In addition to a professional team of over 30 staff, Elton Consulting works with a variety of partner and subcontract consultants who can handle specific tasks outside our main areas of expertise (eg. market researchers, valuers). For larger commissions, we normally assemble a specialist team tailored to the needs of the project. Before undertaking any project, we agree the membership of the consultant team with our clients.

Elton Consulting has a reputation for the rigorous and ethical approach it adopts towards its projects, and for working in co-operation with clients to achieve practical and effective outputs.

Directors

Brian Elton is a town planner, public policy analyst and facilitation specialist. Prior to setting up the consultancy practice he was General Manager at the NSW Department of Housing, where he introduced a number of innovative projects and programs, as well as running a diverse and sizeable range of operations, programs and policies. He has also worked in local government and in the residential development industry. Brian is well known for his consulting work, and is highly regarded for his handling of public consultation and facilitation processes, and for his negotiation skills.

Brendan Blakeley has extensive expertise in the organisation, facilitation and recording and reporting of community engagement processes. He has a background in working with people with disability and in the areas of aged care and mental health. Brendan has spent a number of years working in rural and regional Australia and has a particular interest in the issues facing these communities. Since joining Elton Consulting in 2001 he has assisted in evaluations of government programs and managed numerous consultations focused on strategic and urban planning and community development projects.

Peter Cranko is an associate director of Elton Consulting. He is a strategy consultant with a focus on urban social, urban and organisational issues. Throughout his career he has consistently helped organisations resolve complex policy issues and translate them into practical implementation frameworks. He has worked in the corporate, public and community sectors and this diverse work experience has equipped him to work in rapidly changing environments involving multiple stakeholders. His experience includes working as a management consultant in a global consulting firm (Deloitte), and as a senior executive service level public servant in Premiers Departments in both NSW and South Africa. He has an M.Sc. planning degree.

James Evans has 30 years international experience of community engagement and capacity building. He has a history of innovation, being the founder of number of local employment and enterprise development organisations, including a business enterprise centre in Sydney and the microcredit organisation First Business Finance.  He co-authored and managed the production of the award winning Community Engagement in the NSW Planning System website and handbook. He is an experienced project manager whose work has included delivering Elton's input to major projects such as the NSW State Plan, Metropolitan Water Plan, infrastructure projects, and the range of services required to plan for new communities.

Chris Manning specialises in social policy, community development and housing. She holds an honours degree in Social Studies and a Masters in Environmental Planning, and has held a number of senior positions in the public sector, responsible for the development, management and funding of a range of housing and community services programs. She has extensive experience in human services and community facilities planning.

Trish Oakley has been providing strategic communications and issues management advice to public sector, corporate and non-government clients since 1999.  Prior to establishing a well-recognised consultancy, Trish was Chief of Staff of the Deputy Premier’s office and managed policy development, media and political strategy in the portfolios of Health, Urban Affairs and Planning, Housing and Aboriginal Affairs. From 1979 to 1990, Trish was a journalist with the ABC, working in radio and television, both news and current affairs. 

Senior consultant team

Abigail Jeffs	Senior Consultant Bachelor of Town Planning, Honours (University of New South Wales). Masters Public Policy – current (University of Sydney).
Deborah Palmer	Principal Consultant Barrister and solicitor in South Australia and New South Wales ; Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice College of Law, Sydney; Bachelor of Law (Honours), University of Adelaide;      Bachelor of Management majoring in Labour Relations (Industrial Relations/Human Resource Management), University of South Australia
Dianne Knott	Senior Consultant BA Honours (First Class), Communication, University of Technology, Sydney; Candidate in Masters of Political Economy, University of Sydney
Fiona van der Hoeven	Principal Planner Bachelor of Arts (Geography) Hons, Flinders University of South Australia; Masters Town Planning, University of Tasmania
Jason Prior	Associate Doctor of Philosophy - Urban Sociology (University of New South Wales). Urban and Regional Studies (University of California - Berkeley). Bachelor of Architecture, Honours (University of Technology Sydney).
Jenny Vozoff	Principal Consultant Masters of Environmental Studies (University of New South Wales). Bachelor of Arts - Sociology and Economics (Macquarie University).
Kim Leslie	Manager, NT Bachelor of Applied Arts, Urban & Regional Planning (Ryerson Polytechnical Institute, Toronto Canada), 1982 - 1986
Rachel Bejma	Principal Consultant Bachelor of Arts – Political Science, Rice University (Houston, TX), Candidate in Masters of Communication Management, University of Technology Sydney
Steve Rossiter	Principal Consultant Bachelor of Arts Degree, University of New South Wales, Majoring in Psychology and History; Graduate Diploma in Education, University of Sydney; Masters of Science in Community and Regional Planning, University of Texas in Austin
Vicky Critchley	Senior Consultant Masters of Environmental Science (Yale University). Masters of Environmental Law (Macquarie University). Graduate Diploma - Environmental Studies and Urban Planning (Macquarie University). Bachelor of Science (University of Sydney).