We began in 2014 with a focus on guiding our clients to successfully navigate rapidly changing work environments.
We began in 2014 with a focus on guiding our clients to successfully navigate rapidly changing work environments.
Key Partners
Bernadette O’Connor
CEO
Bernadette O’Connor
Bernadette O’Connor is our CEO and draws on over 15 years’ (1998 – 2013) experience as Chief Executive Officer of three companies specialising in education and training, employment services, apprenticeship services and disability services. Bernadette has a further 15 years’ experience in working with communities and networks to design and manage local responses to the development needs of businesses, individuals and governments.
Bernadette holds a Masters in Public Policy and Management; a Graduate Diploma in Education (Mathematics); a Bachelor of Applied Science (Mathematics); an Associate Degree in Applied Science (Amenity Horticulture); an Associate Diploma in Applied Science (Therapy Radiography); a Diploma in Frontline Management; and a TAE 40110 Certificate IV in Training & Assessment.
Bernadette is the Chair of Workforce Plus and a Director of Disability Knowledge Network and BDP Community VIC. She has previously held Board Director roles with Jobs Australia Ltd, Community Colleges Australia and Community Colleges Victoria, Victorian Adult Community & Further Education Board, Job Futures Ltd, Learn Work Develop in Baw Baw, South West Local Learning and Employment Network, South West Regional ACFE Council and the Colac Area Health Board.
David Moody
Director
David Moody
David Moody brings more than 30 years of experience working across the private, public and not for profit sectors to his role at MGA.
As a former CEO and Victorian State Manager of National Disability Services, Australia’s peak body for non-government disability service providers; and before this as the leader of the central agency team responsible for coordinating the Victorian Government’s contribution to development of the NDIS, David has a forensic understanding of the Scheme and the challenges and emerging issues faced by disability service providers, people with disability, their families and supporters seeking to work in and understand it.
These roles also provided David with a strong understanding of Commonwealth/State relations, significant experience in successful advocacy, robust engagement with governments and their agencies, policy development and its implementation and the role of mainstream and social media and their capacity to influence public policy.
Prior to joining MGA, David worked as an executive in the Victorian Public Service, leading teams responsible for national health and safety reform, strategic WHS policy, WHS legislation and regulations and regulatory framework development, departmental budget strategy and corporate planning.
David commenced his working life as a lawyer and partner in the workers’ compensation practice of one of Australia’s leading national plaintiff law firms. In this role he provided legal advice and support to hundreds of injured workers for more than a decade, whilst also providing WHS and workers’ compensation training and support to trade unions and their members.
David holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts and is a Member of the AICD.
Mary O’Keeffe
BlueFox Group
Mary O’Keefe
Mary is an experienced facilitator, trainer, coach, and business consultant. She has held senior management positions in Australia, Asia and the UK. In these roles she has developed a broad range of skills and an in-depth understanding of business. In recent years Mary has worked as a private consultant with organisations in Australia and internationally. Her work has been focused primarily in the financial services, telecommunications and business services sectors but she also has experience of working with government and not-for-profit organisations.
Mary established the BlueFox Group in 2010 in response to a growing demand for training and consulting services that assist organisations be more customer centric. BlueFox now works with companies whose focus is on the delivery of their business strategy through enhanced customer experiences. BlueFox does that by improving the way their people engage.
Mary’s tertiary qualifications include a Masters’ degree in Instructional Design and Development and she is an accredited member of the International Coaching Federation (ICP). Mary is also a qualified psychotherapist and counselor. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD), the Australian Institute of Management (AIM) and the American Chamber of Commerce in Australia (AMCHAM).
Andrew Mountford
A J Mountford & Associates
Andrew Mountford
Andrew Mountford is a highly experienced facilitator, organisational change consultant, trainer & coach who has worked extensively in Australia & internationally. He has a direct friendly style yet doesn’t shy away from tackling controversial matters. Coupled with this is his knack of being able to draw out the “undiscussables” whilst fostering an environment where people feel safe to be open.
Over the years he has worked with leadership & management teams in health, community services, engineering, IT, law enforcement, financial services, government (state and federal), telecommunications and education.
Andrew’s work with Bernadette O’Connor and MGA stretches back many years and includes facilitation of several staff sessions and a planning retreat for the Board of Education Centre Gippsland (ECG), an OD strategy to uplift the business skills and qualifications of ACE providers across Victoria and an Organisation Climate Review for the non-profit training and employment services organisation VERTO in NSW. Most recently, he was a key collaborator in the successful bid of MGA to join the panel of approved providers for the Department of Health and Human Services’ Learning, Coaching and Organisational Development Panel.
Josh Baker
Project Manager
Josh Baker
Josh holds an Advanced Diploma of Leadership and Management; Advanced Diploma of Human Resource Management; Advanced Diploma of Business; Diploma of Vocational Education and Training; Diploma of Hospitality Management, Diploma of Community Services and formal qualifications in Radio Broadcast, Event Management and has completed his Teaching Practicum.
Josh has worked with some of the largest organisations in the social and youth sectors including The Salvation Army, The Orange Door, Scouts Australia and Youth Affairs Council Victoria.
Dr Miranda Jensen
OnSong Group
Dr Miranda Jensen
Miranda is a change and transformation specialist who has worked across diverse industry segments including: government, telecommunications, retail and financial services. She has led multiple large scale transformations to achieve a range of business outcomes.
Miranda is an experienced consultant having worked for KPMG and the Litmus group as well as independently consulting into organisations. She is motivated by challenging the status quo and developing new approaches to realise outcomes in more efficient and effective ways. She stays ahead of the game on emerging technologies and has modeled the paperless office since 2010.
Through her PhD research based on Phenomenological enquiry, she has experienced new ways of thinking which has led to consideration for ‘how things transform’. This thinking has enabled the creation of the Transformation3 methodology, a dynamic, real time management of large scale change. The approach is reflective of what she has been delivering against in leading change programs. It has now been developed into a suite of materials enabling the expertise to be shared to assist others in leading transformational change against this dynamic approach.
Liz Newman
Acumen Human Capital
Liz Newman
Liz Newman has run her own service focused businesses since 1980 and transitioned from global logistics management for aerospace and defence industries to human resource consulting with a focus on leadership development. She is a Master Practitioner in NLP, a Meta-Coach and Accredited Fluid Intelligence Developer, as well as an experienced trainer and facilitator. Liz has worked extensively in commercial, government and not for profit sectors.
A keen advocate of the Kolbe Concept, Liz has trained and facilitated teams ranging from 4 – 80 in size with the focus on optimising individual, team and organisational strengths to build innovative resilient cultures. With a passion for facilitating positive outcomes Liz engages with her clients with enthusiasm and authenticity.