Ivonne Rodriguez

Team Leader Student Support Services @ South Metropolitan TAFE | Strategic Planning, Governance, Community Systems & Inclusion.

Perth, Western Australia, Australia

About

I am a strategic public sector leader with over a decade of experience spanning tertiary education, governance and community systems. Currently, as Team Leader of Student Support Services at South Metropolitan TAFE, I lead multi-campus operations supporting more than 1,300 students annually, including complex welfare and disability matters. I oversee multidisciplinary teams, strengthen risk governance frameworks and design structured escalation processes that improve early intervention and organisational accountability. My work extends beyond operational management into system design and strategic alignment. I have contributed to policy implementation, legislative compliance, workforce capability development and service model redesign. I am recognised for translating frontline complexity into sustainable, organisation-wide solutions that balance inclusion with performance and risk management. In parallel, as an elected Councillor for the City of Canning, I contribute to strategic planning, public accountability and community representation within a local government environment. This role has strengthened my understanding of governance frameworks, stakeholder negotiation and decision-making within politically sensitive contexts. I am seeking senior leadership opportunities that expand organisational oversight, strategic planning and cross-sector collaboration. My long-term aspiration is to operate at executive level within public service or community-focused institutions, leading systems that deliver measurable impact, strong governance and inclusive growth.

Experience

  • South Metropolitan TAFE (6 yrs 10 mos)
    • Team Leader Student Support Services
      Oct 2022 - Present · 3 yrs 10 mos

      Lead multi-campus student support operations supporting 1,300+ students annually, including complex welfare, disability and duty of care matters. • Provide strategic oversight of multidisciplinary teams (10 FTE + 20 casual staff) • Strengthened risk governance through structured crisis escalation frameworks • Led service model redesign aligned with legislative and institutional compliance requirements • Developed data-informed reporting to guide workforce planning and resource allocation • Contributed to policy implementation and organisational risk management processes

    • Student Support Advisor - Disability
      Oct 2019 - Oct 2022 · 3 yrs 1 mo

      Delivered specialist advisory services within a regulated tertiary education environment, supporting students with disability and complex welfare needs across multiple campuses. • Managed high-risk cases in alignment with Disability Standards for Education and institutional duty of care obligations • Advised academic staff and portfolios on compliance requirements and reasonable adjustment implementation • Contributed to early intervention strategies to reduce escalation and strengthen student retention outcomes • Identified service gaps and supported process improvements later embedded at organisational level • Collaborated with internal leaders and external health professionals to ensure coordinated support responses -Recognised for strategic thinking and service improvement, leading to progression into Team Leader role-

  • Councillor at City of Canning
    Oct 2023 - Present · 2 yrs 10 mos

    Elected member contributing to strategic governance, policy direction and community representation within a local government context. • Participate in strategic planning and long-term community infrastructure decisions • Engage with diverse stakeholders to inform evidence-based decision-making • Contribute to governance oversight and public accountability processes • Advocate for inclusive and sustainable community outcomes

  • Policy Intern – Permanent Mission of Colombia to the United Nations at United Nations
    Jun 2006 - Dec 2006 · 7 mos

    Contributed to diplomatic and policy support functions within Colombia’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations, engaging with the Second Committee (Economic and Financial) and Third Committee (Social, Humanitarian and Cultural) of the UN General Assembly. • Supported research and policy analysis on economic development, social inclusion and humanitarian matters • Assisted in preparing briefing materials and background analysis for multilateral negotiations • Observed intergovernmental deliberations on global economic governance and social development frameworks • Gained exposure to international diplomacy, multilateral processes and state-level policy coordination