OUR CHAIR CONSULTANT GROUP

Base in Brisbane - Australia, Jon has knowledge and skills in a number of areas including: undertaking economic and industry research; strategic, operational and project planning and management; policy development and analysis; government processes and business engagement; economic and business analysis; and professional writing. Jon professional role: Manager - Workforce Planning and Strategy,Department of Education Jon delivered large and significant research and policy projects, including development and delivery of new policy, programs and legislative review to address future strategic and operational risks facing the Department, specifically in relation to workforce supply and capability, industry trends and challenges facing the education system, schools and the broader education sector e.g. university teaching programs, teacher quantity and quality. Jon's work included preparation and coordination of regular briefings for the Education Minister and the meetings with other government Ministers e.g. Ministerial Education Council. He was responsible for providing the support for various education forums including national forums as well as ongoing consultation with education stakeholders, particularly universities, Federal Government agencies and other education stakeholders.   Senior Policy Advisor, Transport, and SEQ Regional Plan and SEQ Infrastructure Plan, Office of the Deputy Premier, Treasurer and Minister for SEQ Regional Development; and Minister for Transport  Reporting to the Ministers, Jon was responsible for working with departments, Ministers and their offices, Parliament, industry, local governments and community is developing and securing Cabinet and Parliament’s approval (legislative change and funding) for the SEQ Regional Plan and Infrastructure Plan.  Director – Commercialisation and Market Development (Substantive position) Department of Innovation and Information Economy  Jon managed a team of ten people and undertook research and consultation to develop new policy and programs supporting the commercialisation of new technologies and new and emerging industries. Project and team planning and management were integral in this complex environment and research and technology-based stakeholders. HIs achievements included: · Initiatives that facilitated the engagement and connection between researchers, industry, financiers and government to foster business opportunities in new technologies and industries e.g. networking events, information forums, support and participation in local, national and international events.   · Developing and delivering government programs supporting Queensland technology and knowledge-based industries, start-ups and commercialisation of new technologies, e.g. TechStart, iLab incubator, regional incubators, BioBus, Australian Biotechnology Alliance. Senior and Principal Policy Officer, A/Director, Economic Policy, Department of Premier and Cabinet, and previously in the Department of State Development Working with government departments and Queensland Treasury, Jon was responsible for coordination of economic policy and providing economic and financial analysis and advice to departments and to the Premier and Cabinet on proposed economic policies and programs.  This included: the preparation of ‘Retail Industry’, ‘Food Industry’ and ‘Innovation’ strategies; and Review of State Purchasing Policy and Local industry Policy; and overseeing national competition reviews and reforms, policy analysis. 

Based in Germany, Andreas Ditrrich is one of the worlds most respected multi-disciplinary consultants with many years’ experience consulting with many blue-chip companies and running his own highly successful business interests. Andreas’ core expertise covers assisting start-up companies as well as small and medium-sized companies in strategic planning and finance. This involves Andreas consulting with associated banks and investors, and then supports companies to obtain various types of equity from engaged investors. Andreas consults with authority in many other disciplines and these cover:  implementing growth strategies, restructurings, business health checks, rating consultancy, business process optimization, working-capital, liquidity management Integrating people with different cultures and complex task structures. Andreas periodically lectures at the University of Applied Sciences in Mainz. Andreas is fluent in four languages:  German, English, French and conversational Arabic

Based in Melbourne - Australia, Leigh graduated in Civil Engineering from University of Melbourne, Leigh was awarded an ACEA Engineering Excellence Award 

After some years, he left to establish and run his own structural engineering consulting practice, which he did for a period of some 19 years. 

He later held senior roles in the construction industry, rising to the level of CEO of a company responsible for managing the 3-D structural modelling and preparation of structural fabrication drawings for major projects such as wave-roof of the Southern Cross Station, which was awarded international award for architecture..

Over the course of his career, Leigh lectured at RMIT University in structural engineering theory and design subjects for a total of 13 years and has been a guest lecturer at all the Victorian universities. 

He was a member of the Engineers Australia Structural Branch for nearly a decade, having been Chair and Vice Chair for some years, he also served on the National Structural College Board for two years.

He has been a member of the Program Advisory Committee in Civil & Infrastructure Engineering at RMIT University since it was reconstituted in 2002 until 2017 and a Senior Fellow in the Department of Infrastructure Engineering at the University of Melbourne since 2002.

In recent years, Leigh has worked as a forensic structural engineer and has mentored fellow engineers and others as an executive coach. He has qualifications as a Master NLP Practitioner, Master Results Coach, Trainer and Performance Consultant and is also an internationally published author.

Based in Brisbane - Australia , Mark has spent his 30 years in real estate practising across three countries, having developed a multi-disciplinary suite of skills and experiences. 

Mark began as a Registered Value before establishing a research and consultancy division within a large real estate agency. Mark moved on to portfolio analysis and providing tactical/strategic asset allocation advice and then into Funds Management.  This included financial feasibility, listed and unlisted funds on an Australian Financial Services Licence, where he also held responsibility for asset due diligence management and asset acquisition, treasury management, investor and lender relations and development management.

Mark now run his own investment advisory business where he combines his suite of skills along with sourcing off-market property investment opportunities for his clients and acting as independent Responsible Manager on a select number of Australian Financial Service Licences

Mark has also written over 30 post-graduate modules in property markets and property development. He has also lectured at Universities and conferences around the world. He has also variously been a Fellow or full Associate of the Australian Property Institute, Property Institute of New Zealand, Australian Institute of Company Directors, the British Institute of Directors and an invited Fellow of both the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors and the Applied Property Development Institute

Mark is originally from Sweden but was raised and educated mostly in New Zealand. Mark operates extensively on Australia's eastern seaboard and maintains a strong network of property owners, agents and associated professionals throughout Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and Europe with reach also into the Middle East and United States. Mark hold a Bachelor's degree in Valuation, holds various certificates in resource management and corporate real estate, is a licence real estate salesperson in QLD and is looking for time to complete his PhD in property finance

Base in Brisbane - Australia, Keith
skills have been honed by the experience of developing a range of business operations:

ˉ Just Small Business Pty Ltd, established in 2010 developing simple tools, workshops and strategic challenges for small business owners all the while keeping them accountable for goals that they have set for themselves. 

ˉ Working with others , Keith has developed pitch workshops for tech start-ups to pitch for investment from Angel investors.

ˉ Keith has built telecommunications business from the ground up delivering a full suite of services to regional clients. In doing so I developed innovative, comprehensive marketing strategies and led the marketing teams implementing such strategies. 

For example a marketing strategy Keith developed and implemented comprised a consultative selling model for the corporate, SME and government market and a direct sales model for residential and SOHO customers. This highly successfully model delivered average monthly revenues in excess of $250,000 per month within twelve months, with a gross margin comparable to the major providers.

These figures were achieved without advertising in the mass media and resulted in an industry low churn rate. 

ˉ Keith was the owner operator of a retail business franchise for almost 10 years and was an active member of the associated franchise committee. Keith respects and understands the sensitivities of franchisees in their need to create a successful, profitable enterprise. 

ˉ Keith have established most types of commercial operation from sole trader to unlisted public companies

ˉ Keith has been a director of a number of enterprises

His personal attributes can be summarised as follows:

ˉ Strong relationship building capacities, Keith has earned the respect of many of his peers and has built an extensive network of individuals within both the corporate and government sectors.

ˉ Keith has the capacity to dialogue with senior executives and key stakeholders. He has been doing this successfully for most of his career. He has had good relations with many chief executives and key decisions makers in the corporate world as well as local government and community representatives.

ˉ Keith fully understands the business process and understands what makes a business “Tick”. Keith has achieved this through being an advocate for and representative of business, the preparation of many organisational strategic and business plans, through the development of highly regarded ecommerce and financial management training programs and naturally through my own business experience over many years which has been enhanced by my professional accounting skills.

Keith has a unique set of skills that have provided him with the tools to enhance the commercial operation of many organisations. 

HIs professional skills are supported by his communication, presentation and reporting skills. He has extensive experience in communicating with others from team development and training in both formal and informal settings to reporting to boards of directors. 

His personal attributes include good time management skills, diligence and the intention to “get the job done”. Keith has been described by others as being flexible and with a good capacity to work under pressure. I am a broad thinker and can always see the bigger picture without losing sight of the day to day. 

  Based in Brisbane and has worked in 14 countries, living in 5. 

Neil is an experienced and engaging Business Leader, trainer, project manager and global connector with a passion for inspiring transformation.  

Neil has led and has extensive on-the job experience leading multi-million dollar automotive and engineering businesses.

Neil’s guiding passion is to be a driver of sustainable and powerful change by helping people and businesses focus on their strengths and become the truly greatest version of themselves. The businesses Neil has engaged with have seen significant and tangible success in Commercial Management, Culture Change, Strategic Leadership and Operational Efficiency. This has given Neil a real insight into what gets people engaged, inspired and productive at all levels of businesses. 

In a world where Emotional Intelligence, including how Mindset, Leadership and Human Interaction skills are honed, is becoming the most unique differentiation point for leaders, Neil has helped dozens of business leaders globally become the very best.

At a personal level Neil has experienced first hand the power of being inspired by global leading coaches that have helped him complete 15 marathons, including 4 ultra marathons, across Europe, Middle East and Africa. Neil’s qualifications include;- Master of Business Administration (MBA) with key electives completed in Strategy, Financial Strategy, Change Management and Knowledge Management.- Currently studying with James Cook University to complete a Doctorate in Organisational Psychology- Certificate IV in Training & Assessment- ‘Coach of the Year’ for work within an organisation of 20,000 employees based in United Arab Emirates- Member of Association for Coaching