Dr Sandi Laaksonen-Sherrin is an Australian social impact researcher and consultant with 20 years experience across Defence, government and social impact sectors. Her doctorate research examined the effectiveness of the Australian Veteran Reintegration System, applying systems thinking to strengthen policy, governance and service delivery in social impact systems. Sandi has worked across government, not-for-profit, and philanthropic sectors to drive innovative change leading to improved wellbeing outcomes for Australian communities.
From 2021 to 2023, Sandi was appointed the inaugural Defence Family Advocate of Australia, serving as a trusted adviser to Ministers and the Chief of the Defence Force, and raising the voice of over 84,000 ADF families to all levels of decision making. She has led and supported transformation initiatives across government and advised senior executives and boards on strategy, risk and organisational readiness.
As Chief of Staff at Soldier On, Sandi brings disciplined executive coordination, deep Defence literacy and a strong commitment to enabling veterans and their families to thrive.