Our Evolution
The work changed.
So did our role.
Gerald & Rose began by helping organisations communicate more effectively and strengthen their digital presence.
But the closer we worked with boards, leadership teams and stakeholders, the clearer something became: the visible project was often only one part of a much broader challenge.
A website could reveal a positioning problem.
A campaign could expose a stakeholder challenge.
An event could open a wider conversation about partnerships, influence or organisational direction.
Clients increasingly needed more than execution. They needed clarity around what to do, who needed to be involved and how to turn an objective into coordinated action.
Our role evolved accordingly.
Today, Gerald & Rose works further upstream — helping organisations understand the challenge, define the direction and establish the pathway required to move forward.
The Gerald & Rose Journey
From execution to strategic advisory.
01 — Built Through Delivery
Understanding what it takes to make things happen.
Our foundations were built in communications, digital delivery and hands-on implementation. Working close to execution gave us a practical understanding of the decisions, dependencies and constraints that shape successful projects.
02 — Closer to the Decision
Moving upstream from the output to the challenge.
As engagements grew, so did our role. We became increasingly involved in leadership discussions, stakeholder environments, strategic planning and the decisions sitting behind the original brief.
03 — Broader Than the Brief
Connecting strategy, stakeholders and delivery.
The work expanded beyond individual campaigns or digital projects into organisational strategy, stakeholder engagement, partnerships, communications and implementation planning.
04 — Gerald & Rose Today
Advice designed to move organisations forward.
Today, Gerald & Rose operates as a strategic advisory and delivery firm. We help leaders make sense of complexity, create alignment and establish practical pathways from strategic intent to measurable progress.
How We Work
Advisory shaped by the realities of delivery.
Strategic Clarity
We define the challenge, examine the operating environment and help leaders make informed choices about priorities and direction.
Stakeholder Alignment
We identify the people, interests and relationships that can influence progress and create structured approaches to engagement and decision-making.
Delivery Enablement
We translate strategic direction into roadmaps, governance, communications and coordinated actions that help maintain momentum.
Specialist Coordination
Where an engagement requires specialist technical, cyber, legal or other expertise, we help define the requirement and coordinate appropriately qualified providers around the broader objective.
Where We Work
Different environments. A shared need for clarity.
GOVERNMENT & PUBLIC SECTOR
Navigating public
complexity.
Supporting councils, agencies and public-purpose organisations with strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, communications and delivery governance.
NOT-FOR-PROFITS & ADVOCACY
Strengthening mission and capacity.
Helping charities, associations and advocacy organisations align leadership, strengthen operations and engage the communities and partners that sustain their work.
BUSINESS & ENTERPRISE
Scaling with clarity and control.
Supporting leadership teams to clarify priorities, strengthen positioning and build the structures required for sustainable growth
Our Principles
The standards behind every engagement.
01 Clarity
We cut through noise and complexity to provide direct, considered advice grounded in the realities of each organisation.
02 Judgement
Complex challenges rarely have a single obvious answer. We bring perspective, challenge assumptions and help clients make informed decisions with confidence.
03 Partnership
We work alongside leaders, teams and stakeholders rather than operating at arm’s length. The strongest outcomes are built through shared understanding and ownership.
04 Accountability
We define roles and outcomes clearly and remain focused on progress, delivery and measurable value.
Leadership
Senior involvement.
Close to the work.
Gerald & Rose is led by practitioners who remain directly involved in the work we undertake.
Our leadership approach is deliberately hands-on: understanding the context, working with decision-makers and staying close enough to the engagement to ensure strategic direction remains connected to practical delivery.
Colan Chin | Co-Founder
Colan brings more than 12 years of experience across strategy, product, technology, operational risk, marketing and stakeholder management, with a career spanning financial services, technology and purpose-led organisations.
At Gerald & Rose, Colan works with leaders to navigate complex decisions, align stakeholders and translate strategic priorities into practical action. His approach combines commercial thinking, governance discipline and hands-on delivery experience, with particular strengths in organisational strategy, stakeholder engagement, transformation and implementation.
Alongside Gerald & Rose, Colan holds executive and board roles across industry, not-for-profit and community organisations, providing practical insight into the governance, stakeholder and delivery challenges facing organisations across different sectors.
Areas of Expertise
Strategic & Organisational Advisory · Stakeholder Engagement · Governance & Risk · Transformation & Delivery
Qualifications & Appointments
MBA · Executive Director, Stormwater 2030 · Chair, Caroline Rose Charity Inc. · Director, Gerald & Rose
David Nixon | Co-Founder
David brings more than 30 years of experience across executive leadership, infrastructure, utilities, local government, organisational transformation and strategic advisory.
His career has included senior executive and advisory roles across government authorities, multinational organisations, councils, private businesses and not-for-profits, giving him a broad perspective on the governance, operational and stakeholder environments that shape complex organisations. He has extensive experience in strategic planning, organisational alignment, board advisory, facilitation and the oversight of major programs and projects.
At Gerald & Rose, David works with boards, executives and leadership teams to navigate complexity, challenge established thinking and translate strategic objectives into practical pathways forward. His approach combines executive judgement with deep experience in stakeholder management, organisational change and delivery—particularly where multiple interests, public outcomes and long-term strategy intersect.
David also holds senior leadership roles within Australia’s stormwater sector. He is Chair of Stormwater 2030 and Chair of the NSW SQID Taskforce, where he is involved in industry reform, advocacy, stakeholder engagement and the development of more consistent approaches to stormwater management.
Areas of Expertise
Strategic & Organisational Advisory · Board & Executive Facilitation · Stakeholder Engagement · Governance & Transformation
Qualifications & Appointments
Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors · Fellow, Australian Institute of Management · Master Project Director, Australian Institute of Project Management · Chair, Stormwater 2030 · Chair, NSW SQID Taskforce
Community & Partnerships
Connected to the communities and sectors we work within.
Our perspective is shaped not only by client engagements, but by the organisations, initiatives and communities we contribute to beyond them.
Gerald & Rose supports selected community organisations, industry initiatives and partnerships whose work aligns with the sectors and issues we care about.
These relationships keep us connected to the environments our clients operate within and provide another perspective on the challenges facing organisations, communities and industries.
Work With Us
For people who can think and do.
The work we take on rarely fits neatly within one discipline.
We value people who can understand the bigger picture, communicate clearly and move comfortably between strategy and practical delivery.
Our work may span strategic advisory, stakeholder engagement, communications, project coordination, research and digital strategy.
We’re not currently recruiting, but we’re always interested in connecting with thoughtful people whose experience aligns with the work we do. If you think there could be a fit now or in the future, send us a short introduction and tell us where you could add value.
Complex challenges rarely arrive
with a neat brief?
You do not need to know which service you need before speaking with us.
Tell us what your organisation is trying to resolve, where progress has stalled or what needs to happen next. We will help determine the right pathway forward.