Tandi Palmer Williams

Researcher, Speaker, Consultant

Tandi Palmer Williams is an expert in connecting audiences with culture, creative and community causes.

With previous roles at PwC, Australia Council and Nesta, she founded research agency Patternmakers in 2016 and now leads a team of four researchers working with governments, universities, artists and cultural institutions across Australia and internationally. She’s currently lead researcher for the Audience Outlook Monitor in Australia, an international study tracking audience sentiment through the pandemic.

Her work has been featured in ABC News, The Age, Sydney Morning Herald, The Guardian and Wired (Japan). She is accredited as a Qualified Professional Researcher (QPR) and is an Associate of the UTS Institute of Public Policy and Governance.

“A true cultural leader, Tandi is unlike any other researcher I know. She is a role model for all arts professionals, able to command a room without compromising her naturally engaging and elegant communication style. ”

— Kristy Wandmaker, Arts Marketer

Experience

Tandi was formerly Manager of the Australia Council’s research team, Research Manager for the Digital R&D Fund for the Arts, based at Nesta in London, and Senior Consultant at PricewaterhouseCoopers.

Tandi has presented to the European Commission, and is published in Arts Professional, Museums Journal, the Arts Marketing Journal and Native.

She is an alumnus of the Australia Council’s Arts Leaders Program, and previously sat on the Committee of the Sydney Arts Management and Advisory Group.

She has a Bachelor of Business from the University of Technology, Sydney and a Graduate Certificate in Chartered Accounting.

Presenting at Culture 2.0, at the St Petersburg International Cultural Forum

“Tandi brings savvy insight into the workings of arts and culture research, and contributes ideas from new angles and with a fresh perspective.”

— - Morwenna Collett, Director Major Performing Arts Projects, Australia Council for the Arts

Presenting the results from the Digital Culture survey at Nesta, London

Past appearances

Speaker at Vivid Sydney event ‘Data After Dark’
Panellist at the St Petersburg International Cultural Forum
Speaker at Victoria’s Creative State Summit
Guest Lecturer at NIDA MFA Cultural Leadership course
Panellist at the Victorian Touring Forum, Showcase Victoria
Presenter to the European Commission on the role of research in innovation
Presenter at the Australian Performing Arts Centres Association (APACA)
Presenter at Arts Activated
Presenter at ACSPRI Social Science Methodology Conference

“[It was] a game changer for the company. The insights delivered, the nuance and strategic thinking in it’s findings, they set the company on a reinvigorated course for it’s future.
I highly recommend Tandi and Patternmakers, they are at the forefront of their industry.”

— Amy Maiden, Sydney Festival

Moderating a panel, ‘The Future of Audience Research’ at the Sydney Arts Management Advisory Group event, Customs House Sydney

Publications

Featured in ABC News, Wired Japan, The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald
Published in the academic Journal of Marketing Intelligence & Planning

Published in industry news publications ArtsHub, Arts Marketing Journal, Arts Professional and Museums Journal
Featured in Nesta’s Top 10 Predictions series

Presenting the findings of the Digital Culture Study at Nesta, London

Certifications and awards:

Accredited as a Qualified Professional Researcher (QPR) by the AMSRS
Associate of the Institute of Public Policy and Governance
Award for Collaboration: Australia Council
Selected for the Australia Council’s Arts Leaders Program

“‘I cannot thank you enough. You are such a good presenter and the work you are doing is so deeply relevant. While it’s a challenging time, the Board felt really excited about the future. The research gives such tangible pathways to connect with people deeply. You are a star.’”

— Collette Brennan, CEO Abbotsford Convent