Tanya Gadiel was educated at public schools including Cessnock High School, and was the first person in her family to travel overseas or go to university (BA, LLB). She was a Rotary exchange student to South Africa.

"Her career history includes: Industrial Officer Australian Workers' Union NSW branch Organiser Communications Electrical and Plumbing Union (Postal and Telecommunications), Policy advisor and chief of staff to Michael Costa Minister for Police, Elected member for Parramatta 2003, Member Committee on Health Care Complaints Commission.
Tanya married Michael Gadiel and had one daughter.

Sources used to compile this entry: Putting Skirts on the Sacred Benches: Women Candidates for the New South Wales Parliament, Australian Women's Archives Project, 2006, http://www.womenaustralia.info/exhib/pssb/home.html; http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf (accessed 11 November 2004); http://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/hansart.nsf/V2Key/LA20030429040 (accessed 11 November 2004). https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/prod/parlment/members.nsf/0/F6CC9C67B064C148CA256CFA001280A6.