Tanya McErlain

Tanya McErlain, BA Melb, Grad Dip Ed Melb, Grad Cert Business (Proj Mgt) Swin, Grad Cert Bus Admin AIB, is a Portfolio Manager in the Tertiary and Industry Tools Division at the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER), with extensive experience leading large‑scale, high‑stakes assessment and education services across the higher education, vocational and professional sectors. She leads multidisciplinary teams to deliver complex assessment programs for universities, TAFEs, government departments and professional registration bodies. Tanya oversees significant assessment programs including the Core Skills Profile for Adults (CSPA) and the Skills for Tertiary Admission Test (STAT).

Tanya is widely recognised for her ability to balance strategic oversight with operational delivery, ensuring programs are delivering high-quality educational outcomes at scale. She is passionate about adult education and creating meaningful pathways to education and lifelong learning, particularly through assessment and services that expand access and opportunity. 

Her background also includes business ownership of an outdoor education school camp, bringing a practical, end‑to‑end perspective on governance, compliance and leadership.