Our team
Our Team
Our team of experienced consultants comprises a unique blend of expertise representing an intersection of strategy, economics, policy, regulation and econometrics.
Amit Singh
Managing Partner
Amit works at the intersection of economics and data, policy and regulation, and technology. He is a former Managing Director of a major global consulting firm completing economic research and policy projects in over 25 countries and presented in forums internationally including at the ILO and OECD. He has published papers in leading academic journals such as the Australian Economic Review.
Amit previously served as the Global Head of Economic Policy at Uber Technologies Inc. based in San Francisco. He was one of the founding directors of Responsible Technology Australia and Reset Australia, and previously co-founded a consumer aggregator startup. He was recently a panel member for an independent review into Australian government digital services led by David Thodey AO. Earlier in his career he served as a senior economic advisor to multiple Australian prime ministers and leaders.
He began his career as a solicitor and holds Honours degrees in commerce and law from the University of Sydney.
Jo Wood
Chief Operating Partner
Jo's expertise lies in building organisations and managing systems to deliver impactful work. She is the former Chief Operating Officer at the e61 Institute and continues to serve as the Company Secretary of e61. She previously worked as the Operations Manager for Accenture’s Sustainability Services for markets ex-US and Europe, as well as Operations Lead at AlphaBeta Australia.
Qualified in Psychology and Business Administration, she has worked at the intersection of economics, data and policy for the last few years driving key innovative and unique data partnerships as well as helping to establish best-in-class governance and compliance systems.
Dr Adam Triggs
Partner
Adam is a non-resident fellow at the Brookings Institution and a visiting fellow at the ANU Crawford School as an accomplished economist and policy expert.
Previously, Adam held positions such as the Director and Head of Canberra Office at AlphaBeta, Director of the Asian Bureau of Economic Research at ANU, Resident Fellow at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., and Economic Policy Advisor to the Assistant Treasurer, among others. He has also worked as an economic consultant for a range of organisations including the National Australia Bank, the New Zealand Government, the Bank of Japan, Treasury and the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Adam's expertise and interests include macroeconomics, finance, competition policy, and international relations. He has also worked extensively on issues related to supply chains, sustainability and the environment, finance, and labour force challenges.
Adam holds a PhD in Economics from the Crawford School of Public Policy at the Australian National University. He is widely published in leading economics journals, making significant contributions to the field of economics.
Tom McMahon
Partner
Tom brings over 15 years of experience in economics, data science, policy and strategy to Mandala. His expertise and interests include technology policy, taxation, labour markets, skills, migration, financial services and superannuation.
Tom has previously held senior roles at the Tech Council of Australia, Industry Super Australia, AlphaBeta Advisors and as an economics advisor with the Hon. Bill Shorten MP, the Hon. Andrew Leigh MP, PM&C and the Department of Immigration.
Lindsay Jones
Senior Advisor
Lindsay has significant prior global consulting experience across multiple industries in the public and private sectors, principally at McKinsey & Company where he worked in the London, Paris, Silicon Valley, Kuala Lumpur and Sydney offices. He has also worked at AlphaBeta Australia, now part of Accenture Strategy. In addition, Lindsay has substantial experience working in the financial services industry as an investment banker and as a fund manager.
At Mandala, the Senior Advisor is a cornerstone role with extensive experience and profound expertise in strategy consulting. The appointment emphasises our commitment to embedding excellence and distinctiveness in staff development, client delivery, and deepening relationships.
As Senior Advisor, Lindsay acts as an ongoing and accessible mentor for all consultants – from graduates to partners – to help foster their and Mandala’s growth while upholding the firm's high quality standards to delight clients, sit at the frontier of thought leadership and create an exceptional staff experience.
Lindsay holds a Bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering (First Class Honours) from the University of Technology Sydney and a Master of Philosophy (Distinction) in International Relations from Cambridge University.
Dr Jun Tong
Principal
Jun previously worked at AlphaBeta Australia (now part of Accenture Strategy) and Quantium Health and Government.
He combines data analytics with economic advice to support clients across policy issues in sustainability, the care sector, and digital technology. He was as an analytics advisor to the Commonwealth on its response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Jun was previously a research scientist and holds doctorate and honours degrees in the life sciences from the University of Sydney. He has published papers in leading journals, including in Science.
Emma Wride
Operations Manager
Emma brings fourteen years’ experience as an Executive Assistant to senior executives across several industries. She leads Mandala's operations across the Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra offices.
Emma enjoys connecting with Mandala's clients and network of friends to support impactful work on distinctive problems. She is experienced in planning, organising and problem-solving to complete multiple deadline-driven projects efficiently and on time.
Matthew Connolly
Advisor
Matthew has advised leading ASX and NZX companies on their growth strategies, including the economic, social, and carbon impacts of their strategies, and how working with communities and policymakers can deliver greater value. He has significant experience in economic modelling and analysis, corporate strategy, sectoral and regional development, and policy reform.
Prior to joining Mandala Partners, Matthew worked at AlphaBeta Advisors and Nous Group. His clients include global, Australian, and New Zealand businesses and governments.
Matthew has a passion for strategy, policy, and sustainability, and holds a Master of Economics and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne.
Kathryn Tinker
Advisor
Kathryn Tinker supports Mandala’s policy and sustainability portfolios.
She led AIG Government & Regulatory Affairs for the Asia-Pacific region. (12 markets: ASEAN, ANZ, India, HK, Korea, Taiwan) In this role she supported the business navigate regulatory uncertainty and engage governments on topics such as cyber security, climate risk, autonomous vehicles, and trade policy. She was part of the APAC leadership team and represented the company externally, particularly as Vice-Chair of the U.S.-ASEAN Business Council Financial Services Committee.
Prior to joining AIG, Kathryn helped grow the Global Federation of Competitiveness Councils (GFCC), a non-profit organisation based in Washington D.C. dedicated to promoting innovation-driven economic development. She also covered Southeast Asia with the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) and supported political campaigns for the Democratic Party.
Kathryn graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) from the School of International Service at American University. She has completed graduate coursework in sustainability with the University of Cambridge and Harvard Extension School.
Kathryn graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (International Studies) from the School of International Service at American University. She has completed graduate coursework in sustainability with the University of Cambridge and Harvard Extension School.
Sergio Suarez
Data Science Manager
Sergio is an actuary with expertise in global retirement income systems, holistic portfolio design, and enterprise risk management. His background is in the Superannuation industry, where he played a pivotal role in shaping the investment frameworks of small to mid-sized funds. Sergio's dedication to making a positive impact drives his pursuit of innovative solutions and transformative change in the financial industry.
Sergio's expertise includes analysing market developments, understanding financial markets, and providing insights and recommendations to optimise portfolio efficiency.
Sergio holds a Master of Actuarial Studies from the Australian National University (ANU) and is an Associate of the Institute of Actuaries in Australia. He also holds the global Chartered Enterprise Risk Actuary (CERA) certification, signifying his specialisation in enterprise risk management.
Nikhil Babu
Data Science Manager
Nikhil has a background in computer science and strategy consulting. He specialises in applying data science, econometric, and strategic consulting skills to solve complex problems and deliver valuable insights to clients. He has supported clients in the public sector (state and federal government), and the private sector across industries such as technology, telecommunications, and insurance.
Prior to joining Mandala, Nikhil was a Strategy Manager and Data Scientist at Accenture Strategy's Economic Insights practice (previously AlphaBeta Australia). In this role, he also led the data science learning and development program within the practice.
Nikhil is passionate about leveraging the power of data to inform decision-making, and deepening our understanding of the societal and economic impacts of AI.
Nikhil was a student and tutor at the Australian National University (ANU), where he completed his Bachelor of Advanced Computing (Honours).
Madeleine McCure
Engagement Manager
Maddy's background and expertise covers sustainability and the energy transition, tech policy, industry development, financial services and corporate strategy.
Maddy has previously held roles at Accenture Economic Insights, AlphaBeta Advisors, Commonwealth Bank, the NSW Treasury and as a senior advisor to the Hon Gladys Berejiklian.
Rajarshi Roy
Engagement Manager
Rajarshi has significant experience in strategy development, market analysis, economic modelling and policy reform, and has supported global technology companies, Australian businesses and governments (federal, state and local) on these topics.
Prior to joining Mandala, Rajarshi was an Associate at AlphaBeta Advisors Australia and more recently an Engagement Manager in Accenture's economic insights practice where he had advised various leading tech companies across a range of domains on the potential impact of regulatory reform on consumers and the broader Australian economy.
Rajarshi has a strong passion for digital platforms, data science and public policy and holds a Bachelor of Law and Economics from the University of New South Wales.
Rebecca Colbrook
Engagement Manager
Rebecca previously worked as an Advisor to the Albanese Government in manufacturing and trade policy.
Bec has experience in economics and policy analysis across emerging sectors and markets, and is interested in working with businesses and governments to solve the structural challenges facing the world today.
Bec holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Business (Economics) from the Queensland University of Technology.
Sam Thompson
Engagement Manager
Sam is an Engagement Manager at Mandala with a keen interest in strategy, economics and policy and their intersection with government, business, technology and sustainability.
He has significant consulting experience in strategy development, market analysis, policy analysis as well as modelling and data analysis. Sam has worked on projects in the public sector, spanning both State and Federal government, as well as the private sector in industries such as technology, health and sustainability.
Prior to joining Mandala, Sam worked at AlphaBeta Advisors Australia, as well as in Accenture Strategy’s economic insights practice. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Commerce from the University of New South Wales where he graduated with Distinction.
Hayley Winchcombe
Engagement Manager
Hayley previously worked as an economics, policy and business strategy consultant with a focus on tech strategy and policy, the net zero transition, federal and state government strategies, economic and social impact and corporate responsibility.
Hayley is also extensively engaged in the international and social sectors as a Board Member of the Australia-ASEAN Council, Co-Founder & Chair of the ASEAN-Australia Strategic Youth Partnership, and Treasurer of a large cooperative. As a regional specialist in Southeast Asia, Hayley was the inaugural New Colombo Plan ASEAN Fellow and has experience with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, AustCham ASEAN and has published numerous articles with the ISEAS – Yusof Ishak Institute.
She received First Class Honours for a Bachelor of Philosophy (Honours) jointly undertaken at the University of Western Australia and Nanyang Technological University Singapore. She has lived in France, Spain, Singapore and Indonesia.
Dr Caitlin Abbott
Engagement Manager
Dr Caitlin Abbott is an Engagement Manager at Mandala with expertise in health systems policy and strategy. She previously worked at Quantium Health and Government, advising clients domestically in the NSW and Commonwealth governments, and internationally in the Ethiopian government, on policy responses and developing analytical tools to support decision marking.
She acted as an analytics advisor providing modelling and policy recommendations to the Commonwealth government in the response to COVID-19. She has also worked to build sustainable data systems in data-poor environments, and has conducted reviews and developed tools to support the identification of potential non-compliance within the health sector.
Caitlin holds a Bachelor of Liberal Arts and Science (Hons) and a Doctor of Philosophy (Virology) from the University of Sydney.
Atharva Karandikar
Engagement Manager
Atharva brings a wealth of experience from his work across the public and private sector, providing strategic consulting, economics, and public policy advice. He has previously worked with Alphabeta, consulting for clients in fintech, the disability sector, and mining. He most recently worked with Afterpay as an internal consultant, supporting the Australian leadership team in strategic decision-making.
Atharva holds a Masters in Social Data Science from Oxford, where he investigated the impacts of NIMBYism on housing application outcomes in London using advanced NLP and machine learning techniques.
His key interests lie in tax policy and policy evaluation.
Joshua Sinn
Associate
Joshua was previously part of Accenture’s Economic Insights team where he conducted strategic and economic analysis in the areas of sustainability, industry development and regulatory design. He was also a lecturer of Competition Law at the University of Sydney and a paralegal in mergers investigations at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Joshua has a strong interest in competition, regulation and policy in which he has published work in the University of New South Wales Law Journal, Current Issues in Competition Law and the Competition and Consumer Law Journal on competition policy, technology and regulatory institutions.
Joshua received First Class Honours in Law and the University Medal in Economics from the University of Sydney.
Sophie Mitchell
Associate
Sophie has experience in economics and policy analysis in both the public and private sector. Sophie previously worked within the Economic Insights team at Accenture, on a range of projects focused on social and economic impact analysis and program and policy evaluation. Prior to this, she spent several years at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission and the UK’s Competition and Markets Authority.
Sophie has a keen interest in applying economics, strategy and policy expertise to help public and private sector clients with their most challenging problems.
Sophie holds a Bachelor of Commerce with First Class Honours in Economics from Monash University.
James Ghusn
Associate
James has experience advising clients from a broad range of sectors, with a particular interest in digital platforms, industry development, and labour market analysis.
His current focus is on labour economics, trade policy and economic development. He specialises in leveraging quantitative tools like general equilibrium modelling and applied econometrics to inform strategic decision making.
James holds a Bachelor of Advanced Finance and Economics with First Class Honours from the University of Queensland.
Chiquita Shaw
Associate
Chiquita is passionate about helping organisations leverage technology and sustainability to drive economic development – especially where it involves elements of equity and regulation.
Chiquita was previously part of Accenture’s Economic Insights team where she provided strategic guidance to tech companies on international expansion and conducted economic analyses for organisations in higher education and telecommunications. Prior to that, she was part of Macquarie Group’s strategy team, working on the bank’s net-zero strategy, and in strategic policy at the Department of Education and Training (VIC).
Chiquita holds a degree in economics, in addition to an honours degree in law from Monash University and is a qualified solicitor in the Supreme Court of Victoria, with a background in commercial, refugee and environmental law.
Edward Smyth
Associate
Ed has a deep interest in the use of big data in economics, the effects of AI and automation on the workforce and industry development. He was previously employed at Accenture's Economic Insights practice, where he gained experience in workforce analysis, regulatory economics in financial services and industrial policy.
He also worked in economics at the Department of Employment and was an intern at the Reserve Bank of Australia. He is currently an executive committee member of Greater Canberra, a housing advocacy group that campaigns to improve housing affordability in the ACT.
Ed holds an Honours degree in computational mathematics and a double degree in mathematics and economics from the Australian National University. In addition, he has been published academically in the European Journal of Computational Optimisation on the topic of machine learning and in the Canberra Times on the topic of housing.
Amy Rieck
Associate
Amy is passionate about applying mathematical and statistical techniques to support data-driven decision making and to evaluate outcomes of public policy.
Prior to joining Mandala, Amy worked at Quantium Health where she helped public sector clients use their data more effectively through her analytical support and expertise. Notably, she worked in the analytics team for the Disability Royal Commission, where her work included the statistical modelling of outcomes of NDIS participants, which was published by the Royal Commission.
Amy holds a Masters of Science (with Distinction) in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Melbourne, where her studies focused on the application of game theory to probabilistic games.
Nick O'Hara
Associate
Nick has experience working across the private and public sector, providing strategy, economics and public policy advice. He has previously worked for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), Deloitte Access Economics and Partners in Performance. He has experience across a broad range of sectors, with a particular interest in education and employment and international policy.
Nick holds a Bachelor of Economics (Quantitative Methods) and Bachelor of Arts (Public Policy) from the University of Queensland, where he studied on a full academic scholarship and graduated on the Dean’s Honour Roll.
Helena Trang
Analyst
Helena’s experience lies in using qualitative and quantitative tools to solve policy issues for not-for-profit and government clients. Helena was previously at dandolo partners working across education, early childhood education and care, justice and digital skills. This work has included evaluating government programs, developing models to connect digital skill training with industry needs, reviewing youth justice across Australia and supporting reform work in initial teacher education.
Helena is interested in supporting key decision makers in government and the private sector improve social outcomes in health, education and justice.
Helena holds a Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctor from the University of Western Australia.
Rebecca McKeague
Analyst
Rebecca McKeague has experience in using data-driven economics and policy analysis to solve strategic issues for organisations and governments. Rebecca was previously at Accenture Economic Insights, focusing on the technology, energy, and care sectors. This work has included establishing economic value and workforce impacts for emerging industries and supply chains within multiple global regions. She has also advised on policy to support markets and industry development.
Rebecca is deeply interested in using quantitative analysis to explore central questions around what a modern economy, workforce, and policy environment could look like, particularly given rapidly changing technology.
Rebecca holds a Bachelor of Economics and Finance from the University of Sydney.
Jack Hong
Analyst
Jack has a passion for using data to solve complex problems in economics, policy and strategy. He previously worked at the Reserve Bank of Australia where he harnessed data and forecasting techniques to analyse Australia’s labour market and managed financial risk in the Bank’s foreign portfolio. He has also worked at the e61 Institute where he analysed data on various ESG issues such as gender diversity in company boards and corporate net-zero commitments.
Jack is deeply interested in the role of technological innovation and workforce skills development in helping organisations and governments tackle slowing productivity growth. He is also passionate about issues on managing the net-zero transition and the shifting geopolitical world.
Emily Hoare
Analyst
Emily previously worked within the Economic Insights team at Accenture, working across a range of projects in health, housing, education and skills. This work included policy and program evaluations and social and economic impact analysis.
Emily is interested in supporting public and private sector clients to deliver evidence-based policy and services, in particular in the areas of healthcare and social services.
Emily holds a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Economics and Business Law from the University of Western Australia.
Jesse Gray
Analyst
Jesse is passionate about improving public policy through data-driven economic analysis. Previously part of Accenture's Economic Insights team, Jesse has worked across areas as varied as social services, technology, industry development and sustainability.
He is interested in multi-disciplinary approaches to policy design and evaluation, particularly in how people's lived experiences can be used in combination with data to improve policy and services.
Jesse holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney, with First-Class Honours in Philosophy.
Flora Que
Analyst
Flora previously worked across state government in a range of strategy, cabinet policy and regulatory roles. She is interested in how education, health and technology can drive economic and social impact in improving the lives of people.
Flora holds a Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Advanced Studies with First Class Honours in Pathology from the University of Sydney.
Johanna Lim
Analyst
Johanna has had previous experience in research, strategy, and working with non-profit organisations and social enterprises and is passionate about exploring the advancement of technology and its implications, as well as effectively using both quantitative and qualitative analyses to inform public policy.
Johanna holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of British Columbia, with a focus on International Economy and Development.
Samantha Lau
Analyst
Samantha has a background in social research and public policy. She has previous consulting experience working to help improve government services and programs.
Sam is guided by a desire to help organisations make evidence-based decisions to drive social impact and improve lives. She is passionate about using both qualitative and quantitative data in tandem to inform policymaking and evaluate its effectiveness on the ground.
Sam holds a Bachelor of Arts from New York University Abu Dhabi and completed her thesis on gender inequity in public toilet provision across two local councils in Melbourne, a topic about which she is deeply passionate.
Charlie Barnes
Analyst
Charlie has a background in economics and policy analysis and joined Mandala from the Reserve Bank of Australia. He has previously worked in research and consulting in Indonesia, where he developed a particular interest in trade and industrial policy.
Charlie speaks fluent Indonesian and French, and holds Bachelor's degrees in Economics and Asian Studies from the Australian National University.
Our experienced and expanding team offers a unique blend of consulting expertise covering economics, econometrics, policy, regulation and strategy.
- We have worked at the highest levels of government, advising prime ministers, leaders, and cabinets around the world.
- We have experience as leaders in business who have worked with chairs and chief executives of listed and private companies globally.
- We are academic and industry experts from leading research institutions and international organisations.
- We frequently publish work in leading economic and scientific journals and contribute to the public debate through media engagement
Interested in joining?
Submit an Expression of Interest!- Mandala is looking for exciting, dynamic and curious people to work with us on ideas at the intersection of economics, public policy, data and strategy consulting.
- If you're interested in any of these topics and want to join one of Australia’s most exciting and impactful new economics and policy consulting firms, please fill in an EOI or get in touch.
Mandala’s leaders come from commercial, academic and government backgrounds.
Our team is diverse and inclusive, brings multidisciplinary skill sets, and we prioritise a humble, positive and supportive culture to help each other grow across our Melbourne, Sydney and Canberra offices.
We serve the world’s leading corporations, as well as consequential governments, major not-for-profits and emerging firms.
We help our clients navigate complex questions, and drive meaningful outcomes.
The chance to work with an amazing range of clients,
The opportunity to work on the most important and interesting commercial and policy problems of the day,
High levels of engagement with senior staff, and the ability to learn from our diverse and talented team,
Flexible work arrangements, and
A vibrant and positive company culture.
If you're considering a role for the near future, please apply now.