Tjanara is a Wakka Wakka/Wulli Wulli clanwomanof the Djawun Djumbe Nation of Central Queenslandand carries the traditions of her clan through medicine practice, being a Songwoman and teaching Aboriginal Law & Spirituality to people throughout the world. Tjanara is a published poet, writer, performer of traditional song and dance and contemporary Murri artist who regularly facilitates Aboriginal Women’s Business workshops and Aboriginal Law, Culture & Spirituality workshops in Australia and overseas.   For 40 years Tjanara has been working with groups and organisations in Australia and overseas in  research, policy and community development, transformational leadership, mentoring, cultural systemic change, self-managing leaders and sacred leadership.  She regularly gives talks on Sacred Leadership in a variety of forums since completing her PhD on Sacred Leadership.   Tjanara is the CEO of OneINMA Global an Indigenous Transformational Leadership company, the Chair of the Foundation for Indigenous Recovery & Development Aust. and a part time University lecturer.

Tjanara has been an academic lecturer and researcher at five Australian Universities, and the Australia College of Applied Psychology. In her fields of Indigenous Studies and Counselling/Social Sciences. She has been the Foundation Director of Aboriginal Education at Charles Sturt University, NSW and the Director of the Centre for Aboriginal Education at the University of Melbourne.  Tjanara has extensive public service experience in the Federal Government and the Queensland and NSW State Government public services as a Director, researcher, senior policy advisor in Prime Minister & Cabinet, the Office of Indigenous Policy Co-ordination, the Dept. of Foreign Affairs and Trade and a number of statutory authorities.  Tjanara has travelled and worked extensively overseas, in Italy, Denmark, India, Europe and the USA and Canada, delivering Keynote speeches at International conferences, delivering workshops at Conferences such as, the International Indigenous “Healing Our Spirits Worldwide”, the Soul Conference in Minnesota, Toronto City Council Community Engagement and International Community Development Conference, NZ and others, in her research field of leadership, generational trauma recovery and Indigenous research methodologies.  Tjanara’s PhD from the Australian National University, titled “Tjukurpa Pulka – The Road to Eldership – How Aboriginal Culture Creates Sacred and Visionary Leaders’ was awarded in 2018 and will be published as a book in 2020.  Tjanara has volunteered with the Brahma Kumaris University of India for 35 years teaching yoga, meditation and Self Managing Leadership.  She regularly travels to Uluru to visit the Anangu with whom she’s had a 30 year relationship,  to her home country in Central Queensland and India to practice the spiritual traditions that she has embraced.