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About us

Who we are

We are a collaborative consultancy. We bring together customised teams with the specialist skills needed for each project. This ensures you'll always work with the right person for the job.

Red Dearnley, a white trans/non-binary person in a black jumper with a white collared shirt, with blurred office in the background.

Red Dearnley (they/them)

Managing Director (Principal Consultant)

Red is a social change strategist and not-for-profit leadership specialist. Their 20+ years' executive and non-executive experience extends across strategy, governance, advocacy and communications. With an activist’s heart and a governance nerd’s head, they are passionate about enabling systemic change across organisational culture, governance and programmatic work.

Red has previously held senior leadership, advocacy and communications roles in INGOs, non-profits and business associations across the UK, Australia and southern Africa. They have worked in a wide range of sectors, but is known for their expertise in intersectional practice, diversity and inclusion, modern slavery, child protection, LGBTIQA+ rights, gender equity, and women's health and community health.

Red is currently CEO of Birth for Humankind (part-time). They are Deputy Chair of WIRE, a trustee of the Influence Global Impact Fund and a member of the Institute of Community Directors Australia and Globe Victoria.

A photo of Mel a white woman with short blond hair in a black top. She is standing in front of a floral mural.

Mel Sherrin (she/her)

Senior Consultant

Mel is an experienced governance professional, general counsel and senior executive, who brings extensive experience as a trusted advisor to boards and CEOs.

She has strong expertise in driving organisational change, leading and embedding governance reform and providing strategic legal and risk advice.

Her key strengths are relationship building, strategic issues management, problem solving and in delivering fast outcomes.

Before commencing her consulting career Mel was General Counsel and Company Secretary at NEAMI (2017-2022), a national mental health service provider.

Mel is currently the National Risk and Assurance Manager for Kildare Ministries (part-time), Director and Company Secretary for both Red Stitch Actors Theatre and VMIAC (Victorian Mental Illness Awareness Council), and is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Mel lives and works in Naarm (Melbourne), Australia.

Our associates include:

Sectors we work in

Our knowledge of not-for-profit governance, strategy and communications can be applied in any sector. However we are called on for our technical knowledge and experience working in:

  • Aboriginal heritage
  • Affordable housing
  • Asylum seekers and refugees
  • Child rights and child protection
  • Community health
  • Community legal
  • Corporate accountability, responsible supply chains
  • Diversity, equity and inclusion
  • Environmental resilience
  • Gender equity
  • Insurance
  • International development and humanitarian aid
  • LGBTIQA+ inclusive practice
  • Maternal and child health
  • Modern slavery
  • Natural resource land management
  • Performing arts
  • Sexual and reproductive health
  • Sustainability and ethical consumerism
  • Sporting associations
  • Women’s and gender diverse health
  • Youth justice
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