ABOUT US

Theo is a specialist Strategy and Engagement consultant working with clients across a broad range of industries including commercial, government, the not-for-profit and tertiary education sectors. Theo draws on a history of working at senior executive levels to support clients in vision and mission setting, strategy development, strategy activation and evaluation, stakeholder engagement and partnership development to enable social impact at scale. This work is underpinned by creating the space and time to draw on a diversity of community voices and perspectives to achieving organisational objectives in socially complex environments.

A Director on the Board of Indigenous Architecture and Design Victoria (IADV), Theo also has extensive experience in working with Traditional Owners to implement  community led aspirations on transformational projects, coupled with extensive  experience working in remote communities. Theo is Managing Director of Greenshoot Consulting, and in conjunction with Victoria’s only Indigenous registered architect, Jefa Greenaway, has developed a unique fusion of creative, urban and architectural design and Indigenous engagement. This work includes the ability to develop strong cross-cultural project aspirations. The Greenshoot team has strong architectural and creative design qualifications and experience, and brings a comprehensive track record in supporting project teams to foreground Indigenous knowledge and culture into the heart of large scale infrastructure projects.

Jeremy Gaden has worked in Victoria’s creative sector for the last 25 years, and has a background in venue management, festival coordination, producing, state government and organisational leadership. He has worked for a wide variety of arts organisations, including Melbourne Fringe, National Institute of Circus Arts, Melbourne International Comedy Festival, and Melbourne International Arts Festival. Jeremy was Program Manager at Footscray Community Arts Centre, where he oversaw many of the organisation’s large-scale community engagement projects, and the inaugural director of The Substation in Newport, delivering the final stage of a large infrastructure project and establishing its position as a regionally significant contemporary arts centre. Most recently, Jeremy has held the position of Senior Manager, Partnership Programs at Creative Victoria where he oversaw many of the Victorian state government’s creative industries development programs, including those that support economic and social outcomes. Specifically, he was responsible for Creative Victoria’s regional development, Aboriginal, Social Impact, Education, and Contemporary Music programs. In this position Jeremy was also responsible for many intra-government relationships, such as those with Regional Development Victoria and Visit Victoria.

Kiah graduated from the Master of Cultural Materials Conservation at the University of Melbourne in 2014 and is currently studying the Master of Urban at Cultural Heritage at the Melbourne School of Design.  Kiah has worked as a paper conservator on both private and public collection materials and has experience in the management and access of museum, archival and gallery collections. Kiah has also worked on large-scale development and estate planning projects in the tertiary sector, co-creating design outcomes in complex, multi-stakeholder environments. With a particular interest in community engagement and equitable access, particularly in rural and regional communities, Kiah is passionate about finding strategic ways cultural heritage can be leveraged to creatively and sustainably support communities.

Nick graduated from the University of Melbourne in 2021 with a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in History) and joined Greenshoot as a research assistant in December 2021. The major focus of his studies was on conflict, colonisation and its impact on the developing world. His experience working with young people in out-of-home care at Mackillop Family Services and with students at one of the University of Melbourne’s residential colleges cemented his commitment to advancing the basic principles of social justice: access; equity; diversity; participation and human rights and these principles underpin his work.

A proud Gooreng Gooreng woman, Katrina was raised on her traditional lands located along the Burnett River from Cania Gorge to Bundaberg in South-East Queensland, Australia. She is a direct descendant of Granny Betsy, Granny Lexie, Lena Horton and Phyllis Appo.

Katrina lived and worked on Yorta Yorta country in Shepparton, Victoria, for  30 years and is an experienced corporate executive with a demonstrated history of working in Leadership, People and Culture, Organisational Development, Media Relations, Management, Strategy, Business, Engagement and Community Organising. Katrina is a strong consulting professional with a MBA from Melbourne Business School. She was previously Executive Manager of Corporate Services at the Goulburn Valley Community Foundation, and also has a strong communications background, having run KTM Media and Communications for over six years. Katrina is passionate about organisational development and social issues (particularly those facing Aboriginal women), media relations, management, and community organising. Katrina is also a highly skilled journalist with newspaper publishing, editing and newsroom management skills.

Katrina is currently a 2021 Harvard Kennedy School candidate and is currently based in Wilmington, North Carolina, USA.