Consulting Services
We provide advice, strategy and management for all sorts of matters from risk management to process improvement to openness to restructuring teams and redesigning programs.
For those of you who don’t have a specific project in mind but would like some guidance from our team of industry insiders, our coaching packages are perfect. We’ll help you define your goals - be they professional development or animal care and use program improvement - and help you work towards them.
Openness
The openness (and transparency) movement is growing, and the emergence of Openness Agreements has ushered in a structured opportunity for individuals and organisations to provide more information to stakeholders about the work they do and why. But many folks are stuck - they don’t know where to begin, bump up against too many barriers or simply aren’t resourced to meet their openness goals or commitments.
We help you operationalise openness in your organisation.
Risk Management
Effective risk management allows an organisation to identify opportunities and threats; develop operational plans; assign responsibility and authority for identifying, controlling, monitoring and responding to risk; and ensuring that risk appetite and risk-taking is aligned across the business and accords with the level of risk the board or leadership have agreed to take.
An organisation’s risk management framework should be clearly defined, supported by governance, and must enable the organisation to meet its objectives.
Often organisations have a risk management framework at the global level but not at the animal care and use program level. This means the program may carry risk that leadership is not aware of, or is higher than agreed to. This places the entire organisation at risk.
We design risk management solutions that reflects the size, complexity, risk appetite and goals of the organisation and its animal care and use program.
Process Improvement
Process improvement involves identifying, analysing and improving existing business processes to optimise efficiency and performance, meet industry best practice standards or simply improve the experience of those using a service.
In an animal care and use program, business processes include mandatory compliance obligations and reporting, investigators applying for animal ethics committee (AEC) approval for their proposed work, AEC processes, training and educating program stakeholders, document management and control, animal facility operations, and performance and risk reporting to leadership. The quality of these processes directly relate to the outcomes of the program and the experience of the people involved.
Having an external set of eyes on your business processes can bring a much-needed fresh perspective to the challenges of running an efficient animal care and use program. Our lived experience in most of the roles in an animal care and use program (including as an independent reviewer) and our experience in several international regulatory environments means we can provide tailored coaching to improve your business processes.
We’ve seen what works, and what doesn’t, so we can help you analyse your processes to realise efficiencies in any aspect of your animal care and use program.
Coaching packages.
For those of you who don’t have a specific project in mind but would like some guidance from our team of industry insiders, our coaching packages are perfect. We’ll help you define your goals - be they professional development or animal care and use program improvement - and help you work towards them.
Perfect for dipping your toes in the water.
This is an easy, low-commitment way to start working with a consultant. You’ll benefit from our expertise and get clarity on your goals and how to work towards them.
Great for animal care and use program leaders to access advice on specific aspects of their program OR for program professionals keen to develop their skills but don’t know where start.
Session is a one hour videoconference meeting.
This package is ideal for folks needing guidance on a project they are executing themselves. You get the benefit of discrete outside counsel while still maintaining ownership over the project and positioning yourself as the subject matter expert.
For those looking for professional development, this is a great package to unpack and explore different aspects of the industry you haven't had the opportunity to experience, and discuss how you can develop your skills to stand out in the crowd.
Includes pre-work and a monthly 2 hour videoconference meeting.
This is the big one!
This package is ideal for animal care and use program leaders who have just been through an independent external review. We will work through any matters arising from the report and help refine your thinking about how you’ll focus your time, attention, and budget for the following four years.
This plan is an effective way of leveraging your independent external review into a strategic plan and then executing it.
Includes pre-work and a monthly 2 hour videoconference meeting.
Resources and Toolkits
Each toolkit delivers actionable tools, templates, and insights, tailored to help you streamline your processes, ensure compliance, and meet your organisation's obligations with confidence.
Our resources are built on years of expertise in New Zealand and Australia, offering cost-effective, immediately impactful solutions for busy professionals. Whether you’re an AEC Executive Officer, Chair, or program leader, you’ll find the support you need right here.
We have a new toolkit coming in a few weeks!
Custom Services
Need something that’s not listed here?
Get in touch to discuss a bespoke service that’s just right for your needs. Examples include:
Post-approval monitoring
Establishing animal ethics committees (AECs)
Restructuring teams
