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Dr Tahnya Donaghy held senior executive roles in the public service between 2005-2018, where she led transformative reforms across justice, health, and human services, shaping policy and institutional structures to improve public outcomes. Her leadership has delivered major initiatives, including the development of South Australia’s Public Sector (Data Sharing) 2016 legislation, the establishment of the Office for Data Analytics, and the creation of the Early Intervention Research Directorate, a pioneering data-driven unit focused on early identification and support for vulnerable children. She chaired the SA Government Data for Good Advisory Board, which explored innovative ethical use of data across government, and served as the senior government negotiator in the investment and establishment of the Australian Institute of Machine Learning, ensuring alignment with public sector priorities.

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After leaving government Dr Donaghy co-founded Peg Consulting in 2018, and over the last seven years has worked with governments around Australia to design and implement reforms that strengthen transparency, citizen outcomes, and systemic accountability. She is also the Principal and founder of The Dux Project, an initiative dedicated to fostering leadership and reform within the public sector.

She currently serves on multiple Boards in the health and justice sectors, bringing strategic governance expertise to policy reform, performance, and innovation. 

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In 1999 Dr Donaghy earned her Ph.D. at the School of Politics at Queen’s University of Belfast, Northern Ireland and held postdoctoral research fellowships in the UK and Australia, where she published multiple peer-reviewed journal articles on political systems, institutional reform, and policy leadership

With deep expertise in institutional design, data-informed decision-making, and reform implementation, Dr Donaghy is known for translating complexity into strategy—shaping a forward-thinking and responsive public service across Australia.