Proximity promotes ten company members to senior ranks
Canberra-based Proximity has strengthened its senior ranks with the promotion of ten company members to Expert Advisor and Special Advisor level.
Part of a broader promotion round across all levels, the new Expert Advisors and Special Advisors have been rewarded for the impact they’ve made to clients and their leadership within the firm. “Each of these team members has demonstrated their integrity, brought fresh ideas and creative solutions to the table, built strong, trust-based client relationships and worked seamlessly with colleagues to achieve common goals,” said Proximity’s chief executive Zoe Lynam.
The Legal business headlined the promotions cohort with five members, four promotees are part of the Procurement & Contracts business, with Aarti Kashyap from the Consulting service line rounding off the line-up.
Phil Cholewick
Role: Expert Advisor
Practice: Procurement & Contracts
Phil Cholewick has deep experience in the application of public sector procurement operating frameworks and provides expert subject matter advice. He has been a member of the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply (MCIPS) for over 20 years providing clients with credible contemporary strategic commercial advice to tackle complex business challenges.
Andrew Stephen
Role: Expert Advisor
Practice: Procurement & Contracts
Since joining Proximity in 2023, Andrew Stephen shown achieved notable results at the firm, including the delivery of major procurement capability reviews. Earlier this year, he was appointed Lead for the Procurement & Contracts team. He also is a Career & Wellbeing manager, mentor, and coach, providing support to Proximity colleagues.
Kimberley Baillie
Role: Expert Advisor
Practice: Legal
Kimberley Baillie has been with Proximity since 2021, having previously worked for the government and in the legal sector. Known for her technical expertise and leadership, she is highly regarded for her client relationship management, and supportive nature.
Aarti Kashyap
Role: Special Advisor
Practice: Consulting
With Proximity since 2022, Aarti Kashyap is an experienced program and project specialist with over 15 years of experience working across multiple Commonwealth agencies. She has expertise in managing policy and program challenges with extensive experience in project management, stakeholder engagement, strategic communication and innovation.
Rechelle Leahy
Role: Special Advisor
Practice: Procurement & Contracts
Rechelle Leahy has in recent years played an important role in the growth of Proximity’s Probity practice. She provides practical and culturally appropriate probity advice to clients, and also supports the team with practice development.
Anita Morris
Role: Special Advisor
Practice: Procurement & Contracts
Anita Morris has according to Proximity been “key to the success of many projects” within the Procurement & Contracts business. Morris is also one of Proximity’s professionalisation champions and the ACT committee member for the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply.
Hannah von Forell
Role: Special Advisor
Practice: Legal
Hannah von Forell is an experienced government lawyer with a track record as a federal prosecutor and in-house counsel for law enforcement and anti-corruption agencies. She provides strategic legal advice, drives negotiations, leads teams, and excels in litigation, statutory interpretation, legal drafting, client communication, research, and delivering training. She is an active participant in the ACT Law Society's Ethics Committee.
Loretta Houlahan
Role: Special Advisor
Practice: Legal
Loretta Houlahan is an experienced solicitor with expertise in public law advising, litigation, dispute resolution and privacy. She sits on a number of boards and committees in government sectors, and is a committed Legal Officer in the Royal Australian Navy Legal Reserves. At Proximity, she is a member of the firm’s thought leadership team (which develops the company’s own magazine, ‘The Pulse’).
Caitlin Morgan
Role: Special Advisor
Practice: Legal
Throughout her 7+ years at Proximity, Caitlin Morgan has continually demonstrated a notable ability to seamlessly transition to new subject areas, working across multiple clients and areas of law. In 2023, she was a recipient of a Secretary’s Award for her work with the Freedom of information (FOI) team within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
Katie Webber
Role: Special Advisor
Practice: Legal
Katie Webber is a lawyer with 10 years of post-qualification experience, with expertise spanning constitutional, administrative, regulatory and human rights law in Australia and Canada. She advises public and private sector clients. Based out of Melbourne, she is an active brand ambassador for Proximity in the region.
Based in Canberra, with further outlets in Sydney, Melbourne and Adelaide, Proximity provides government clients and large organisations with integrated consulting, legal and commercial services. The consulting firm has over 100 staff and was recently named among Australia’s leading consulting firms for 2024.
