Harris van Beek

Harris has worked on projects with private, public and not-for-profit sector clients. He has experience across education, disabilities, indigenous, human services, mining and media sectors.

Project experience

Strategy development and facilitation

• facilitated numerous strategic planning days for business, government and not-for-profits
• developed the first ever national strategic plan for (then federated) Australian Red Cross
• worked with the executive of a major mining company to develop their strategic plans
• developed strategies to engage business in community programs
• worked with a federal agency to develop the strategic directions to be included in their portfolio budget statement
• developed strategic and business planning processes for government departments and private sector organisations.

Public policy development

• prepared a report on Australia's skills shortages and policy responses based a series of workshops with the Industry Skills Councils
• wrote a report titled A Long Way from Home on the needs of indigenous people who leave their home place for work or learning
• ran policy development programs for Commonwealth and state public servants
• developed a policy program for public servants on the opportunities and implications of social media for governments
• worked with Murray Darling Basin Authority on a number of policy matters
• led the Nous team which researched and evaluated individualised pilot projects to inform a new direction in the delivery of services to people with a disability.

Organisational capability

• advised a broadcast organisation on organisation design for their internal technology and IT services
• developed business processes and structures for a leading national education body
• guided a superannuation fund on their organisational structure and business processes
• facilitated workshops across a large media organisation to plan actions for improvements following an employee opinion survey
• ran board training sessions for community organisations.

Education / accreditation / board membership

• Master of Management, University of Technology, Sydney
• Bachelor of Arts, University of NSW
• Board member of Human Rights Council of Australia.

Past employment

Harris was CEO of the Australian Student Traineeship Foundation for six years, National Director of Amnesty International Australia for 13 years and an independent consultant for five years prior to Nous.

Interests

Harris has led and guided organisations for over 30 years. He has been an active volunteer in various communities and has a keen interest in international relations, human rights, indigenous affairs and the environment. In his spare time he walks, attends live performances and listens to music.