Strategy and Policy

Strategy and Policy
In today's dynamic and complex environment, strategic clarity is essential. Our strategy and policy services empower organisations to navigate uncertainty, make informed decisions, and achieve lasting impact.
Collaborating closely with clients and stakeholders, we develop comprehensive strategies for organisations and industries alike. Our approach integrates deep sector expertise with rigorous analysis, stakeholder engagement, and codesign methodologies, ensuring strategies are both ambitious and achievable.
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Strategy
Crafting organisational, digital, research, and financial sustainability strategies.
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Policy & Programs
Designing effective policies and conducting program reviews and evaluations.
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Organisation & Governance
Establishing optimal organisational designs, governance frameworks, and operating models.
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Business Cases
Developing robust business cases and feasibility studies for investment decisions.
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Economics & Regulation
Providing economic analysis, regulatory reform, and market design solutions.
Strategy
In a complex and rapidly changing world, clear direction is critical for success. We partner with clients and their stakeholders to craft strategies for entire organisations, industries, or specific areas like digital transformation, research, and financial sustainability.
Our Approach
Expertise & Analysis
Combining deep sector and subject matter expertise with rigorous analysis to understand challenges and opportunities.
Collaborative Co-design
Engaging extensively with stakeholders through co-design methodologies to ensure broad ownership and alignment.
Visionary & Actionable
Developing strategies that are both visionary and actionable, spanning immediate priorities to longer-term goals.
Integrated Solutions
Integrating digital transformation, sustainability, and emerging trends for lasting relevance and impact.
Types of Strategy
Organisational Strategy
Industry Strategy
Digital Strategy
Research Strategy
Financial Sustainability
Engagement Strategy
Project Examples
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Spirits Victoria Association
Victorian Spirits Industry Strategy – Led the development of a strategy for the Victorian spirits industry in collaboration with the Victorian Government, incorporating extensive consultation, state-wide codesign workshops, and an online First Peoples forum (2024-25).
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University of Melbourne
Digital Strategy – Developed a 10-year digital strategy for the Faculty of Business and Economics, covering teaching, learning, research, and administration. The project included stakeholder interviews and a codesign workshop.
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City of Yarra
Financial Sustainability Review – Conducted a strategic review of the City's financial sustainability, including the development of actionable options, through a series of codesign workshops (2022).
Policy and Programs
Creating public value requires a deep understanding of government policies and programs: their purpose, optimal design, practical implementation, stakeholder feedback, and effective monitoring and measurement.
We conduct comprehensive reviews and evaluations of government policies and programs. Our approach integrates rigorous analytical frameworks with extensive stakeholder engagement to identify real-world implementation challenges, opportunities, and inform strategic improvements.
We excel at engaging diverse stakeholder groups, gathering authentic feedback to ensure programmes are responsive and user-centric.
Policy Design and Review
Program Design and Review
Program Evaluation
Program Logic / Theory of Change
Project Examples
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VicHealth, Regional Sport (2023-24)
Developed financial sustainability plans and a performance framework for nine Regional Sports Assemblies across regional Victoria, incorporating codesign workshops in each region and statewide.
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Department of Premier and Cabinet, Closing The Gap Partnership Forum (2023)
Conducted an independent review of Closing the Gap expenditure in Victoria for the Closing the Gap Coalition and developed strategic options for reprioritising expenditure, including a codesign workshop.
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Creative Partnerships Australia (2021-23)
Evaluated Creative Partnerships Australia's two matched fundraising programs: MATCHlab for independent artists, and Plus1 for arts organisations. Included codesign workshops.
Organisation and Governance
Effective organisations align their governance, structures, and operating models with their strategic goals. We advise governments, universities, and community organisations on how to optimise these elements to achieve purpose, manage risk and complexity, and create lasting value.
Purpose
Clarity in mission and strategic direction.
Structure
Optimised organisational design and reporting.
Governance
Robust decision-making and accountability frameworks.
Operating Model
Efficient processes for value creation.
Project Examples
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Monash University
Operating Model for Digital Research Support – Reviewed the operating model between eResearch and eSolutions to enhance digital support for Monash researchers. This involved research, consultations, analysis of national and international models, and codesign workshops, and delive a framework with key recommendations (2022).
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Department of Jobs Precincts and Regions
Aboriginal Economic Development Branch Review – Conducted an organisational review of the newly formed Aboriginal Economic Development (AED) branch. This included internal and external consultations and a codesign workshop to develop a structure aligned with strategy (2021-22).
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Commonwealth Government
Government Consulting Unit - Developed a concept paper on establishing a government consulting unit, included research, case studies, interviews and an expert workshop. The outcome was a Budget announcement to establish the unit, which is now operating successfully (2022).
Business Cases and Feasibility Studies
Effective investment decisions in the public and community sectors rely on robust business cases and feasibility studies, often underpinned by investment logic mapping. We guide organisations through these decisions, integrating financial and risk considerations with broader public value creation.
We combine rigorous analytical frameworks with practical implementation insights, enabling organisations to make sound investment decisions. Our business cases seamlessly integrate financial analysis with strategic fit, risk assessment, and public value creation.
Investment Logic Mapping
Clarity on investment purpose and outcomes.
Business Cases
Comprehensive justification for initiatives.
Feasibility Studies
Assessing viability and potential challenges.
Analysis & Options
Financial, risk, and alternative evaluations.
Implementation Planning
Practical steps for successful execution.
Project Examples
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Department of Premier and Cabinet (Vic)
Indian Community Centre – Developed a business case for the establishment of an Indian Community Centre in Geelong, including a community codesign workshop (2024).
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Department of Jobs Skills Industry and Regions (Vic)
Albury-Wodonga Aboriginal Community Plan – Conducted business cases and feasibility studies for three priority initiatives under the plan, focusing on cross-border community governance, aged care, and an education and economic hub. This involved extensive consultation and a series of codesign workshops (2022-23).
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City of Melbourne
First Nations Precinct – Led the feasibility study for establishing a First Nations Precinct in the city, encompassing a cultural centre, innovation hub, community centre, and Indigenous businesses (2020-22).
Economics and Regulation
We leverage economic impact, cost-benefit, market, and regulatory analysis to inform policy and strategic decision-making. Our expertise spans assessing industry economic impacts, designing regulatory reforms, and guiding complex options with robust economic frameworks.
Economic Analysis
Conduct economic impact assessments, cost-benefit analysis, and advanced economic modelling to support strategic decisions and policy development.
Regulatory Reform
Analyse regulatory systems, propose effective reform options, and facilitate the implementation of streamlined regulatory frameworks.
Market Analysis
Assess market structures, competitive dynamics, and identify opportunities for market development and strategic intervention.
Project Examples
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Department of Treasury and Finance
Streamlining Liquor Approvals – Conducted a fast-track review of regulatory and compliance requirements for Victoria's live music venues, facilitating inter-agency collaboration to define policy reform options (2024).
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Australian Institute of Landscape Architects
Economic Impact – Analysed the economic impact of the industry, including a comprehensive member survey (2021-22).
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BHP
Global Business Function – Performed economic and risk analysis for a global business function, assessing various strategic alternatives (2020-21).
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Spirits Victoria Association
Spirits Industry Strategy – As part of development of a strategy for the spirits industry in Victoria cooperatively with the Victorian Government, we undertook market, economic and regulatory analysis of the industry (2024-25)