About
Ben Cusack
Ben is a specialist management consultant and provides government grant and business planning advice to large organisations. He typically works with higher education institutions, research & health companies, large manufacturers and high growth firms.
In the past 12 months Ben has assisted clients raise over $50 million in funding for education and research capital infrastructure. He has recently been featured in articles in The Age and StartUpSmart with commentaries on ‘How to secure Government grants’.
Types of grants that Ben has been involved with are Cooperative Research Centre bids, the Education Investment Fund, the Chronic Disease Prevention Fund, Telehealth fund, the Market Validation Program, Clean Technology Investment Fund and Commercialisation Australia.
Prior to forming his own company, Ben worked for a boutique management consultancy where he led projects that included business planning, economic analysis, financial modelling, and strategic planning. His industry focus at this company was in the health, education and research space.
Before this, Ben was employed for three years in the consulting division of a large accounting firm. He worked on a number of government panels including the Solar Flagships and Renewable Energy Demonstration Projects. He also undertook many assignments in the clean tech industry including, water treatment technology, solar, first and second generation biofuels, aquaculture, and smart meters. Types of projects included business planning and commercialisation advice.
Ben has also spent seven years working as a project manager on infrastructure installations for a large dairy company specialising in waste water treatment systems and major capital upgrades.
Ben has a bachelor’s degree with honours in Chemical Engineering & Science (Chemistry) as well as a Graduate Diploma in Applied Science from Melbourne University. He also holds a master’s degree in business administration from the Melbourne Business School.
Gary Twomey
Gary specialises in strategic analysis and business planning with a focus on R&D funding, commercialisation strategies, capital raising, export market planning and funding assistance. He has a comprehensive knowledge of government support programs, successfully assisting clients to obtain funding to undertake crucial business development activities.
He has a strong drive towards identifying and developing new business opportunities coupled with extensive experience in strategic planning delivers further benefits to Gary’s clients. In managing a number of successful introductions where synergies exist between clients, Gary has provided strategic advice leading to new product developments and increased commercialisation opportunities.
Gary’s management experience in finance. accounting and human resources, introduces additional dimensions to a whole of business approach to consulting and business support services.
Gary’s accomplishments include:
- Reviewing operations and developing strategic business and product development plans for world class technology firms in a diverse range of sectors including information technology, telecommunications, biotechnology, environmental technology, mechanical engineering and manufacturing;
- Raising funds for R&D, commercialisation activities, export market development, business development and expansion. Gary has successfully worked with a range of clients to access $80 million in funding assistance; and
- Providing guidance to universities and research institutes including the CSIRO, Deakin University and Melbourne University on strategies for effective collaboration on, and commercialisation of research and development activities.
Gary has over 20 years experience in management consulting including senior management roles in finance/accounting and human resources within the private and public sectors.
Gary has a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma of Business (Accounting) and is a Certified Practising Accountant.
Katrina Tehan
Katrina Tehan has over 20 years’ experience in grant preparation and project management, primarily in a local government, non-profits, community services and regional development context. She has worked with a diverse range of industries including manufacturing, agribusiness, health, education, construction, retail and tourism.
In the past 18 months Katrina Tehan has assisted clients raise over $24 million in funding for regional communities and non-profit organisations. She was finalist in the 2011 Campaspe Murray Powercor Business Excellence Awards for “Best New Business” and is highly sort after by community organisations for tender preparation and writing government grants.
Katrina brings energy and business management experience to the projects she facilitates. She has been employed in economic development and tourism, infrastructure investment, marketing, finance, community development and outdoor leadership sectors.
Katrina has also worked for five years as the Economic Development and Tourism Manager at the Shire of Campaspe where she led projects that included industrial estate and residential estate development (attracting $2 million funding), establishment of the Murray Business Network, business renewal programs, farmers market planning, community development projects and coordinated tourism destination development for Echuca. Katrina also led two business trade missions to Kunming, China and assisted with sister city partnership formation between Campaspe Shire and Zhongdan Province.
Types of grants that Katrina Tehan has accessed for clients include Commercialisation Australia, RDV Grow your Business, RDV Infrastructure Development Fund, Foundation for Regional and Rural Renewal, Farmers Market Planning, NSW Better Futures, Export Programs, Employment and Youth Programs, AusIndustry and Regional Development Australia Fund.
