About Us
We are a Melbourne - domiciled consultancy and advisory firm that is dedicated to turning smart ideas into reality. And having got there, we help turn market entry into market penetration. We operate in most major markets with associates in North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific region.
Since 2003, we have worked with government, research and business communities. We help our clients sell their ideas, their policies, their products, their services.
Nowadays, we are more interested in the execution phase of an activity. There are not many consulting firms that prefer to step up from the theoretical to the actual. The fact that we are happy to get our hands dirty is testimony to the real world experience that is a key attribute of each of the members of our team.
People
Director - Business Strategy
Kiki Tanousis
Kiki's key interest is in the development of innovative capability within an organisation. His strongest passion is removing the many obstacles that dog some of the most valuable people in any economy - the innovators.
He has led a number of projects which leverage on his strong business/ science background. He holds a BSc in Economics and a PhD in Immunology.
His business career began while an undergraduate at the London School of Economics, when he started his London property firm. In tandem with his business interests, he pursued a medical research career, topping his year at University College London, gaining a PhD at the MRC - National Institute for Medical Research (London, UK), and holding a post-doctoral fellowship at the Imperial Cancer Research Fund, also in London
As Managing Director of a highly successful manufacturing company he helped create a new segment of the building industry in the UK and Europe. Most recently his team have brought significant cost efficiencies to the patent industry in Australasia, currently extending into North America, Europe and the Asia Pacific.
Kiki leads our business strategy capability and focuses primarily on the business growth, investment and partnership side of our business.
Strategic Partner – ITA GmbH
Helmut Schmidtmann
Originally a senior engineer with German machinery firm Festo, Helmut founded our partner firm ITA Group in 1974 and has provided sourcing and marketing services for many well known German companies ever since.
Based in Germany, Helmut has well over 40 years experience as an industrialist, manufacturer and distributor.
His operations have developed and placed numerous products into European markets. His Singapore production facilities employed at their peak around 200 staff, before a trade sale exit.
An industrial engineer of impeccable pedigree, Helmut is now often called upon to debug new products, as well as to source, develop, project manage and oversee high grade manufacturing in lower cost countries such as India and China.
Sad update: My good friend Helmut passed away 25 January 2019. Helmut was a man ahead of his time. He befriended and mentored numerous individuals over his long career, leaving a legacy of corporation leaders and dynastic founders, around the world. A man with clarity of thought, calm persistence and humour, it was an honour to have known this consummate gentleman. From his accordion playing and less impressive singing at the fireside in the Black Forest, to his entrancing slights of hand - as well as an outstanding engineer, Helmut was also an accomplished magician. Goodbye my friend. Kiki
Director - Healthcare
Jag Heer
Jag's driving interest is in preventative healthcare. A graduate in Biochemistry from the University of British Columbia, he won a prestigious international student scholarship to study medicine at the University of Melbourne.
With substantial business experience in the Canadian real estate market, Jag applies his entrepreneurial outlook to the healthcare sector, melding clinical knowledge with commercial reality.
Jag has conducted a number of healthcare industry related assignments, focussing on market feasibility, formal and informal barriers, regulatory environments and competitive analysis.
He is a founder and board member of Simulation Medical Pty Ltd.
Director - International Markets
Andy Barons
Andy is passionate about building markets and nurturing efficient sales teams.
Specialising in technical B2B markets, Andy has overseen the growth of ELGA labwater (a division of Veolia) both as Global Sales Manager, and as Regional Sales Manager (Asia Pacific).
Andy has advised on a broad spectrum of market entry and growth initiatives. Each market has its own peculiarities, and his broad experience allows clients to identify and pursue appropriately tailored strategies.
As a former teacher, Andy is committed to targeted and effective professional development, assisting sales directors and managers to get the most from their national and international sales teams.