Pro Leaders Academy

Charles Sturt University

Account Director at DDLS People

DDLS

Account Director

- Successfully led the completion of complex bid responses including establishing the bid response teams, developing the delivery schedule and pricing strategy and designing our delivery methodology
-  Identified and delivered internal business improvements to the entire Noetic workforce planning continuum
-  Led the Director cohort through the development of a business development and capture model to support General Manager high value opportunities
-  Developing innovative business opportunities for Noetic such as working with a federal government agency to provide business support to help small Defence industry businesses grow as part of a grants program
-  Provision of coaching to Directors and graduates
-  Extended a current Noetic contract with an existing not for profit client to deliver project management, governance and capability uplift services (with an associated revenue stream in excess of $650,000)

Noetic Group

Principal Consultant

Led the Engineering, Policy and Change ACT team within the Advisory Services stream of QinetiQ.

-  Leadership for a team of 35 people including establishment of performance plans and provision of regular performance feedback and management, coaching and mentoring
-  Managed the delivery of 10 + contracts worth around $10M including complex contract negotiation, contract progress reporting, solution development and client engagement
-  Grew my portfolio by in excess of $7M per year
-  Drafted forty bid responses per year including developing the solution methodology, allocating of recruiting resources and establishing budget/profit margins

Delivery of key Defence contracts:

-  Directed a team of technical specialists to deliver the Defence Joint Strike Fighter (JSF) Enterprise Architecture Modelling (EAM) Services including:
-  130 Standing Instructions for JSF training, maintenance, supply, airworthiness, command and control, fleet management, Off Board Information System (OBIS)
-  Business analysis mapping and requirements specifications to enable the exchange of information between the JSF ICT system and a range of Defence ICT systems
-  Led the design and development of the five detailed SEA 1000 workforce planning research papers covering future workforce modelling and recruitment and retention
-  Provided strategic business advice to the Services Delivery Division in the Estate and Infrastructure Group including:
-  Facilitated workshops to develop Branch and Directorate’s Business Plans
-  Implemented a range of innovative co-design methodologies, redesigned and regrouped the Corporate Services and Governance Branch functions and business processes
-  Developed the Service Delivery Division Reporting Framework using evidence-based systems data
-  Executive coaching and strategic advice to Branch Leadership Team

QinetiQ Australia

Senior Principal Consultant / Team Lead

- Established the Program Management Office function for the Estate Services - Service Delivery Division including establishment of a new Program Management Office team structure, 2016-17 financial year work plan aligned with broader Defence outcomes
-  Provision of strategic advice to the Director and executive team, including the establishment of tools aligned with Defence HR policy to manage complex performance and behavioural issues
-  Facilitated team business planning sessions across the Division to ensure alignment of team business plans with broader structural changes
-  Facilitated workshops to identify cultural issues and develop shared solutions pertaining to data collection and reporting capabilities of the $2.3B national Estate Management program

Department of Defence

Program Manager, Estate Services Division (contract)

- Established and implemented best-practice program management office (PMO) to drive the delivery of the changes within an organisation with low project management maturity, achieving a zero findings in an ANAO program audit
-  Translated complex proposed legislative provisions into operational activities and deliverables and upskilled existing policy teams to achieve these deliverables
-  Developed a high-performing PMO team to collaborate and upskill the policy teams to develop a range of innovative solutions to complex implementation issues in an iterative manner
-  Established the program governance framework and external consultation framework, including a three-tiered reporting process
-  Developed a range of eLearning modules, presentations and documentation for the presentation and interpretation of complex legislative change packages to a range of stakeholders
-  Initiated regular resource planning across multiple teams within the Division, providing strategic advice to the senior executive on program resourcing needs and capability gaps to deliver the change program

Comcare

Program Director, SRC Act Changes (contract)

- Provided project management and resource forecasting expertise across the Taskforce portfolio, including the development of interdependent program plans for each program outcome area
-  Collaborated with key stakeholders and opinion leaders to identify key project deliverables and activities
-  Conducted forward planning for the taskforce, extracting evidence-based data and conducting extrapolation to identify interdependencies, informing resource and budget allocation
-  Managed the logistics team, establishing all policies and processes to deliver 6000+ domestic travel movements for clients
-  Led the Taskforce counselling program and team, managing complex contractual arrangements with the national counselling supplier and sensitive client complaints

Attorney Generals

Director, Defence Abuse Response Taskforce (contract)

Implemented  Workplace Health and Safety Act 2011 (WHS Act) across DHA and developed and delivered the agency-wide eLearning framework

-  Led the implementation of the WHS Act via a department-wide action plan across Defence Housing Australia including:
-  Established a risk management and notification system and associated policies to achieve national governance around reporting
-  Led the development of the online WHS incident and hazard reporting system, and associated incident and hazard procedures
-  In consultation with a broad range of stakeholders designed the organisational eLearning framework including establishing the eLearning procurement panel
-  Developed an innovative procurement method to crowd source instructional designers to develop the eLearning modules through a third-party website
-  Successfully delivered the design, development and implementation of DHA’s first eLearning modules, including developing standardised eLearning templates and evaluation frameworks

Defence Housing Australia

Director, Corporate Projects (contract)

Independent contractor providing expert services to a range of leading organisations, across disciplines including governance, strategy and business development.

Key achievements:

-  Lifeline Canberra: Drafted and presented to the Board new commercial revenue streams which were consequently approved  and implemented. Concertinaed 50+ risks to 15 strategic risks tied to organisational KPIs. Developed the Board governance framework including the Board Induction and Reference Manual. Drafted a raft of organisational governance documents including the Lifeline Canberra Green Office Plan, the Public Position Statements, the Business Continuity Plan and the Lifeline Canberra Business Plan 2011-12. Redesigned the training program leading to a profit within the first year post the changes. Led the changes to the Lifeline Canberra Constitution.

-  Australian Institute of Management: Researched and drafted sections of the thought leadership gender diversity Green Paper, White Paper and the Public Position Statement, and represented the organisation at a number of leadership conferences.

-  Australian Pork Limited: Mapped customer service processes in consultation with executive and key staff, concertinaed complex workflow processes into high-order strategic processes for an IT procurement specification document, and identified and provided to the General Managers a number of business work flow and continuous improvement issues.

-  Australian Logistics Council: Produced a governance document for the Board of Director to address significant issues identified by the CEO and embed key management strategies to transform the organisation to an Australian logistics leader and peak body. Also developed their three year Strategic Plan and Annual Business Plan. I was also re-engaged whilst working at the Attorney Generals to work with the ALC CEO and Board to draft their next three Strategic Plan.

Various

Independent Management Consultant (various contracts)

Established the Australian Government-funded program providing learner drivers and their parents/supervisors a free driving lesson with a Keys2drive accredited professional driving instructor.

-  Delivered the national program within a compressed time frame and within budget
-  Directed the research and development for the Keys2drive program to establish the evidence based Keys2drive learning framework
-  Delivered standardised training to 1200+ driver trainers for national rollout, including the coordination of roadshows and major events
-  Rebranded the Keys2drive program and delivered the state and territory rollout events in partnership with the Federal Roads Minister
-  Delivered over 5,000 Keys2drive lessons in the first six months
-  Achieved a 10%+ budget saving by utilising the Australian procurement guidelines to remove the prime contractor structure and improve program delivery governance
-  Developed a range of MOU’s with key senior stakeholders from the AAA constituent clubs, and state government organisations to integrate the program into the broader learner driver portfolio

Australian Automobile Association

Program Director

Responsible for business development, management and growth supporting young Australian designers.
-  Grew the business by 150% in the first 18 months and developed a client base of 400+ clients
-  Embedded best practice business processes and achieved contract exclusivity with leading suppliers
-  Achieved marketing and PR coverage in a number of leading magazines
-  Provided support to onshore designers in ethical design and sourcing of staff, and to offshore designers in the allocation of profit to partnering communities

Karen Smith