Hello! I'm Tanya Gawthorne,
Founder of Balanced Consulting
I believe meaningful change happens when people are supported to move from constant reacting to more considered responding — especially in the midst of full, demanding lives.
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The pace of modern life, caring responsibilities, illness, and ongoing uncertainty can leave people depleted and disconnected, affecting how they live, work, and relate. Rather than retreating from this complexity, I’m interested in how we learn to understand our inner and outer worlds more clearly, and build the capacity to navigate change with steadiness and care.
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I founded Balanced Consulting to support that process — offering space, perspective, and practical ways of working that honour real constraints and real lives.
About my work
My work sits at the intersection of lived experience, professional practice, and systems thinking.
Over many years, I’ve worked alongside individuals, teams, and organisations navigating complexity, responsibility, and change — particularly in health, environmental, community, and public-purpose contexts. This has included roles in policy, strategy, facilitation, coaching, and leadership development.
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Alongside this professional path, my own life has involved periods of significant illness, recovery, and transition. Those experiences continue to shape how I work: with patience, realism, and deep respect for what people are carrying that may not be visible.
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I’m particularly interested in the conditions that make change sustainable — not quick fixes or ideal outcomes, but ways of living and working that people can actually maintain over time.
Education and learning
My background includes senior management and advisory roles across health and environmental systems, including work with government agencies, community organisations, and not-for-profits. I hold qualifications in environmental science and public health, and began my career designing and implementing health policy across Western Australia before expanding into environmental and systems-based work through Sustainable Consulting.
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I continue to deepen my practice through ongoing learning in areas that support this work, including coaching, facilitation, behaviour change, yoga teaching, meaningful gathering, and bibliotherapy. I see learning as a responsibility, not a credential.
Beyond work
Outside my professional roles, I’m an active volunteer with WA Seabird Rescue and the Mandurah Angels Breast Cancer Social Support Group. These communities, like much of my work, are grounded in care, presence, and mutual support rather than performance.
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When I’m not working, you’ll often find me hiking or camping, dabbling in watercolours, or spending time with books that help me think differently about how we live and relate.
If you're considering working together
You don’t need to have a clear plan or a defined problem to get in touch.
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If you’re exploring how to live or work with more steadiness, or wondering whether this approach might be a good fit for you or your organisation, you’re welcome to reach out. An initial conversation can help clarify what makes sense, without obligation.