INDIA SWEENEY

Analytical ◆ Organised ◆ Relationship Driven

Political staff member to two politicians in NSW Parliament, with expertise in stakeholder
management, looking to move into a personal assistant or executive assistant role.

Contact: 0422258050
Email: sweeneyindia@gmail.com

EXPERIENCE
Dr Amanda Cohn MLC NSW Parliament - Parliamentary and Policy Advisor
August - December 2023
Media and Communications responsibilities:
● Managed Dr Cohn’s diary, calendar, emails, scheduled meetings and took minutes
● Managed correspondence with various stakeholders: Government agencies, unions,
constituents, charities and members of the public.
● Represented Dr Cohn at meetings with stakeholders, such as a meeting with NSW Police
about police responses to the LGBTQIA+ community
● Created social media content (videos, photos, square posters) for Meta
● Point of contact with mainstream media to report Dr Cohn’s response to current events

Parliamentary Advisor responsibilities:

● Prepared briefings on upcoming legislation for the NSW Greens Party Room
● Prepared briefings on Parliamentary Inquiry submissions
● Drafted Notices of Motions, speeches and budget estimate questions

● Worked with NSW Parliamentary Council Office to draft the Local Government
Amendment (De-amalgamation Plebiscites) Bill 2023, managed the key stakeholder
Demerge NSW Alliance's policy requests to ensure the bill gave proper effect to its
purpose

Greens NSW - Upper House Campaign Organiser for the 2023 NSW State Election
January - March 2023
● Lead campaign organiser for Dr Cohn’s healthcare tour of regional/remote NSW
 ● Worked with and managed local Greens members to organise over 15 public healthcare
forums and healthcare workers' roundtables within the span of 40 days, and promoted
these events via social and traditional media
● Identified critical healthcare issues and the political landscape of the areas visited and
provided daily morning briefings for Dr Cohn on the issues of the area and who she
would meet that day
● Negotiated the tour budget with Greens NSW and booked Dr Cohn's transport and
accommodation to remain within budget

● Secured meetings with important groups such as the NSW Nurses and Midwives’
Association (NSWNMA) and secured their representation at many media events

Greens NSW - Political Survey Response Manager for the 2023 NSW State Election
January - March 2023
● Managed the drafting of answers to around 50 organisations' political surveys and
ensured the surveys were responded to before the election.

Sue Higginson MLC NSW Parliament - Secretary / Research Assistant - casual

employee
June 2022 - July 2023
● Managed correspondence with constitutes and Government agencies across a wide
range of portfolios and drafted letters advocating for individuals and groups
● Campaigned to end native forest logging through facilitating networking between Ms
Higginson and MPs across the political spectrum to discuss the goal in preparation for the
establishment of a Parliamentary Friendship Group
● Drafted the Greens NSW Sustainable Food Policy that secured Greens NSW at the top of
the Sustain NSW election scorecard
● Fostered the political engagement of WIRES wildlife carers and connected members to
facilitate a support network
● Drafted NoMs and budget estimate questions
Music Educator - Employee and freelance
2011 - 2021
● Established long-term relationships with students and their families
● Prepared students for exams conducted by the Australian Music Examination Board
(AMEB)
● Employee at Wollongong Conservatorium of Music, Thirroul Academy of Music, Shine
Music School Parramatta
● Marketing and bookkeeping of business while self-employed

Mission Australia - English Teacher (TESOL)

2016
● Assisted in teaching English as a second language in a classroom of adult students with
refugee status

EDUCATION
Bachelor of Laws, University of Wollongong
2019 - PRESENT

Certificate in TESOL, Bond Online University

2016

Bachelor of Music (Jazz Performance), University of New South Wales

2011 - 2014