About
Operator first. Founder second.
Tanya Johnston is a Perth based founder and investor who builds care businesses and the technology that runs them.
"Your circumstances do not have to define your future."
My Story
My Story: From Survival to Success, From Career to Entrepreneurship
A journey of resilience, ambition and building something of my own.
My journey has never been a straight line. It has been shaped by challenges, ambition, determination and a desire to create a better future, not only for myself, but for my family.
My story began with experiences of youth homelessness. At a time when life presented challenges that could have defined my future, I had to find my own way forward. Those early experiences became part of the foundation of who I am today. They shaped my perspective, strengthened my determination and influenced the way I approached opportunities, challenges and the future I wanted to build.
I knew I wanted more for my life. I wanted to build a career, create opportunities and prove to myself what was possible.
Building My Corporate Career
I set goals for myself and worked towards achieving them, steadily building my career in the corporate world.
My time at Nielsen became an important milestone in that journey. It represented more than a job or a title. It was part of a personal goal I had set for myself, and reaching it showed me that where you start does not decide where you finish.
I was recruited to Vietnam in 2007 to lead HR for Nielsen. Over the next decade, I spent more than six years in senior HR leadership, supporting more than 600 employees and 500 contractors, and later consulted for other organisations in the region. Those years taught me how to lead people, build teams across cultures and run operations at scale.
Building Something of My Own
In 2012, I made the leap from corporate life to entrepreneurship. I launched an events and entertainment company in Vietnam, promoting Disney Live, organising charity polo events and working with artists under the Universal Music banner. It was my first experience of building something from nothing, and I have never looked back.
Coming Home to Care
In 2017, I returned to Australia and began working in disability services across rural and central Western Australia. That work changed my direction. I saw first hand how much people with disability deserved better support, and how much providers were held back by poor systems.
In 2019, I founded District 360, a registered NDIS provider. From there, I built the technology to run it, and that pattern has shaped everything since: LAMA Care, District Tech Group, Mediscript360, Cannsync, and partnerships in telehealth, pharmaceutical wholesale and ecommerce.
Resilience, Again
Building businesses has brought its own hard seasons. In December 2023, District 360 entered voluntary administration. We came through a Deed of Company Arrangement, effectuated in March 2026, and we are still rebuilding. Once again, I had to find my way forward. Once again, I did.
Why I Keep Building
I am a mother of three, and much of what I have built has been about creating a better future for my family. Supporting my daughters on their own journeys is the achievement I am proudest of.
The young person who had to find her own way forward is still part of me. She is the reason I believe that your circumstances do not have to define your future, and the reason I keep building.
The milestones
Age 13
Expelled from Year 9 and recognised by the state as a homeless youth.
Age 16
Studied an Associate Diploma of Fine Arts.
Age 18
Had first child and started a corporate career in Sydney.
2003
Managed a horizontal drilling project in Hangzhou, China.
2004
Secured a grant with Maurene Horder to support the setup of operations in Sydney.
2007
Recruited to Vietnam to lead HR for Nielsen, the start of 10 years in Vietnam.
2012
Founded District 360 Events and Entertainment in Vietnam.
2017
Returned to Australia to follow my children, started again from scratch and began working in disability services in Western Australia.
2018
Operations Manager at Auscare Group WA.
2019
Founded District 360 with a government grant. Joined NDSP Plan Managers and completed RMIT Post Graduate Marketing.
2021
Started building LAMA, the platform District 360 now runs on.
2022
Founded District Tech Group.
2023 to 2026
Led District 360 through voluntary administration and a Deed of Company Arrangement, effectuated in March 2026.
2025
Partnered in Pure Lyf and Darma Fields. Launched SNACC Lifestyle and Mediscript360.
2026
Founded Cannsync. LAMA Care launched commercially and District 360 became DNV certified.
Today
Leading 110 people across four countries and four Australian states.
Work history
Experience across Australia, China and Vietnam
This is the experience behind Tanya's consulting services. Roles are tagged with the service they inform.
2025 to present
Australia
Partner and Growth Strategist
Darma Fields
Building a licensed pharmaceutical wholesaler in NSW. Set up compliance, distribution, pharmacy onboarding and go to market strategy.
2022 to present
Australia
Founder and CEO
District Tech Group
Creating simple and powerful digital experiences for the group's businesses.
2021 to present
Australia
Founder and CEO
LAMA Care
An end to end client management system that helps NDIS organisations run their operations with ease.
2019 to present
Perth, Western Australia
Founder and Owner
District 360 Supports
NDIS registered disability service provider, working with participants and other providers for the best outcomes.
2019 to 2020
Western Australia
State Relationship Manager WA
NDSP Plan Managers
Joined as NDSP launched in WA, building relationships with support coordinators and providers to grow the brand.
2018 to 2019
Perth
NDIS and Community Relationship Manager, then Operations Manager
Auscare Group WA
Ran operations across four business units and the ISO 9001 quality system, then built a new business unit helping people with disability navigate the NDIS.
2017 to 2018
Ho Chi Minh City and Perth
Founder and CEO
Tantamount Entertainment
Consulting that connected international brands with clients in Vietnam for live shows and talent, including concepts, marketing plans and project management.
2017
Perth
Account Manager
Squaddle
Remote contract role building a new client base for a hospitality staffing app.
2016 to 2017
Vietnam
Marketing Consultant
Westcoast International Dental Clinic
Refreshed the marketing team's strategy and recruited a Marketing Manager.
2012 to 2017
Vietnam
Founder, Partner and Artist Manager
District 360 Events and Entertainment
Ran the full operations of an events and entertainment company. Organised Bonjour Vietnam, promoted Disney Live twice, co-organised the Charity Polo Cup (raising US$180,000) and seven nights of entertainment for the Ho Tram Open.
2014 to 2015
Vietnam
HR Consultant
Epinion
Aligned HR with the company's growth strategy and built staffing and learning processes.
2013 to 2014
Vietnam
HR and Operations Consultant
VietnamWorks
Led the HR and operations teams across recruitment, training, compensation, internal communication and facilities.
2007 to 2013
Vietnam
Country HR Head (Associate Director)
Nielsen
Led full HR for Nielsen Vietnam (600+ employees and 500+ contractors) as part of the executive committee. Created a 360 feedback process adopted regionally and the Nielsen case competition internship program.
2004 to 2007
Sydney
Finance and Operations Manager
National Marine Safety Committee
Managed administration, HR and finance for a government committee, advising senior management on financial management.
2003 to 2004
Jinshan, China
Finance and Administration Manager
Cherrington Asia Pacific
Project contract for a 2,200m offshore pipeline crossing of Hangzhou Bay.
2002 to 2003
Sydney
Assistant Accountant
Streetwise Financial Services
2001 to 2002
Sydney
Office Manager and Production Coordinator
Wolff Graphic Design
Client briefs, print production quality control and bookkeeping.
2000 to 2001
Small business owner
Vilectronics
Electronic component distributor.
What I believe
Technology in regulated industries must be built by people who understand the operations. Compliance, rostering and care quality cannot be an afterthought in the software that runs them.
How I lead
With clarity and care. I build teams that understand the why behind every process, and I stay close to the frontline so decisions reflect what really happens on the ground.
Beyond work
I am a mother of three with a love of music and DJing. District 360 itself started with taking participants to a music festival, and that spirit of inclusion still drives everything I do.
Credentials
- RMIT Post Graduate Marketing, 2019
- NDIS registered since 2019
- DNV certified
- Government grant recipient 2019
- NSW Pharmaceutical Wholesale Licence (Darma Fields)
Work with Tanya
Building in care, telehealth or another regulated industry? Tanya consults, speaks and is always open to a conversation.