Close to 30 years building, scaling and selling service businesses, with deep experience integrating acquired operations. I partner with founders and leadership teams on operations, IT & AI adoption, process design, due diligence, sale readiness and compliance across healthcare, service and adjacent industries.
About
I'm a senior commercial operations and business leadership executive with close to 30 years driving performance, accountability and growth in complex service organisations. I founded and scaled Medic Oncall into a national medical workforce business and successfully sold it to Healthcare Australia, then led the national Doctors division there including integrating new business and offshore teams.
Today I consult independently to founders and leadership teams for start-ups through to established operators on operations and KPI design, IT and AI adoption, process redesign, acquisitions and due diligence, preparing businesses for sale, and governance and compliance. I bring founder-level commercial instinct with corporate operational discipline, and I work hands-on, not from the sidelines.
Master of Health Administration (UNSW) · Graduate Certificate in Migration Law · Bachelor of Economics (Monash).
Services
Engagements are scoped to your stage, from focused projects to ad hoc advice.
Structuring operations, defining service offerings and building scalable foundations from first client through to national expansion. Hands-on support that shifts from early validation and positioning to the systems and structure needed to scale, without losing agility.
Practical technology and AI integration for service businesses, selecting tools, automating processes, scoping projects, drafting developer briefs and functional specifications, evaluating vendor proposals and ensuring IT investments align with measurable operational gains.
Accountable operating models, KPI dashboards, pipeline visibility and process redesign that translate strategy into day-to-day execution. Built from the reality of running service businesses, not textbook theory. Practical systems your team will actually use.
Buy-side and sell-side support across commercial, operational and workforce due diligence, plus post-acquisition integration of systems, teams and contracts.
Preparing businesses for sale. Tightening financials, contracts, compliance, workforce models and operational documentation to maximise buyer confidence.
Regulatory frameworks, credentialing, risk management and compliant workforce models across regulated service industries.
Bid / no bid analysis, bid strategy, written responses and pricing for major government contracts across health, workforce and regulated service sectors.
End-to-end service delivery models, specialist panel design and advisory frameworks for compensable schemes, insurers and regulated service programs.
Liaising with suppliers, accountants, IT providers and other business contacts on behalf of founders, coordinating projects, resolving issues and ensuring external partners align with your operational goals.
How I work
From a focused project to ongoing advice, scoped to what you need right now.
Scoped deliverable
A defined piece of work over weeks, such as a business case, a process redesign, a tender response or due diligence support. Clear milestones, clear output.
A thinking partner over time
Regular check-ins, board preparation, investor updates and operational oversight as you scale. Flexible cadence, whether monthly, quarterly or around key milestones.
As-needed advice
A sounding board on call for quick calls, document reviews, investor pitch feedback or board preparation. No minimum hours, no retainers.
Selected Work
A snapshot of recent advisory work across government tenders, business cases, workforce platforms and strategic initiatives.
Government & Procurement
Led bid/no-bid analysis and authored the strategic response and pricing model for a national government contract and a state government tender.
National service provider
Strategy & Innovation
Developed the business case, executive brief and developer specification for an AI-powered regulatory intelligence platform.
Workforce services provider
Strategy & Finance
Built the executive summary, business case and pricing workbook to support the launch of a new specialist services division.
Growth-stage services business
Strategy & Operations
Advised on business structure, brand, go-to-market strategy and operational setup for a new specialist service venture entering a regulated market.
Founder-led services business
Operations & Growth
Designed the end-to-end business model for a new services arm, covering pricing, credentialing, compliance, operational workflow and go-to-market strategy.
Services provider
Procurement & Capability
Built a complete tender readiness framework with a standard response library, capability statements and the mandatory policies required for government procurement.
Services organisation
Testimonials
Feedback from some of the companies I've supported
"When I first came to Melissa, I had little more than an idea and no clear path forward. Her encouragement was immediate, and her guidance was exceptional. She not only brought first-hand industry experience to the table, but mapped out every step I needed to take with clarity and precision. What truly set her apart was her ability to quickly understand exactly what I needed and translate that into a thorough, actionable plan. Working with her was effortless, and the support she provided far exceeded my expectations. If you're starting a business and need someone in your corner who genuinely gets it, Melissa is exactly who you need."
Lauren Hall
Founder
"Melissa took a complex, crowded market and gave us a sharp, executable plan backed by a credible business case. She brought thirty years of healthcare and medical workforce expertise to our plans for two new divisions delivering focused market strategy, a practical operating model, and a detailed financial business case that was clear, credible, and ready to act on. Commercially astute, genuinely rigorous, and a pleasure to work with. I'd recommend her without hesitation."
Jason Cartwright
CEO
Contact
Whether you're starting a new business from the ground up, scoping a tender, planning a new service line or working through an acquisition, get in touch. Every engagement is scoped individually, so please reach out to discuss your situation and enquire about rates.