Norris Consulting

Norris Consulting - Funding and public policy submissions, business cases, strategic and business planning, statistical analysis

VALUES

Heather has a very strong work ethic and prides herself on delivering value for money solutions to her clients on time and on budget.  She works well to tight deadlines and makes the “impossible”  possible.  Heather is very familiar with the digital space having managed the implementation of the Digital Economy Strategy in the Greater Whitsunday region for two years.  She believes that distance is no longer a barrier to work and prides herself on her strong understanding of the particular issues facing regional Australia.

PASSIONS/ HOBBIES

Heather is passionate about her dogs.  She currently has two German Shepherd cross dogs nine years old who were both rescue dogs from the Mackay Pound.  Their names are Pirate and Bandit, named by her late husband Brian and are the centre of her universe.

Apart from daily walks with the dogs and hourly games in the back yard, Heather finds time for Cooking and gardening and is about to rekindle her past hobbies of knitting, crochet and macramé.

PERSONAL

Heather was widowed in 2015 when her soul mate Brian passed away from Bowel Cancer.  However Heather has fulfilled Brian’s heartfelt wishes for her to get on with her life and relocate from Mackay in Queensland to Adelaide South Australia which they left 31 years ago almost to the day.  Brian was totally supportive of Heather’s abilities as a professional consultant and she is committed to continue to provide quality solutions to her valued clients.

WORK

Heather Norris, the principal consultant has extensive experience in all three levels of government in two states and the Northern Territory and has a well rounded appreciation of the workings of government.  She prides herself on a successful track record of involvement in funding submissions to both state and federal government.  The combined value of funding submissions she has played a major role in over the past decade exceeds $20m.

Heather has a particular understanding of local government and its relationship to State and Federal governments.  She prides herself on being able to put herself in the shoes of the grant assessor and ensure that the story is told and paints the picture for a successful outcome.

Career Changes

Heather has a Bachelor of Science (hons) from Adelaide University and after an eleven year career as a Fisheries Scientist in South Australia, she and her husband Brian moved to Heather’s home town of Darwin in the Northern Territory.  There they set up a successful business Norris Computing Services Pty Ltd, and Heather embarked on her second career as an Information Technology Professional, building on her Graduate Diploma in Systems Analysis.

Heather Secured a position as contract IT Manager with the Northern Territory Government in 1987 and was continuously contracted in a variety of IT roles until the Northern Territory Government outsourced their IT services in 2001.  In partnership with like minded IT Professionals, Heather worked to establish a consortium of six local IT companies to form IT Mates Pty Ltd which successfully tendered for a place on the panel contract for Project and Consulting Services with the NT Government.

Heather and husband Brian decided to relocate to Queensland to try get the work life balance in order in 2002.  Here Heather embarked on another career shift taking on roles in Economic Development.  She undertook a range of roles with government funded organisations and then secured positions with the Queensland government as a Sugar Resource Officer and Mackay City Council as Economic Development Officer.  She then took on the role of Regional Planner with the Queensland Government as she had a very strong passion for regional development.

Consulting Projects

In 2009 her husband convinced her to establish her own consulting business using her depth of experience to deliver quality solutions for clients.  This was immediately successful and heather has undertaken the following project since embarking on a consulting career.

  • Development of Collaborative Action Plan and funding submission for the Greater Whitsunday Alliance under the Queensland Government Advancing Regional Innovation Program May 2017.
  • Executive Officer, Whitsunday ROC Ltd. Providing general EO services and managing the two major projects for the ROC, Digital Economy Strategy and WIM Water Alliance.
  • Policy Development Project for Whitsunday ROC Ltd for shared services and regional procurement across the ROC membership (2014);
  • Business Plan including Situation Analysis and Risk Management Plan for Connect Housing Group Mackay. (2014);
  • Business Plan for funding submission under the (then) Australian Government Regional Development Australia Fund for Mackay City Centre Public Realm Improvement project for Mackay Regional Council April 2013. http://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0006/165462/RDAF_400017_Business_Case.pdf
  • Submission on Queensland Government Moving Freight Strategy for Mackay Regional Council and Canegrowers Mackay (2013);
  • Rural Futures Statement for RDA Mackay, Isaac and Whitsunday (2013); rdamiw.org.au
  • Submission on the Mackay Regional Council Planning Scheme for Canegrowers Mackay (2013);
  • Feasibility Study for a Moranbah Education and Training Precinct for Moranbah State High School (funded by Anglo American) (2013);
  • Central Queensland Workforce Development Initiatives, a summary of regional engagement with workforce development organisations in the Mackay, Isaac, Whitsunday and Fitzroy and Central West regions for RDA MIW and RDA FCW. (2012); rdamiw.org.au
  • Post implementation review of the Bluewater Lagoon, Mackay including economic and social benefits for Mackay Regional Council (2012); http://www.mackay.qld.gov.au/about_council/news_and_media/media_releases/2012_media_releases/benefits_of_bluewater_lagoon
  • Feasibility study, implementation and business plan for the Dysart Community Learning Hub for Dysart State High School (Funded by BMA) (2011);
  • Combined submission on the National Land Freight Strategy for four RDA committees in central and northern Queensland (2011);
  • Submission on the National Land Freight Strategy for RAPAD (2011);
  • Priorities for Freight Transport for Mackay Regional Council (2010);
  • Regional Roadmap for Regional Development Australia Mackay Whitsunday (RDAMW) (2010);
  • Funding application under the Trade Training Centres in Schools program for four central highlands high schools (Middlemount, Dysart, Clermont, Capella) (2010);
  • Mackay Whitsunday Isaac Freight Transport Strategic Directions for MW Regional Economic Development Corporation including a summary presentation report and a detailed technical report on the freight transport network in the region, and the economic drivers of freight transport (2009)