our People
The Nucleus Group employs 10 Consultants, qualified across a range of disciplines. Brief biographies are provided below; detailed cv's are available on request.
Where there is a need to supplement our skills in order to undertake a particular project, we employ highly specialised Associate Consultants. For example, Nucleus has Associates with specialised skills in areas such as statistical analysis, economic modelling and in consulting with particular cultural groups.
- Peter Lane
- Peter has over 20 years experience working as a consultant to government and non-government agencies. Features of Peter's work have been his capacity to analyse and instigate strategic and operational improvement, and the development of data collection and benchmarking systems for program and service evaluation.
- Susan Fitch
- Susan holds professional qualifications in social work, business and accounting. She has over ten years experience as a consultant specializing in projects involving service audits, strategic planning and social and business research. Susan has strong skills in facilitation and engagement of key stakeholders. Susan has worked with a wide range of service sectors in project evaluation and business case development and has particular experience in disability services and early childhood services as well as services supporting people from culturally diverse backgrounds.
- John Thoms
- John holds a Master of Business with Merit (Business Information Systems and Small Business Management), Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting, Finance and Systems) and Diploma of Technology (Public Administration). He is a Fellow of CPA Australia and the Australian Institute of Management and a Member of Beta Gamma Sigma, the international honor society for collegiate schools of business. John has extensive experience in senior finance and accounting roles including as General Manager, Finance for the NSW Police Service and Chief Finance Officer for the NSW Departments of Health and Transport. John has particular skills in business planning and risk management, and a strong track record of application of these skills towards improving operational efficiency and effectiveness and reducing costs.
- Sheryl Coughlin
- Sheryl has outstanding academic qualifications including a PhD (where she researched aspects of non-government organisation effectiveness), an MBA (Health Administration) and certificates in Financial Management and Health Economics. Sheryl's work experience includes senior government positions in program management and corporate planning, and general management positions with a major non-government service provider.
- Vivien Adler
- Vivien has experience working with Commonwealth and State governments, health services and community organisations. She has particular expertise in policy, program design, organisational review and strategic development, and facilitation of focus groups, forums, and planning and consultative workshops. Vivien's experience includes CEO of a large Division of General Practice, manager of research, planning and specialist rehabilitation programs, and manager of a number of state-wide programs across Victorian health services. Earlier positions were in alcohol and drug services, community mental health, community health and family and children's services.
- Jim Reark
- Jim has outstanding experience in designing and conducting a broad range of research and is a former Chairman of the Australasian Market Research Society. Jim's work has included studies concerned with the assessment of public policy in areas such as education, employment, health, immigration, labour relations, tourism, communication, road safety and community attitude studies. Jim's work is consistently oriented to assisting clients to improve performance and profitability.
- Ann Varney
- Ann holds a Bachelor of Arts (Social Sciences), a Postgraduate Diploma in Dispute Resolution and Judicial Administration and a Master of Public and International Law from University of Melbourne. Ann is also an Associate Fellow of Local Government Professionals and a Fellow of the Institute of Municipal Management. Ann has a broad working knowledge of state and local government business operations and extensive experience in conducting organisational, business unit and operational reviews. Ann also has experience in preparation of achievable and practical corporate and strategic plans, including operational and transition plans.
- Chris Bebb
- Chris has many years experience in operational and general management roles in services for people with disabilities. His responsibilities have included roles such as Quality Assurance Coordinator and active involvement in systems and infrastructure development, managing change and continuos service improvement. Since becoming a consultant, Chris has undertaken numerous projects for service providers, community groups and government departments, involving quality assurance, risk management, operational improvement, systems development, service analysis and the provision of management and line training.
