Leadership & people development
Jim Davidson
Senior Adviser
Service lines
- Public policy
- Business strategy