Economics consultancy Mandala makes series of new year promotions
Economics and research consultancy Mandala Partners has made a series of end-of-year promotions, including the elevation of Jun Tong and Madeleine McCure to director level.
Tong and McCure respectively joined Mandala in Melbourne and Hobart in 2023, with both bringing experience from Accenture and its 2020 acquisition AlphBeta. Now based in Sydney, Tong also spent time at Quantium.
Meanwhile, Caitlin Abbott and Hayley Winchcombe have been promoted to principal, the latter who also joined Mandala in its early days from Accenture, while Emma Wride will take on the head of operations role heading into 2026.
“Each promotion is recognition of the growth these colleagues have shown over their time at Mandala, in the quality of their work, in the way they develop and empower others, and in how they’ve helped build the culture and capability of our firm,” stated Mandala, which was itself established by a trio of former AlphaBeta leaders and officially launched in 2023.
Jun Tong
A doctorate-holder in ecology and evolutionary biology from the University of Sydney, Tong joined AlphaBeta in 2018, and later served as an advisor to the government on the Covid-19 pandemic while working as a lead consultant at Quantium. He continues to serve clients on policy issues in the sustainability and care sectors, combining data analytics with economic advisory.
Madeleine McCure
Having been promoted to principal just twelve months ago, McCure now steps up to director, with her expertise spanning sustainability and the energy transition, tech policy, financial services and corporate strategy. Prior to joining AlphaBeta in 2020, she spent time at the Commonwealth Bank and in the NSW treasury, as well as serving as an advisor to former premier Gladys Berejiklian.
New principals
Abbott and Winchcombe have once again been promoted alongside one another, this time to principal. Based out of Sydney, Winchcombe has led consulting projects on economics, policy, and strategy for clients across the tech, energy, mining and financial services sectors, and has been involved in ASEAN-Australian affairs for DFAT and other organisations throughout her career.
Emma Wride
Wride, meanwhile, has been promoted to head of operations after joining Mandala in Melbourne as office manager in 2023 from Coles, where she was an executive assistant to the general manager of corporate affairs. With around a decade and a half of experience in planning, organising and problem-solving, she now oversees Mandala’s operations in Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra.
Mandala managing partner Amit Singh – a member of board of the Centre for Australia-India Relations – said of the firm’s latest promotions; “Someone very wise once said that ‘it doesn’t make sense to hire smart people and then tell them what to do’. Instead, hire people who are smarter and more capable than yourself, listen, and then promote them. Congrats to them all.”
