Portraits by Lean Timms

BACKGROUND

Samantha is a multi-disciplinary practitioner based on Ngunnawal and Ngambri Country (Canberra, Australia), specialising in participatory design, qualitative research and editorial writing.

For 12+ years Samantha has been leading research projects, policy evaluation and lived experience advocacy, thoughtfully provoking government, organisations and decision-makers to invest in conditions for change. Holding space for care practice and social wellbeing, she believes groundswell initiatives can help to heal individuals and communities.

In her own field work, Samantha uses writing, photography and storytelling to bring textured thinking into everyday reading.

SCOPE of practice

  • Qualitative methods including ethnography, quantitative analysis and grounded theory analysis.

  • Reporting, evidence-based inquiry, essays and editorial, communicating with and for diverse audiences.

  • Lived experience advocacy, policy advisory, co-design and project delivery, in pursuit of just and equal conversations.

  • Mentoring, change management, group training, co-design support, and strategy for people and culture.

  • Inclusive facilitation and group work, including experience design, service design, co-design, and human-centred design.

QUALIfications and memberships

  • Master of Applied Anthropology and Participatory Development

    Bachelor of Science (Psychology)

    Bachelor of Arts (Sociology)

  • Individual membership (joined 2024)

  • Trauma Informed Facilitation (certified 2023)

  • Co-designing with Care (course completed 2023)

  • An ongoing commitment to co-invest and pay the rent while living and working on stolen land.

work history

  • Research Director (2021-current)

  • Principal Researcher (2021-2023)

  • Research Lead (2018-2020)

  • Strategic Advisor (2016-2018)

  • Social Worker (2014-2015)

  • Policy Advisor (2011-2014)