The document outlines the past achievements and capabilities of Sonja Johnson. She has launched pilot projects that impacted over 7,300 Emirati youth and delivered a sustainable program for clients. She attracted over $430 million in infrastructure investment for a region and increased revenue by 58%. She also exceeded sales targets, delivered advertising campaigns that grew student numbers, and injected $35 million into an economy through an award-winning campaign. Her core capabilities include project management, leadership, negotiation, marketing, and driving high-performing teams.

1. Past achievement
• Launched seven Emira0sa0on pilot projects and two na0on-­‐wide projects. Led ex-­‐patriot and UAE Na0onal team through three
business model changes in 2 ½ years. Impacted over 7,300 Emira0 youth. Delivered sustainable program (Kafa’at) to the client – a
program led by Emira0s, for Emira0s.
• ANracted over $430M in infrastructure investment into the Far North Queensland region and increased revenue for Regional
Development Australia by 58 per cent. Delivered regulatory changes to Federal and State legisla0on.
• Changed behaviour in rela0on to ‘self-­‐build’ housing and maintenance of one’s home through 4,500 Indigenous family ‘sweat
equity’ hours in 12 months. Grew Cape York Partnership’s housing stream product poraolio by 150 per cent to address the high
demand for home ownership in the Cape York Peninsula region.
• Delivered the StudyAdelaide interna0onal educa0on adver0sing campaign including media strategy, channel distribu0on and
crea0ve development. The campaign was the first aNempt at branding Adelaide, Australia as an educa0ng city in Viet Nam and
China, and South Australia’s first above-­‐the-­‐line adver0sing campaign for the interna0onal educa0on industry. The campaign
delivered double-­‐digit growth in student numbers to Adelaide.
• Exceeded 2002-­‐03 SA LoNeries’ sales target by $10.9M (3.4%). Achieved sales of $335.9M through the development,
implementa0on and monitoring of marke0ng projects. Delivered a major customer segmenta0on study for SA LoNeries’ six main
products and developed new adver0sing campaigns for four brands in line with revised brand posi0ons.
• Secured, for the first 0me in South Australian Events’ history, media sponsors for all State owned events ensuring high visibility
on free to air TV and radio networks.
• Injected $35M into South Australia through the na0onal, award winning, Secrets Campaign, delivering 50,000 addi0onal visitors
to the State, during the first two years of the campaign. Managed the campaign from conceptualisa0on, planning and through to
implementa0on including coordina0on of the South Australian Tourism Commission’s eight teams, adver0sing agency and
market research firm.
Technical Critical
General Management (AIM) Neuro-­‐Linguis0c programming
Project, program and poraolio management (PMBOK) Leadership
Social norm change and capability development Nego0a0on and influencing skills (INSEAD)
Financial analysis and management Public speaking
Brand, marke0ng and media management Time management
Economic and socio-­‐cultural/community development Cri0cal problem solving
Governance processes (AICD) High level decision making
Strategy formula0on and opera0onal plans Cultural awareness
Research and analysis Business Development
Project design and build Stakeholder rela0onship management
Change management Innova0on and ini0a0ve
Tenders and contract management Results focus
Funding proposals, business cases and feasibility studies Developing and coaching others
Monitoring and evalua0on frameworks Planning and coordina0ng
Interna0onal Development exper0se Con0nuous improvement
Tourism industry knowledge Drive and commitment
Australian Na0ve Title legisla0on and processes Honesty and integrity
Housing and construc0on knowledge Priori0sing and organizing
Interna0onal educa0on knowledge
Sonja Johnson -­‐ 052 560 0942; sonja.g.johnson@gmail.com
Capability Statement
“I drive disparate ideas, strategies, plans, resources and budgets and unify them to
make things happen.”
Core capabilities
Sonja G. Johnson
BBus UQ, GradCert IntDev
RMIT, PMP, GAICD, AIMM

2. Capability Statement
My point of differentiation - Driving high performing
teams
• Ability to create loyalty, relatedness and commitment amongst team members
by ensuring that each person feels secure in the value they add to the group
and to organisa0onal objec0ves.
• Experience in facilita0ng individuals’ expression of emo0ons to enable
construc0ve and innova0ve and thoughaul responses to immediate problems.
• Ability to align individual aspira0ons and mo0va0on with the team’s goals and
redirect individual compe00veness towards shared compe00ve advantage
through recogni0on and status.
• Through crea0ng a sense of empathy and ‘other-­‐centredness’, team members
are able to understand each other’s strengths and embrace diversity, feeling
understood, supported and connected resul0ng in a cohesive team.
• Experience in monitoring and measuring the team’s performance, providing
individual’s with a clear understanding of how the team is progressing,
enabling members to adapt and change their approach to achieve their desired
outcomes.
• Ability to create a posi0ve hope for the future, projec0ng the current trajectory
and adap0ng new ideas or concepts to achieve the organisa0on’s vision.
Summary
I am a change agent, who enjoys new ideas and strong rela0onships and am best suited to a busy, dynamic and
complex environment. My aNen0on to detail is supported by quick, efficient and data-­‐driven systems and processes
with a focus on customer and stakeholder sa0sfac0on.
I enjoy providing clarity, always searching for the truth with enthusiasm, determina0on and stamina – I complete
two days of work in one.
Whilst I enjoy dealing with facts, I use these to formulate strategy, ensuring alignment to the corporate vision
through robust implementa0on. I thrive on complex conceptual models.
As a mediator, I am well versed in conflict resolu0on within teams, being suppor0ve and asser0ve when
needed, whilst focusing on solu0ons by bringing out competence in others. My ability to unify is based
on insights with a focus for the future.
I believe in taking personal responsibility for my ac0ons and live my life with honesty and integrity.
I am driven by my desire for the team to succeed. Inves0ga0ng entrepreneurial ini0a0ves is a
passion.
Sonja Johnson -­‐ 052 560 0942; sonja.g.johnson@gmail.com
Awards
State Finalist in the 2014 Telstra
Businesswomen’s Awards, Community
and Government Category. Recognised
for facilita0ng over $430 million in
infrastructure investment for the Far
North Queensland and Torres Strait
region.
State Finalist in the 2014 Telstra
Businesswomen’s Awards, Business
Innova0on Category. Recognised for
development and implementa0on of the
community engagement model which
injected over $430 million in
infrastructure investment for the Far
North Queensland region.
Regional Finalist in the 2013
Australian Ins0tute of Management
Awards, Not-­‐for-­‐Profit Category.
Recognised for exemplary management
and leadership within the Far North
Queensland region.
Winner in the Tourism and Leisure
Category, 1999 Australian Marke0ng
Ins0tute Awards for the design, planning
and implementa0on of the na0onal
Secrets campaign, injec0ng some $35
million into the State economy.
For my full LinkedIn Public Profile: hNps://www.linkedin.com/pub/sonja-­‐johnson-­‐gaicd-­‐pmp-­‐aimm/6/753/96b