Heather Thomas

Background

About Heather Thomas

As a program risk management professional with experience across employment services, international development and education in Australia, PNG and Fiji, I’m passionate about capacity development and expanding peoples’ horizons. I support delivery of risk-based assurance to ensure employment services are being delivered effectively and efficiently to enable job seekers to find and keep a job. Previous experience includes establishing the University of Canberra’s Future Student Contact Centre, management of the Australian Volunteers for International Development program in Fiji and PNG, and engagement as a ‘cultural translator’ to support Australia Awards PNG Scholarship recipients studying in Australia. Connecting with people and delivering client-focused outcomes is what I love, where colleagues know me as an innovative team member who thinks outside the box to find solutions that meet multiple stakeholder needs. I believe in putting people at the centre of policy design and implementation, recognising local environment knowledge to enhance ownership, program efficacy and drive innovative solutions to contemporary employment, education and development challenges.