Our team
Our Team
Russell Barnett - Principal
Russell (Russ) Barnett is the founder of Australian Venture Consultants. He has over 30 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, energy, their allied industries, natural resource management and regional and First Nations economic 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 governments and special taskforces at the local, state and federal level; 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 currently serves as an independent non-executive director of Nyamba Buru Yawuru Ltd and two of its agribusiness subsidiaries - Noongar Advisory Company and Anindilyawka Aboriginal Royalties Corporation - is a trustee of the Anindilyakwa Mining Trust, and Chair of the Western Rock Lobster Council and the Western Australian Building and Construction Industry Consultative Committee.
He has been an adjunct associate professor with the University of Western Australia Business School and is currently an honorary associate professor with the Australian National University First Nations Portfolio, where and has authored academic and practice literature and led significant forums focusing on First Nations economic self-determination. He has completed a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Commerce at the University of Western Australia and a Graduate Certificate in Mineral Economics from Curtin University’s WA School of Mines.
Suzanne Eyles - Director - Projects
Suzanne hhas over 20 years’ experience in corporate strategy, strategic planning, financial, economic and market analytics, and policy development. She has extensive expertise in the stewardship of whole of sector change, major economic development and social impact initiatives across a range of industry sectors. Prior to joining Australian Venture Consultants Suzanne held a variety of senior executive and strategic advisory appointments including Group Manager, Market Development at the Independent Market Operator (IMO), responsible for the governance and market development of the Wholesale Electricity Market on the South West Interconnected System, and Consulting Principal at a global SWX-listed consulting firm.
Suzanne has significant experience as a non-executive director and committee chair. She holds a Master of Business Administration from the University of Western Australia, a Bachelor of Business (Finance) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Owen Frere – Researcher and Data Analyst
Owen is an experienced software engineer and data and systems specialist, with a background in pharmaceuticals, clinical medical research, the university sector and large-scale software design and deployment, including a previous role as senior engineer at Atlassian. Owen holds a Bachelor of Science (Psychology) from the University of Western Australia and a Bachelor of Science (Computing) from Curtin University, and has a keen interest in the intersection between emerging technology megatrends and innovation and local and global societies and political system
Mhairi Byrne – Researcher
Monique Vaughan - Associate
Monique supports desktop research and analysis that underpins policy, strategy, venture, project and strategic science and innovation engagements. She has a strong understanding of business and economic regulatory frameworks and trade in the Asia-Pacific region.
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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.
Mhairi is presently completing a Bachelor of Science (Pure Mathematics, Mathematics and Statistics) at the University of Western Australia.