Tim Marney and Libby Hackett join Nous Group in Perth and Sydney
Tim Marney, the former boss of the Western Australian Treasury, and Libby Hackett, a higher education policy expert, have joined Nous Group as Principals in the firm’s Perth and Sydney offices.
“We are honoured that Tim has chosen to join us here at Nous Group,” said Tim Orton, the founder and managing director of the management consulting firm, adding “few people understand state governments better than him.” Commenting on Hackett’s hiring, he stated, “We are thrilled to welcome Libby. In a complex higher education environment, the insights and experience that she brings will be invaluable to our clients in the sector.”
Tim Marney
Marney brings over two decades experience in management roles to the firm. Prior to joining, he was the chief executive of the Mental Health Commission for Western Australian, an institution responsible for planning and purchasing mental health, alcohol and other drug services. In the role, Marney worked directly with four premiers and 11 ministers. Prior to that role he served as the head of the Western Australian Treasury, during which he oversaw the delivery of 10 surplus budgets and numerous public sector reform initiatives.
After graduating from Murdoch University, he started his career in economic analysis and forecasting with the Reserve Bank of Australia, after which Marney joined the Western Australian Treasury Corporation. He served as the firm’s under treasurer for almost a decade, commencing the role at 34-years-old.
Reflecting on his career highlights, he points at his contributions to establishing the Mental Health and Alcohol and Other Drug 10 Year Plan 2015-2025, the delivery the $2.2 billion Fiona Stanley Hospital on time and within budget, helping Western Australia reinstate its AAA credit rating, and being part of the team that implemented large-scale procurement reform in the government.
In his new role at Nous Group, a management consultancy with around 400 professionals across six offices in Australia and one in the UK, Marney has been tasked with growing the firm’s Public Policy practice. Speaking of the challenge, the former public official said, “I am very excited to be joining Nous and applying my skills and experience to support positive change. Nous’ value proposition – bold and engaging for performance and influence – and its collaborative and community-minded approach is a strong values match for me.”
Libby Hackett
Meanwhile, Hackett has joined Nous Group in Sydney, bolstering its Education practice. She previously spent 20 years in the university and school sectors, holding senior roles in government, parliament, peak bodies, a think tank and a private sector consultancy. In her latter role, Hackett was a Partner at executive search firm Perrett Laver in Sydney, where she co-led the Higher Education and Government and Public Policy practices.
Before that, she worked in the UK, serving among others as chief executive of higher education institution the University Alliance, Director of Research at The Russell Group (an association of public research universities in the UK), and Researcher at HEPI – a UK-based independent think tank devoted to higher education.
“I’m delighted to be joining the higher education team at Nous. I’m looking forward to supporting our government and our universities as they continue to transform lives, recast our future through research and discovery, help shape communities across Australia, and drive our changing global economy. Universities are the engine rooms of innovation,” she said.
Earlier this year, Nous Group strengthened its presence in Northern Australia with a new office in Darwin. Consultants Emma White (Principal), Robert Sale (Senior Consultant) and Veevek Doolabh (Consultant) have relocated to the new hub to establish and expand the new locale.
