Tamika Townsend
Dalmeny,Australia
Summary
“I am a proud Ngarigo/Djiringanj woman. My values-based approach paired with my passion and commitment to changemaking processes has been the catalyst to my rewarding career delivering successful national reconciliation programs in the community controlled and not for profit sector and shaping policy for First Nations employment, women and girls and languages”
Overview
12
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Assistant Director
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
01.2024 - Current
- Company Overview: Agriculture Policy Division, Strategic Policy
- Led the development of New Policy Proposals for First Nations partnerships to be brought forward in the Budget Context
- Participated in the Indigenous Women’s Public Sector Forum in November 2024
- Demonstrated cultural leadership by spearheading the planning for a Yarning Circle during a divisional planning day, fostering inclusivity, solutions and strength-based approaches and understanding among team members
- Successfully mentored, managed and developed staff within the team and across the Branch and broader division
- Delivered high quality strategic meeting briefs for engagements that set the agenda for Closing the Gap and First Nations Economic Policy
- Agriculture Policy Division, Strategic Policy
A/g Director
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
07.2024 - 08.2024
- Company Overview: Agriculture Policy Division, Livestock & Strategic Policy
- Led and managed the Livestock section successfully as the team leader of a fast paced, high-profile group responsible for Research and Development Corporations and industry engagement
- Managed engagement with key agriculture industry stakeholders across dairy, wool, avian influenza, emergency responses and livestock
- Successfully advocated and raised the profile of the need for better support for First Nations landowners both in Government and industry
- Delivered the Annual Performance Meeting with Meat and Livestock Australia included managing political nuances regarding a new levies scheme announced by the Australian Government
- Led the First Nations Strategic Policy Team through a period of uncertainty by managing staff, delivering key policy priorities and high-profile engagements between the Minister and First Nations leaders and providing the team with stability and strategic direction
- Developed and led a team planning day to ensure certainty and strategic direction during staff turnover
- Agriculture Policy Division, Livestock & Strategic Policy
Assistant Director
Department of Infrastructure, Transport Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
01.2018 - 01.2024
- Company Overview: Office for the Arts Indigenous Languages Taskforce
- Successfully developed the New Policy Proposals for 53.8 million ongoing funding to deliver urgent priorities for the First Nations Language Sector within tight timeframes and led the consultation period with key government agencies on the pre-exposure draft and ministerial approvals
- Led consultations with First Nations employee’s and leaders to obtain approval to progress the First Nations Language Learning Program
- Responsible for progressing a First Nations Language Learning Program to support language learning for APS staff
- Management/supervisory of staff in the completion of urgent policy tasks and contributed to employee retention within the branch
- Played a key role in negotiations between the Commonwealth and ACT Government on proposals relating to language activity in the ACT Region
- Successfully engaged with First Nations stakeholders and agencies to provide input for an urgent proposal for Translating and Interpreting resulting in a partnership mode
- Office for the Arts Indigenous Languages Taskforce
Policy Advisor
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Company Overview: Employment Policy
- Contributed to mainstream employment policies with implications for Indigenous employment outcomes including the Accelerating Indigenous Employment Package 2016-17 Budget Submission
- Conducted extensive research and analysis to support findings of the IAG Indigenous Employment Policy Paper 2017
- Led employment policy advice on key policies including Closing the Gap and APS Indigenous Employment target
- Managed procurement processes to engage an Indigenous Consultant to lead Indigenous employment consultations including briefing the Deputy Secretary and working within legislative and ethical requirements
- Employment Policy
Policy Advisor
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
01.2017 - 06.2017
- Company Overview: Indigenous Women & Girls
- Worked to embed gender reporting into the Indigenous Advancement Strategy (IAS) to prepare the Department for its policy response to Indigenous women's consultations (The Women's Voices Project)
- Worked across Indigenous Affairs to quantify the IAS spend on Indigenous women and girls and prepared papers to determine findings
- As a result, this work contributed to mandatory reporting of gender within the IAS
- Indigenous Women & Girls
Indigenous Governance Awards Program Officer
Reconciliation Australia
01.2015 - 01.2016
- Supported the delivery of the 2015 Indigenous Governance Awards Engaged over 15 RAP organisations to form partnerships with Indigenous businesses as part of my management of the 2016 Corporate Partnership Program
Program Officer
WA Reconciliation Action Plan
01.2013 - 01.2015
- Managed a portfolio of over 200 Western Australian (WA) Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) organisations across all sectors
- Developed, facilitated and promoted workshops, learning circles and information sessions
Education
Certificate IV -
Dhurga Language
Diploma -
Government/ Project Management
Certificate IV -
Leadership and Mentoring
Certificate II -
Business
Certificate II -
Government
Skills
- Staff management
- Stakeholder engagement
- Strategic planning
- Policy implementation
- Policy development
- Program management
- Research skills
- Risk analysis
Professionalattributes
- Expertise in communicating innovative ideas to diverse stakeholders.
- Highly skilled in working autonomously.
- Excellent negotiation and leadership skills in working with governments and stakeholders.
- Strong understanding of how policy and programs impact real life experiences.
- Ability to gather evidence that informs sound policy formation.
- Well-rounded policy and program experience underpinned by excellent core skills.
- Thrives in fast-paced learning and work environments.
- Experienced and confident engaging public speaking, facilitating events and workshops and chairing meetings.
- Expertise in applying cultural knowledge to professional contexts.
- Excellent understanding of the APS roles and responsibilities.
References
- Sheridan Williams, (02) 6136 6995, Sheridan.Williams@arts.gov.au
- Marianne Schafer-Gardiner, (02) 6271 1804, Marianne.Schafer-Gardiner@arts.gov.au
Communitywork
- Djidjarns performances in Djiringanj language and work in language revitalisation.
- Deliver community programs through Koori Rose First Nations Consulting.
- Manage, secure funding and compete in a First Nations Football tournament annually.
Professional Development
- Secretary Day Shadow Program, 07/01/23
- Heywire Mentor, 01/01/18
- RAP Working Group member, Prime Minister and Cabinet, 01/01/16 - 12/31/18
- Mentor to many IAGDP participants, 01/01/17
- Part of Reconciliation Australia’s Garma Women's Group, 01/01/14
- ACT National Indigenous Youth Parliament, 01/01/14
- Winner of ABC Heywire Writing Competition, 01/01/09
- RAP Working Group member, Reconciliation Australia, 01/01/14 - 12/31/16
Timeline
A/g Director
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
07.2024 - 08.2024
Assistant Director
Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry
01.2024 - Current
Assistant Director
Department of Infrastructure, Transport Regional Development, Communications and the Arts
01.2018 - 01.2024
Policy Advisor
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
01.2017 - 06.2017
Policy Advisor
Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
01.2016 - 01.2018
Indigenous Governance Awards Program Officer
Reconciliation Australia
01.2015 - 01.2016
Program Officer
WA Reconciliation Action Plan
01.2013 - 01.2015
Certificate IV -
Dhurga Language
Diploma -
Government/ Project Management
Certificate IV -
Leadership and Mentoring
Certificate II -
Business
Certificate II -
Government
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