Kendra Cockburn

Principal

Kendra is a Principal in Nous’ Darwin office with 10 years of experience in public policy.

She has particular expertise across the human services, health, justice and skills sectors. She has worked in government at federal and state levels and is skilled at operating in complex policy environments and working collaboratively with clients and stakeholders.

Influential work

Led an evaluation of the National Suicide Prevention Trial Darwin site
Led an evaluation of an innovative justice health partnership for a Darwin-based Aboriginal Community Controlled Health service
Reset the National Disability Insurance Agency’s Early Childhood Early Intervention Approach
Led a review of strategic commissioning of child and family services for a state government department
Analysed skills demand across eight sectors in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
Developed a workforce capability strategy for a state regulator to support its transformation to a modern, principles-based approach.

Outside of Nous

Before joining Nous, Kendra worked for the Victorian Department of Health and Human Services on child and family services system reform. Prior to that, she worked for the Australian Department of Social Services for seven years, where she contributed to the development and implementation of the NDIS and co-drafted a National Quality and Safeguarding Framework. She also acted as Senior Policy Adviser to a Parliamentary Secretary for Disabilities and Carers.

Kendra holds a Master of Arts (European politics and culture) from the University of Strasbourg and Uppsala University, as well as a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) from the Australian National University.