Tim Orton

Managing Director

Working with smart, enthusiastic colleagues on issues that matter with clients who care and are committed to implementing a good outcome is continually rewarding.

Tim’s work in Nous combines a keen strategic brain, extensive experience in working with senior leaders in the private sector and government, and an ability to engage diverse stakeholders to reach agreement. He is unusual in his acute understanding of private sector strategic imperatives and public policy issues.

Project experience

Lead facilitator of the Nous facilitation team for the Governance stream at the Australian Government’s 2020 Summit
Collaborated with the board and executive of one of Australia’s major energy generation businesses to develop its five year strategy, which planned for substantial growth while dealing with the business and regulatory risks associated with climate change
Worked in close partnership with the Chief of Navy and his two star team to lead the project team to develop the future direction of Navy, and ensured the on-going implementation of the NGN program. This represents the most substantial change to the structure, culture and leadership of Navy in the last 50 years
Worked with the leadership team of a prominent investment bank’s IT group to develop the IT function’s future strategy and structure
Worked closely with the secretary for the Department of Immigration and Citizenship and his executive team to lead the organisational redesign work that subsequently led to a major departmental transformation. The change drove costs down, improved service delivery and substantially reduced departmental risk in the face of continuing pressure on performance
Worked with the CEO and board of a global engineering services business, over a period of five years, to develop and sustain their ambitious growth strategy and helped to guide the cultural transformation required to implement that strategy
Led the design and facilitation for a top four Australian bank’s senior leadership program. The program was a key element of a broader strategy to profoundly change the world view and mind-set of the bank’s senior leaders, thereby enabling the bank to distinguish its market position from competitors
Led the executive team at the Victorian Department of Justice in the redesign and cultural change of the organisation to deliver services through a regionalised model. The project represented a major organisational change program and was implemented very successfully.

Education / accreditation / board membership

Bachelor of Engineering (honours), University of Melbourne
Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy, Politics and Economics) (Rhodes Scholar), Oxford University
Chair of the Victorian Government’s Powerline Bushfire Safety Taskforce
Chair of the Geelong Performing Arts Centre
Chair of the Geelong Arts Precinct Leadership Group
Fellow of IPAA (Victoria)
Member of AICD

Past employment

Prior to forming Nous, Tim was the Managing Director of Deakin Australia, a 120 person strong training company owned by Deakin University and a consultant with McKinsey and Company in London and New York. Tim is also a former Director of Barwon Water.

Interests

Tim lives outside Leopold on the Bellarine Peninsula, with his wife, Barbara Dennis and their three boys. Outside of his family, Tim’s interests include public policy, theatre, surfing and the environment. He previously lived and worked in New York, Sydney, London, Oxford and Mount Isa.