Strategy
When experience truly does count.
Strategy
When experience truly does count.
You’ve steered us through such a complex process really brilliantly. We would not be here in this calm, positive and collaborative place without your leadership and hard work.
You’ve steered us through such a complex process really brilliantly. We would not be here in this calm, positive and collaborative place without your leadership and hard work.
My strategic work takes several forms – from advising government on cultural programs and trends, to working with small to medium organisations on everything from clarifying the purpose of a single project, to completely reimagining the future.
My own experience, values and personal challenges in leadership roles provide a bedrock of experience, while my respect and admiration for the small to medium arts sector provide fertile ground for meaningful and actionable results.
This sector, with its agility, ambition, passion and derring-do, is of particular personal interest to me; it is immensely satisfying to make a contribution to a healthy future in uncertain times – which is all the time!
My strategic work takes several forms – from advising government on cultural programs and trends, to working with small to medium organisations on everything from clarifying the purpose of a single project, to completely reimagining the future.
My own experience, values and personal challenges in leadership roles provide a bedrock of experience, while my respect and admiration for the small to medium arts sector provide fertile ground for meaningful and actionable results.
This sector, with its agility, ambition, passion and derring-do, is of particular personal interest to me; it is immensely satisfying to make a contribution to a healthy future in uncertain times – which is all the time!
What people say about working with me on strategy
Strong winds of change throughout the entire arts sector
The challenge was to create a positive and united way forward for arts and government stakeholders.
You’ve steered us through such a complex process really brilliantly. We would not be here in this calm, positive and collaborative place without your leadership and hard work.
Thank you, Mary Jo, for the really masterful role you have played on behalf of the industry, caring and effective – not easy to herd the range of cats involved and try and impart the need for a common purpose and united front.
Senior Leader and Participant
Strong winds of change throughout the entire arts sector
The challenge was to create a positive and united way forward for arts and government stakeholders.
You’ve steered us through such a complex process really brilliantly. We would not be here in this calm, positive and collaborative place without your leadership and hard work.
Thank you, Mary Jo, for the really masterful role you have played on behalf of the industry, caring and effective – not easy to herd the range of cats involved and try and impart the need for a common purpose and united front.
Senior Leader and Participant
Government commitment to regional New South Wales
Challenge: I was called in to assist the NSW Government to bring their commitment to regional NSW into reality in terms of touring musicians to smaller under-utilised venues. I put together a team that reviewed all such venues, and assisted some to apply for much-needed grant support to bring their venues up to standard.
Result: Ultimately, this work led to the establishment of Music in the Regions, which is going from strength to strength
Small to medium arts organisation in need of a Strategic Plan
Challenge: I was contacted by a small-to-medium performing arts organisation to assist them in shaping their Strategic Plan, in anticipation of significant funding rounds from the state government. I made sure we focused on the key things they could achieve, creating a very bespoke program for them and their corporate “heavy weight” board.
Comment: from one of those Board members at the end of the half-day session
“Thank you … however you were brilliant today. Would happily sit through it all again. Plenty of learnings.”
Government commitment to regional New South Wales
Challenge: I was called in to assist the NSW Government to bring their commitment to regional NSW into reality in terms of touring musicians to smaller under-utilised venues. I put together a team that reviewed all such venues, and assisted some to apply for much-needed grant support to bring their venues up to standard.
Result: Ultimately, this work led to the establishment of Music in the Regions, which is going from strength to strength
Small to medium arts organisation in need of a Strategic Plan
Challenge: I was contacted by a small-to-medium performing arts organisation to assist them in shaping their Strategic Plan, in anticipation of significant funding rounds from the state government. I made sure we focused on the key things they could achieve, creating a very bespoke program for them and their corporate “heavy weight” board.
Comment: from one of those Board members at the end of the half-day session
“Thank you … however you were brilliant today. Would happily sit through it all again. Plenty of learnings.”
A small to medium arts organisation facing existential issues
Challenge: There was no sense wasting time on the high-level issues – they needed a focused plan to steer their way forward.
Comment: The Board was sceptical of this desired outcome being achievable, but at the end of the half-day session, the comments were:
“I have attended any number of these, and I feared it was going to be a half day of waffle. This was excellent – so practical and purposeful, always reminding us why we do what we do. Excellent job.”