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What we can do for your organisation
Support with government relations
Development and implementation of relationship building and advocacy strategies. We work with you to hone your message and effectively target government to maximise your influence. Whether you need support to maximise your impact and influence with decision makers; the development of internal or external documents; or advice on how your issue can cut through, we are happy to help.
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Media and Social media
Advice on media strategy, purpose, content and timing.
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Research and services
Desktop literature reviews; research design; data review and analysis; facilitation of forums and groups.
Development of policies and practice guidelines
For programs and services.
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Preparation of key documents and submissions
For use internally or for external publication and influence.
Catherine Neville &
Penny Zagarelou-Mackieson
Neville Mackieson Consulting (NMC) is a specialist consultancy founded by Catherine Neville and Dr Penny Zagarelou-Mackieson.
We have extensive leadership experience in government, non-government and research, specialising in social policy.
We have deep expertise in diagnosing complex problems and developing solutions to organisation, policy, systems and sector problems.
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We specialise in working with not-for-profit and government organisations in the community and legal sectors.
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Catherine Neville
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Penny Zagarelou-Mackieson
Our story
Back in the late 1990s, Cath and Penny met each other working in a project team in the State Government Department of Community Services Victoria. They were working on Victoria’s first ever integrated child protection case management and data system.
They had similar professional backgrounds as social workers in child protection practice and management, both in Melbourne and, in Cath’s case, also in London. They came to respect each other’s approach to work, as well as their mutual love of a good belly laugh.
As time went on, Cath and Penny realised they were a great team and so, in 1997, began the first iteration of Neville Mackieson Consulting (NMC).
NMC secured contracts training child protection staff in the use of the computerised case management and data system, training social workers to become great leaders, and helping agencies with desktop research and the development of specific practice guidelines.
After almost 5 years, the band broke up to pursue separate interests, but Cath and Penny remained firm friends.
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Cath went on to work in politics as a senior advisor and Chief of Staff in various Labor governments in Victoria, followed by a decade or so as an Executive in the not for profit agency, Jesuit Social Services.
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Meanwhile Penny was busy working in Victoria’s intercountry adoption program for over a decade, then serving on the board of VANISH Inc., as well as undertaking her PhD, and authoring three books.
Rolling the clock forward 25 years to April 2024, Cath and Penny decided it was time to get the band back together.
And so NMC was rebooted.
Our experience and expertise
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Catherine Neville​
Catherine has dedicated her career to making positive change for people facing significant challenges. Catherine has been a senior executive in a leading social change organisation, and she has led high-performing teams in the community sector and the Victorian Government to advocate and implement system change, nationally and within Victoria. Catherine builds relationships, finds solutions for tough problems, and never gives up on pressing the case for what she believes is right. Catherine has worked as a senior executive, a political adviser, and a Chief of Staff in the Bracks, Brumby and Andrews Labor Governments.
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Dr Penny Zagarelou-Mackieson
​Penny has devoted her career to researching, developing, advocating, and implementing ethical evidence-based policies and services that effectively meet the needs, rights, and well-being of vulnerable people. As a social worker, Penny has worked in direct practice, supervisory and management roles, primarily in Victorian Government programs for vulnerable children, young people, and their families. In this context, Penny’s PhD research explored the introduction and implementation of Permanent Care Orders in Victoria’s child protection and out-of-home care system. Penny has also written two books on adoption, Adoption Deception and Greek Actually.
Upcoming
Workshops
Contact us