Cindy Tonkin is a Local Government advisor and transformation partner

Helping councils build stronger communities, streamline operations and align teams

Regional councils operate in a unique environment. You must balance complex regulatory frameworks, multi-layered community expectations, and distributed teams, all while driving digital modernisation with limited resources.

Cindy Tonkin is a strategic advisor, coach, and transformation leader with nearly four decades of experience helping large, structured, and risk-averse public sector organisations navigate change safely and successfully. By combining rigorous analytical systems with deep empathy and human-centred change, Cindy helps councils translate high-level strategies into practical, on-the-ground realities.

Cindy is on the NSW Government Preferred Supplier list, and is based in Sydney NSW.

Why regional councils partner with Cindy

• Deep institutional familiarity: Extensive experience collaborating with government agencies and departments means she understands how to operate effectively within highly structured, public sector environments.
• Human-centred adoption: Rather than imposing rigid external models, Cindy adapts to your council’s established culture and frameworks. She specialises in helping transition-weary or technophobic teams build confidence and embrace new ways of working.
• A track record of efficiency: Possesses an analytical focus that has delivered millions of dollars in process savings and operational improvements across corporate services, payroll, human resources, and finance.

Strategic services for council leadership and teams

Organisational restructuring, team building and conflict resolution

Facilitating targeted, collaborative reviews of council divisions to reduce internal friction and build high-performing, cross-functional teams, as delivered to restructure the Human Resources division of Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council, or to improve team cohesion and collaboration with Hilltops Council (Young, NSW)

Strategic and Operational Planning, IP&R

Developing executable strategic plans and then laddering them down to consistent, understandable operational plans, including defining key performance indicators, success measures, and organisational cultural fit, as executed for Hornsby Shire Council, Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council and Strathfield Council.

Leadership capability and management coaching

Providing practical leadership coaching, executive team facilitation, and soft-skills training programmes to help council managers lead their teams confidently through times of ambiguity and restructure, as delivered for Hilltops Council, Strathfield Council, Central Coast Council.

Process re-engineering and digital adoption

Mapping user journeys, streamlining administrative workflows, and creating simple, user-friendly documentation, procedures, and video guides to ensure rapid, stress-free adoption of new software and database platforms.

Our local government and public sector footprint

Cindy has successfully delivered change, capability uplift, and operational reviews for a wide range of local government and state public services:

• Central Coast Council
• Hilltops Council
• Hornsby Shire Council
• Ku-ring-gai Municipal Council
• Liverpool City Council
• Strathfield Council
• Warringah Shire Council
• Queanbeyan-Palerang Regional Council

“Cindy was a wonderful facilitator. We were amazed at her energy levels and ability to hold the attention of the room for a full day.” Manager of Business Operations, NSW Public Sector Organisation

Let us start a conversation

Ready to set your teams up for success?

Whether you are planning an upcoming division restructure, preparing a major tender, or looking to uplift management capability across your team, let us discuss how we can support your council’s priorities.

Call Cindy any time on 0412 135 426 or book a digital meeting here to get started.

Pre-approved supplier

Aragon Gray Pty Ltd and Cindy Tonkin on the approved suppliers list for State and Local Government for services related to productivity and process review, training and facilitation.

Insurance coverage for Professional Indemnity, Public Liability and Workers Compensation are up to date. Aragon Gray Pty Ltd ABN 50 058 095 631