Remember 1994? There was no internet to speak of (we set up an e-mail account but didn’t know anyone else who had one, and let it go for a year or two until the internet got traction). Faxes were big, couriers were making a fortune, and we had to carry two batteries for our mobile phone. Hasn’t technology made a difference to the way we run our businesses?
But some things haven’t changed. Clients still want value, honest advice and to know they are dealing with ethical people. Communities want to be heard and to connect. Business just wants to get on with business.
Our customers have become long-standing friends. It’s lovely to get a phone call from someone we worked with in the ’90s, saying “we’ve got a project…”. We know each other’s working style, we know their organisations, and we can hit the ground running.
Most importantly, we’re not afraid. If there’s a hard decision we can make it. If it’s a complex and tricky (wicked) problem, we’ll see a clear way through. If it’s simply a matter of an independent listener with a wealth of experience, we’ll make it easy.
Dr Kristine Peters
(PhD, MBA, DipT)
Kristine launched KPPM in 1994 to provide strategic planning, social research and project management. Over the past two decades, Kristine has assisted hundreds of organisations to understand their issues and opportunities, and to develop simple and effective strategies to improve their performance.
Her early management career included experience in education and training, finance, retail and project management. This has provided excellent background in a range of sectors and reinforced that successful businesses need clear strategies that can be easily communicated.
Kristine’s work has resulted in a number of awards, including:
- Hallett Citizen of the Year 2013
- Engineering 2000 Award for the development of young women in manufacturing
- Premiers Awards for Project Management of EasyData and the Communications Strategy for Zero Waste’s Plastic Bag Phase Out
- The Royal Geographical Society (SA) John Lewis Medal for Geography for Kristine’s PhD thesis, which made a unique contribution to theoretical and empirical practice
As a consultant, it is important to understand deeper human motivations. In parallel to her work, Kristine has completed a Masters in Business Administration with Distinction, and a PhD that exmained cultural change in business and has been published internationally as Socially Embedded Leadership.
Kristine’s clients have the unique opportunities to tap into her research insights that are grounded in the practical reality of a long and successful career.
In 2009, Kristine and her family moved to a rural property near Hallett in the mid north of South Australia. Living in a small community has given her important insights into business and service models for rural and remote areas, and much of her work addresses the challenges (and capitalises on the delights) of living outside the big cities.
She is active in her community, as the long-standing Chair of the Adelaide Business Hub (including Todd Street Business Chambers) which has won a swathe of national and international awards and is Chair of the Hallett Community and Sports Association (Town Management Committee) which is driving the economic development of Hallett.
Diane Rawley
Diane joined KPPM in 2006 to manage our admin and finance – and provide the essential ‘behind the scenes’ organisation that has built KPPM’s project management reputation. Her research capacity is highly regarded by our clients, particularly for her ability to explore issues, barriers and attitudes.
Diane’s previous experience includes working for Reuters in London, training foreign exchange dealers, as well as administrative and organisational roles in tourism and hospitality.