Pahlia Kenny
Kirribilli
Summary
Future-focused transformation leader with 15+ years’ experience delivering enterprise technology strategy, operational excellence, and large-scale transformation across transport, defence, health, and higher education sectors in Australia and the United Kingdom. Proven success aligning digital and operational technology investments to strategic, financial, and national outcomes within complex, multi-stakeholder environments. Recognised for driving innovation governance, systems integration, and emerging technology adoption to enable smarter, safer, and more sustainable operations. Skilled in leading enterprise reform and capability uplift programs that enhance productivity, resilience, and digital maturity. Passionate about public value creation, inclusion, sustainability, and future mobility.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
Work History
Change & Transition Lead - Reset Western Program
University of Western Sydney
06.2025 - Current
- Driving a whole-of-university transformation addressing an $80 million structural deficit through large-scale organisational redesign and operating-model reform. Leading the transition from 12 Schools to 3 integrated Faculties, redefinition of leadership and governance layers, and optimisation of 21 enterprise functions to strengthen financial performance and service delivery.
- Key Achievements:
- Led enterprise-wide organisational transformation addressing an $80 million operating deficit, delivering a sustainable operating model through structural consolidation (12 Schools to 3 Faculties and 21 functional clusters).
- Designed and executed the university’s Change & Engagement Strategy, aligning people, process, and governance reforms to the Western 2030 strategic vision.
- Directed delivery of Change Impact Assessments, consultation frameworks, and management-response packs, ensuring compliance with enterprise agreements and public-sector change legislation.
- Oversaw consultation and engagement for 5,000+ staff, integrating union feedback, leadership communications, and sentiment analysis to enable evidence-based decision-making.
- Established a Change Support Hub and Transition Readiness Framework, enabling continuity and capability uplift post-implementation
- Partnered with PMO, Risk & Audit, and Finance to embed financial governance, workforce modelling, and change assurance into executive reporting.
- Produced all Management Board packs, risk registers, and executive briefings, enabling data-driven oversight and transparent decision-making
Project Manager, Operational Technology Ecosystem Strategy (OTECS)
Transport for NSW
- Supported the development of an Operational Technology uplift strategy and implementation roadmap to strengthen visibility, cyber resilience, and lifecycle governance of critical OT assets across Transport for NSW.
- Key Achievements:
- Led Phase 1 of the OTECS initiative, establishing a baseline architecture and strategy for TfNSW’s operational technology ecosystem, focused on resilience, cyber maturity, convergence, and long-term lifecycle governance.
- Delivered a comprehensive gap analysis and risk assessment across Customer Journey Management, Planning (CJM & CJP) and field-level systems.
- Identified fragmented investments, unsupported functions, and legacy technical debt impacting TMC operations.
- Contributed to the initial scoping of Phase 2, including the development of an options analysis outlining strategic pathways toward a future-state OT ecosystem aligned with TMC’s vision and capability needs.
- Shaped the early roadmap design for uplift initiatives (impacting >75 operational systems), including indicative costings, risk profiles, and high-level delivery timelines.
Senior Manager, Programs – Motorways Integration Program
Transport for NSW
02.2024 - 06.2025
- Leading a >$50 million portfolio of ~9 multi-year projects to unify and optimise motorway device and control systems across NSW through system integration, safety improvements, and congestion management strategies.
- Key Achievements:
- Oversaw governance and delivery of system integration across major corridors including the Western Distributor Smart Motorway (WDSM), Western Harbour Tunnel (WHT), M12, Warringah Freeway Upgrade (WFU), M6, and Sydney Gateway (SGW).
- Established technical and programmatic controls to accelerate readiness for operational technology cutovers.
- Developed funding business cases and briefing notes to secure additional budget for high-risk scope changes.
- Coordinated alignment across corridor-level project delivery teams, engineering, and regional maintenance functions.
- Led program delivery coordination across divisions such as Infrastructure, Place & Engineering (IPE) and Finance, Technology & Commercial (FTC) and Coordinator General, with over 56 direct and indirect reports, reporting through to five Directors including the Executive Director, Operational Technology.
Senior Manager, Change & Implementation – OneRoad Program
Transport for NSW
12.2022 - 02.2024
- Led state-wide transformation initiatives within the Day of Operations Rolling Portfolio (DOORP), including Salesforce-based systems for network incident and disaster coordination.
- Key Achievements:
- Successfully engaged 125 of 128 NSW councils and delivered training to over 700+ local government users as part of the OneRoad (Live Traffic NSW) rollout - a non-mandated system delivered 12 months ahead of schedule.
- Led a hybrid delivery team (~26 direct reports) spanning TfNSW, KPMG, and EY to accelerate outcomes following a ministerial directive post-2022 floods.
- Oversaw the ELCS system upgrade and deployment of a high-fidelity simulator to support capability uplift for 30+ critical operators on the Sydney Harbour Bridge.
- Delivered Emergency Bus Phase 2 and NCIS (Network Closure Information System) projects, including change management and training for 150+ operational users and external bus operators.
- Managed all ministerial and executive engagement, authored Parliamentary briefing responses, and led the design of the BAU support and transition model.
- Recipient of the 2023 Transport Award for ‘Connecting our Customers’ Whole Lives’ for the successful delivery and impact of the OneRoad Program.
- Invited speaker at the 2024 TfNSW Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Summit, presenting lessons from the OneRoad transformation and its impact on operational resilience.
Manager, Business Transformation
EY (Joint Health Command, Health Strategy Office) Australian Department of Defence (ADF)
10.2021 - 12.2022
- Delivered enterprise-level strategy, performance management, and transformation across Joint Health Command.
- Key Achievements:
- Designed and established a Defence-wide Project Management Office (PMO), enabling strategic oversight and alignment of 160+ health-related projects.
- Led development and launch of the refreshed ADF Health Strategy 2022–2030, as well as the annual JHC Business Plan in direct consultation with the Surgeon General and Director Generals of the Australian Defence Force (ADF).
- Directed a 26-member team, delivering PMO digitisation, clinical service redesign, and workforce optimisation initiatives across Defence health operations.
- Led nation-wide reform of Garrison Health Services across 56 centres, including the implementation of Primary Healthcare Team Models to improve consistency, access, and scheduled care delivery.
Emergency Response Manager – D20 Brexit Preparedness Team
UK Dept. for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
12.2020 - 04.2021
- Crisis response lead during Brexit transition, COVID-19, and extreme weather events.
- Key Achievements:
- Delivered daily briefings to senior ministers and COBR on critical issues including Brexit readiness, national COVID-19 response, and severe weather events, ensuring real-time decision-making and risk mitigation.
- Promoted to Bronze/Silver leadership level (£720/day) in recognition of high performance and ability to lead under pressure; one of only 10 FTA staff retained through to program close, entrusted with auditing top-secret national emergency response plans.
- Successfully balanced concurrent full-time responsibilities as NHS Project Manager through flexible roster agreements, maintaining delivery across both national programs.
Project Manager – London Fast-Track Cities Initiative
Healthy London Partnership
07.2019 - 04.2021
- Project lead for £6M HIV response initiative across London.
- Key Achievements:
- Delivered 12 funded healthcare improvement projects under the Fast-Track Cities Initiative, targeting HIV testing, treatment, and long-term wellbeing.
- Designed and launched a lived experience and empowerment framework to address internalised stigma in people living with HIV.
- Facilitated over 10 cross-sector stakeholder workshops to co-design sustainable service responses amid structural health system changes and COVID-19 disruptions.
STP Relationship Manager – COVID-19 Homeless Health Response
London COVID-19 Incident Command
03.2020 - 07.2020
- Developed and implemented pan-London care model across 9000+ emergency accommodation clients.
- Key Achievements:
- Authored pan-London operational guidance for homeless health care during the COVID-19 pandemic - subsequently endorsed and adopted as the national model for emergency accommodation health service delivery.
Project Implementation Lead – QLD Pelvic Mesh Service
Queensland Health
04.2019 - 10.2019
- Direct report to the QLD Minister for Health and Deputy General of QLD Department of Health, leading high-profile and state-funded $3.14M clinical service launch.
- Key Achievements:
- Delivered full multidisciplinary pelvic mesh service under budget and within the mandated 6-month timeframe, meeting all clinical and operational readiness milestones.
- Personally led end-to-end implementation including recruitment of 20+ staff, capital setup, service relocation, and procurement of specialised equipment and consumables.
- Recognised for excellence in service delivery with both the ‘Consumer Award’ and Queensland Clinical Excellence Awards.
Program Manager, Women's & Children's Health Services
Gold Coast Health
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Children’s Services Redesign | READI & EDAP | Maternity & Newborn Services | Integrated Care Alliance
- Key Achievements:
- Led the successful implementation of a hospital-wide admission and transfer process, embedding lasting change across 4,000+ clinical and operational staff within a 6-week period, a transformation that took peer hospitals over 12 months to deliver.
- Co-designed and facilitated 26 multidisciplinary workshops engaging over 500 clinicians, executives, and consumers to drive co-ownership of care model redesign and operational reform.
Executive Support & Project Officer to Chief Operations Officer
Gold Coast University Hospital
11.2016 - 12.2017
- Key Achievements:
- Supported a major organisational restructure impacting over 8,000 staff, including union consultation and workforce transition planning.
- Successfully coordinated the recruitment and onboarding of four out of five new Executive Directors, strengthening leadership capability across operational divisions.
- Contributed to enterprise-wide operational planning and risk mitigation efforts for the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games, ensuring health service readiness and continuity.
Education
Bachelor of Laws - Law
Bond University
Gold Coast, QLD01.2012
Skills
- Transformational Program Leadership
- Stakeholder & Government Engagement
- Agile Delivery and Portfolio Management
- Risk Management & Operational Readiness
- Public Sector Reform & Policy Implementation
- Developing and Leading High-performing Teams
- Business Case & Investment Planning
- Strategic Planning & Execution
- Change Management & Communications
- System Integration and Technology Uplift
- Capability Uplift & Workforce Transition
- Enterprise Change & Organisational Restructuring
Timeline
Change & Transition Lead - Reset Western Program
University of Western Sydney
06.2025 - Current
Senior Manager, Programs – Motorways Integration Program
Transport for NSW
02.2024 - 06.2025
Senior Manager, Change & Implementation – OneRoad Program
Transport for NSW
12.2022 - 02.2024
Manager, Business Transformation
EY (Joint Health Command, Health Strategy Office) Australian Department of Defence (ADF)
10.2021 - 12.2022
Emergency Response Manager – D20 Brexit Preparedness Team
UK Dept. for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy
12.2020 - 04.2021
STP Relationship Manager – COVID-19 Homeless Health Response
London COVID-19 Incident Command
03.2020 - 07.2020
Project Manager – London Fast-Track Cities Initiative
Healthy London Partnership
07.2019 - 04.2021
Project Implementation Lead – QLD Pelvic Mesh Service
Queensland Health
04.2019 - 10.2019
Program Manager, Women's & Children's Health Services
Gold Coast Health
01.2018 - 01.2019
Executive Support & Project Officer to Chief Operations Officer
Gold Coast University Hospital
11.2016 - 12.2017
Project Manager, Operational Technology Ecosystem Strategy (OTECS)
Transport for NSW
Bachelor of Laws - Law
Bond University
Awards
Winner - 'Connecting our Customers' Whole Lives', 2023 Transport Awards, Winner - 'Consumer Award' Clinical Excellence Awards 2020, QLD Department of Health, Winner - TfNSW Operational Technology ‘Star of the Month’ for Operator Integration Programs, May 2025, Invited Speaker - 2024 TfNSW ITS Summit (OneRoad Program)
Additional Information
Open to international opportunities and actively pursuing relocation to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, to contribute to large-scale transformation and innovation programs. Fully prepared to mobilise and commence employment within four weeks.