Lynda Ford OAM

With more than 35 years of experience across policy, strategy, program delivery and mentoring and local and state governments in Victoria and Queensland, I work closely, in particular, with local government leaders and elected members to identify intercultural opportunities, navigate competing demands, and resolve complex community issues.

My work is grounded in deep practical and strategic experience across sectors that councils touch every day: youth work, migrant and refugee settlement, homelessness, family support, community development, crime prevention and entrepreneurship. I’ve held frontline, management, executive and board-level roles in Queensland, South Australia and Victoria — giving me a system-wide view of what works on the ground and at scale.

Now, I work almost exclusively with local governments, offering mentoring, reviews, training, policy and plan development, and strategic advice. I help councils:

Design and implement intercultural policies and practices
Review and strengthen community plans and strategies through an intercultural lens
Build staff and leadership capability through practical, real-world mentoring
Create inclusive programs that reflect and engage the full diversity of their communities

My work with other levels of government focuses on intercultural policy making and strategy development.

At the heart of my work is a belief that local government is uniquely positioned to foster a sense of belonging and opportunity for all residents. I focus on interculturalism not just as a human rights commitment — but as a practical driver of community connection, economic inclusion and long-term intercultural harmony.

In 2024 I built a team of intercultural strategists and practitioners to better respond to the increasingly diverse needs of governments and their constituents.

For the past 12 years while advocating to all levels of government and community, my goal has been for the Australian government and every state, territory and all of the 537 local governments in Australia to move beyond multicultural thinking to operate interculturally to benefit every person who lives in Australia. It's still the reason I get up every day.

Expertise: intercultural coaching, policy, program design and practice; intercultural training design and delivery; project management and client relationships.