Billy (Biljana) Drljaca
Summary
A highly skilled individual with over 20 years of professional experience working in the NZ public sector and international development domain. Skilled in systems thinking, governance and assurance, intelligence, facilitation, project management, business improvement, strategic asset management and staff mentoring/coaching.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Consultant
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- Conducted a fact-finding assessment on local NGOs capacity development to determine the feasibility of implementing a pilot project to combat the trafficking of women and children in the region
- The potential project was going to be funded and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in East Timor.
Consultant
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
- Researched, developed, and prepared project documents in collaboration with Iraqi CSO in relation to HIV/AIDS awareness, Women’s Rights, advocacy and widow’s inclusion in existing Iraqi society.
- These projects were subsequently funded by UNDP Iraq for immediate implementation and pioneered a ‘million-dollar funding programme’ to commence in 2008 aimed at civil society development in Iraq.
Consultant/Filed Researcher
CAII for US Government
- Conducted a three-week fact-finding assessment of Southern Serbia municipalities to determine the feasibility of implementing a pilot project to combat the trafficking of women and children in the region for USAID funding
- Produced a comprehensive report and project proposal which was later implemented by US Development Agency in conjunction with Serbian authorities and UN Peace Keeping Mission in Kosovo.
Manager National Planning
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
01.2022
- Design, lead and manage the implementation of enterprise planning framework and evidence-based resourcing across the Fire and Emergency New Zealand
- Lead a team of principal and senior advisors to execute/deliver the design and development of resources, tools, processes and manuals for planning functions
- Apply the evidence-based resourcing framework (where applicable) to ensure its integration with other relevant strategies, programmes, projects, processes and frameworks across the organisation.
Principal Advisor, Strategy and Performance-Local Planning Function
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
04.2021 - 01.2022
- Design, lead and manage the implementation of the local planning function to a point where it can be run as a BAU function
- Lead, plan and execute the design and development of resources, tools and processes for local planning that can be used by all staff across the country
- Provide expert advice on the integration of local planning with the different planning functions across FENZ
- Regularly present to various governance group across the organisation.
Principal Adviser Biosecurity Intelligence (Operational Planning and Development)
Ministry for Primary Industries
01.2019 - 04.2021
- Provide expert strategic advice to the Manager Operational Planning and Development and work in partnership with the directorate leadership team to achieve the desired strategic outcomes
- Act as a Manager when required leading a team of 27 staff based all over NZ
- Mentor staff as part of their professional upskilling/development as well as in their day-to-day work
- Develop, review, and evaluate papers (i.e
- Biosecurity business strategy development, review of the M.bovis NZ expenditure, Sea Cargo Review lead, etc).
Senior Advisor/Senior Analyst
New Zealand Defence Force
05.2011 - 01.2019
- Actively lead and manage the NZDF’s review, research and analysis of the current state of the training and education delivery
- Provide advice to the senior management on the best way to deliver various educational initiatives to comply with the NZDF’s long-term strategy
- Identify and implement business improvement opportunities by utilising the Lean Six Sigma framework and Investment Logic Mapping (ILM) to contribute to the establishment of more efficient/effective systems to improve Defence learning.
Advisor (Analysis, Planning, and Reporting)
Ministry of Social Development
01.2010 - 01.2011
- Development of detailed business cases of prioritised MSD requirements for delivery of MSD training in community relationship area and providing input into MSD policies
- Prepare and present reports and briefings on complex research and analysis findings appropriate to the audience
- Monitor and evaluate the effectiveness of specific implemented initiatives and services.
Manager - Community Services
New Zealand Defence Force
07.2008 - 11.2009
- Manage a team comprising civilian and military stuff (e.g
- Logistics, operations, admin, etc)
- Member of several personnel and community boards providing an interface to, with and for military elements, in the development and delivery of personnel, welfare and community policies
- Develop the strategies to deliver focused and quality welfare and community services within the New Zealand Defence Force.
Community Facilitator
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, Washington DC
03.1997 - 12.1998
- Trained field staff to build the capacity of community development groups and trained local NGOs in writing proposals, fundraising and project cycle management
- Actively worked with CSO’s to provide them with skills necessary to promote their role in existing society
- Led and coordinated the process of training citizen groups to self-organize and implement community improvement projects in cooperation with municipal authorities.
Education
Master of International Security (Intelligence) -
Massey University
Wellington, WGNMaster of Arts (International Relations and Political Science) -
University of New England
Skills
- Systems Thinking
- Strategic Thinking
- Planning and Management
- Investment Logic Mapping (ILM)
- Better Business Case (BBC)
- Continuous Improvement
- PRINCE2 Methodology
- Strategic Asset Management and Governance
International Development
- East Timor, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Consultant, 03/2008, 04/2008, Conducted a fact-finding assessment on local NGOs capacity development to determine the feasibility of implementing a pilot project to combat the trafficking of women and children in the region. The potential project was going to be funded and implemented by the United Nations Development Programme in East Timor.
- Jordan, Iraq, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Consultant, 05/2007, 10/2007, Researched, developed, and prepared project documents in collaboration with Iraqi CSO in relation to HIV/AIDS awareness, Women’s Rights, advocacy and widow’s inclusion in existing Iraqi society. These projects were subsequently funded by UNDP Iraq for immediate implementation and pioneered a ‘million-dollar funding programme’ to commence in 2008 aimed at civil society development in Iraq.
- Southern Serbia (including Kosovo), CAII for US Government, Consultant/Filed Researcher, 01/2002, 04/2002, Conducted a three-week fact-finding assessment of Southern Serbia municipalities to determine the feasibility of implementing a pilot project to combat the trafficking of women and children in the region for USAID funding. Produced a comprehensive report and project proposal which was later implemented by US Development Agency in conjunction with Serbian authorities and UN Peace Keeping Mission in Kosovo.
- The Balkans, National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, Washington DC, Community Facilitator, 03/1997, 12/1998, Trained field staff to build the capacity of community development groups and trained local NGOs in writing proposals, fundraising and project cycle management. Actively worked with CSO’s to provide them with skills necessary to promote their role in existing society. Led and coordinated the process of training citizen groups to self-organize and implement community improvement projects in cooperation with municipal authorities.
Timeline
Manager National Planning
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
01.2022
Principal Advisor, Strategy and Performance-Local Planning Function
Fire and Emergency New Zealand
04.2021 - 01.2022
Principal Adviser Biosecurity Intelligence (Operational Planning and Development)
Ministry for Primary Industries
01.2019 - 04.2021
Senior Advisor/Senior Analyst
New Zealand Defence Force
05.2011 - 01.2019
Advisor (Analysis, Planning, and Reporting)
Ministry of Social Development
01.2010 - 01.2011
Manager - Community Services
New Zealand Defence Force
07.2008 - 11.2009
Community Facilitator
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs, Washington DC
03.1997 - 12.1998
Consultant
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Consultant
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Consultant/Filed Researcher
CAII for US Government
Master of International Security (Intelligence) -
Massey University
Master of Arts (International Relations and Political Science) -
University of New England
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