Australian Venture Consultants Team

Russell Barnett - Partner

Russell (Russ) Barnett is the founding partner of Australian Venture Consultants and leads the firm’s strategy and policy consultancy. He has over 20 years of experience in complex strategic and policy analysis across a range of industries in the Australasian and Asia-Pacific Region. Russ’ main focus is the primary and extractive industries, their allied industries, natural resource management and regional development. He has led policy and strategy analytical and advisory engagements in these areas across a wide range of strategic and policy issues and initiatives for boards, c-suite and other executives in SMEs, multi-national corporations and industry peak bodies; executive government and special taskforces in local, state and provincial and national governments; and cross-sectoral, mission-oriented collaborations and joint ventures.
Russ has extensive board leadership experience in the corporate, not-for-profit and university sectors. He has completed a Masters of Business Administration (The University of Western Australia), Graduate Certificate in Mineral Economics (Curtin University WA School of Mines) and a Bachelor of Commerce Degree (The University of Western Australia) and is currently a Honorary Associate Professor with The Australian National University – First Nations Portfolio.

Larry Lopez - Partner

With over 25 years of experience in enabling knowledge-based businesses, technology finance, strategic planning, regional development and executive management, Larry leads the firm’s venture and innovation practice.

Prior to moving to Perth in 2006, Lopez spent 17 years at SVB Financial Group, a publicly traded US financial services company specializing in technology finance. During his tenure at SVB, he was involved in many of the strategic initiatives that helped the bank evolve into a global powerhouse in technology finance. He was the co-founder of the Bank's international venture capital practice and responsible for the Bank's activities in Europe, Israel and Australia.

Larry has extensive experience in strategic planning. He is a regular speaker at industry conferences, and has extensive experience working with government agencies and the media. Larry has served on a number of boards and is currently a director of several organisations.

Larry has a BSc in Business Administration from Menlo College, and is a Graduate of Pacific Coast Banking School at the University Washington in Seattle.

Julian Thomas - Associate

Julian has significant experience in research, analysis and policy development in complex issues across environmental, economic, social and political systems, and a particular interest in the interaction of natural resources, communities and public policy. Julian has over ten years of experience in natural resources and primary industries research and policy development, and he has held previous roles in the Western Australian State Government, the resources sector and in private practice. 

Julian holds a Bachelor of Arts (Hon. 1st Class) in Political Science and International Relations and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Western Australia, and a Graduate Diploma of Legal Practice from the College of Law (WA). He has also developed significant practical and theoretical expertise in corporate governance, and he is a certificated member of the Governance Institute of Australia.

Phoebe McClements - Analyst

Phoebe has worked across the foundation, not-for-profit and impact investing sectors internationally, primarily supporting early stage social enterprises in both a consulting and investor capacity. She most recently has been based in London working for Wellers Impact, an SDG-focused impact investor. Now back in her hometown of Perth, Phoebe is passionate about building partnerships and using evidence-based decision making to support purpose driven enterprises to achieve sustainable financial, social and environmental objectives.

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Phoebe’s qualifications include a Masters of Public Administration from the London School of Economics (Economic Policy and Social Policy Streams, 2017-2019) and a Bachelor of Commerce with majors in Economics and Finance from the University of Western Australia (2014-2017).

Monique Vaughan - Research

Monique holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Economics with majors in International Business Economics and Money and Banking from the University of Western Australia. She has also completed a Postgraduate Diploma in Chinese Business Law from the University of Western Australia and is completing the Practical Legal Training program at the College of Law, Perth.

Bianca Barros - Financial Analyst

Bianca Barros is currently an undergraduate business student at Menlo College, majoring in Finance. She expects to graduate in December of 2021.  Bianca is very active in the community and has recently organized and lead the Techstars Womxn Startup Weekend in Silicon Valley.  She was also the Partnerships Coordinator for TEDxSaoPaulo 2020, the third-largest TEDx event in the world. Bianca is the founding President of the first women empowerment club at Menlo College, WILD (Women in Leadership Development). In fall of 2020 Bianca was awarded a scholarship by the Silicon Valley Chapter of Financial Executives International.  She has also been nominated as a University Innovation Fellow at Stanford University.