General Positions

Chief Executive Officer: Nathaniel Ware

Nathaniel Ware is the CEO of 180 Degrees Consulting. Since establishing the organization in late 2007, Nat has led the growth of 180 Degrees from a small student society to the significant international organization it is today. Nat was recently awarded a University Medal from Sydney University and a Rhodes Scholarship to undertake postgraduate study at Oxford. His research will focus on how to develop workable insurance schemes to reduce the vulnerability of poor people in developing countries. Beyond the academic arena, Nat has served as the NSW World Vision Youth Ambassador, the Executive Director of the Young Leaders Network, and as Environment Convenor at Sydney University. He is a Goldman Sachs Global Leader, a World Public Speaking Grand Finalist, was International Runner-Up in the Challenge:Future Social Innovation Competition, and was selected as the NSW Lions Youth of the Year. His principal interests are social entrepreneurship, development economics, and consulting. In his spare time, Nat enjoys competing in marathons and triathlons, watching movies, and playing soccer.

Secretary: Holly Hyder

Secretary for the Finance Team and Communications assistant, Holly Hyder has recently taken up work in Melbourne, Victoria, for the State Government, working specifically in energy technology innovation projects. Holly studied a double degree in Science (Chemistry) and Commerce (Entrepreneurship) and hopes to complete a Master of Applied Finance in the next few years. Holly has varied experience with non-profit organisations, more notably with youth-led non-profit Youth Tree, engaging in event management, strategic planning, human resource planning and business development during her 12 month role. Holly currently plays state league hockey for Doncaster but also enjoys more adventurous pursuits such as rock-climbing, surfing, hiking and marshmallow toasting.

Secretary: Erin Smith

Erin Smith is one of the Secretaries for 180 Degrees Consulting. She has been involved with the organisation since 2011 when she began as a consultant. Currently, she is studying towards a doctorate at The University of Sydney. Through her research, she will explore the impact of the seperation of land and water title upon Australian farm businesses. Before moving to Sydney in September 2010, Erin worked in the Social Research Team at AgResearch Ltd, a government research institute in New Zealand. She has also spent several summers working as a hiking guide on the Milford and Heaphy Tracks (New Zealand).

Director of Public Relations: Sumana Sukumar

Sumana Sukumar is a postgraduate business student at the University of Sydney. Prior to commencing her Master of Commerce degree, she has worked in advertising and public relations in Singapore. She also holds a bachelor’s degree in communication. In her free time, she likes to read, dance, practice yoga and paint. She couldn’t agree more with Voltaire’s “Let us read and let us dance – two amusements that will never do any harm to the world.”

Operations Team

Chief Operations Officer: Ben Coles

Ben is a final year Commerce/Law student at the University of Sydney. He has been involved in the organisation from the beginning working as a team leader, President of the University of Sydney Branch and is currently the Chief Operations Officer and global Director. He is responsible for global growth, consulting, people processes and branch management. Ben has consulted professionally, run his own business and before being elected to the Sydney presidency was the CEO of informed careers. His goal is to ensure that 180 Degrees Consulting is the premier organisation for young people who want to solve the largest challenges faced by the world’s leading social organisations. If he were able to pick his ideal job it would have been F1 driver, if only because his favourite colour is red and he likes red bull.

Deputy Chief Operations Officer: Shane Treeves

Operations Manager: Jan Chen

Our Operations Manager, Jan Chen, is currently completing her Bachelor of Laws degree, having completed her Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Finance, at the end of 2010. Jan has been involved with 180 Degrees since 2010 where she worked as a student consultant for Youth Off the Streets. Since then, she has increased her involvement with the organisation – undertaking the role of Secretary for the University of Sydney Chapter and also consulting for another organisation in Semester 1, 2011. Jan currently works at an asset management fund and has previously worked at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia and WalterTurnbull. She was a recipient of the Faculty of Economics and Business Scholarship with Distinction for All Round Excellence during her commerce degree. In her spare time, Jan likes to eat, recklessly drive karts and build mass armies (only the first happens in real life

Global Director of Consulting: Lynn Thompson

Our Global Head of Consulting, Lynn Thompson, is currently completing  Honours in Human Resource Management/ Industrial Relations as the scholarship recipient of the QANTAS award for academic excellence. She completed her Bachelor of Economic and Social Sciences in 2010 at the University of Sydney. Lynn’s involvement in 180 Degrees started in 2010, when she led a consulting project for the University of Sydney branch. Her experience in the consulting and not-for-profit space include undertaking an internship with Deloitte consulting, the role of youth representative for the Emerging Leaders for Social Change’s (ELSC) The Big Conversation initiative, and NSW Schools4Schools Manager and Networks Manager for The Oaktree Foundation. For the past 18 months Lynn has been employed as an Associate for a niche workplace relations consultancy based in Sydney and is due to commence with Deloitte in 2012. In her spare time Lynn enjoy booking impromptu trips overseas (usually to escape winter) and playing squash and netball.

Director of Growth: David Maher

David Maher joined 180 Degrees Consulting in 2011 and has taken the role of the Director of Growth on the International Executive. The growth team is primarily responsible for increasing the number of 180 Degrees Consulting branches in universities around the world. David is currently in his fourth year of a combined Arts/Law degree at the University of New South Wales (Australia). In addition to his studies, David is President of Debates at UNSW and is a top Australian speaker and World’s Finalist, works in the education sector, is a stand-up comedian with Studio Four and involved with UNSW Volunteering programs. David enjoys travel, playing tennis and comedy.

Deputy Director of Growth Simon Roberts

Currently based between Hong Kong and New York, Simon Roberts works as a Director on the Growth team. Holding a Bachelor of Business (Entrepreneurship), Simon has had early successes and experience in the strategy & design management, brand development and social innovation. With solutions created for major NGOs as well as the recruitment and design industries. To date Simon has also been an integral part of starting several organisations including Positive Posters, DayEight and RooftopCinemaHK.

Deputy Director of Growth Darko Vranesevic

Deputy Director of Growth, Darko Vranesevic, has completed a combined
Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws degree at the University of Sydney in 2010. Darko has been involved with 180 Degrees since 2011 when he began as Deputy Director of Growth. In 2010, Darko served as the treasure of the Sydney University Law Society. His previous experience includes a clerkship at a big four accounting firm and a top-tier commercial law firm in Sydney where Darko is
set to start work in 2012 as a graduate. Darko has also worked as a student facilitator in commercial law with the Peer Assisted Study Session program at the Office of Learning and Teaching, the University of Sydney. In his spare time Darko enjoys travelling and salsa dancing.

Director of Branch Practice: May Samali

Currently working as tipstaff to the Honourable Justice Margaret Beazley AO, NSW Court of Appeal. May Samali graduated from a Bachelor of Economic and Social Sciences (Hons I)/Bachelor of Laws (Hons I) from the University of Sydney in 2011.

Deputy Director of Branch Practice: Phoebe Innes-Wilson

Director of International Projects: Atif Khan

Our Director of International Projects, Atif Khan, first became involved with 180 Degrees Consultingin 2011. As a medical student that has worked with health-focussed non-profit organisations in the past, Atif’s motivation for joining 180 Degrees was the opportunity to continue creating social impact whilst working with a more diverse range of clients. His responsibilities include creating international project opportunities, recruiting and overseeing the implementation of consulting projects. In his spare time, Atif enjoys badminton, eating out and watching anime.

Financial Team

Chief Financial Officer: Ben Wood

Our CFO Ben Wood, studied at the University of Technology, Sydney. He completed his Bachelor of Business, with majors in accounting and financial planning. He graduated from UTS in 2010. Ben worked at an accounting firm full-time, and completed his degree part-time. His five and a half years experience has allowed him to have a career break and he is currently completing 12 months volunteer work for the Australian Youth Ambassadors for Development (AYAD) program, which is run by AUSaid. He is currently based in Nuku’alofa, Tonga, and will be back in Sydney, Australia in August 2012. In his spare time Ben is enjoying snorkelling, diving and the ‘island life’ whilst he is in Tonga.

Deputy Chief Financial Officer: Jack Mansfield

Our Deputy CFO, Jack Mansfield, joined 180 Degrees Consulting in 2011. Jack graduated from UTS in 2009 with a Bachelor of Business Degree (Economics/Business Law). Jack gained experience working at an Insolvency Accounting firm part time through his final year of studies in 2009 and then moved into a full time position. After travelling around Europe and South East Asia for 8 months, Jack decided to move away from accounting and into finance where he currently works full time in Sydney at a Stockbroking firm. Outside of work Jack enjoys spending time with friends, listening to music & watching sport.

Director of Branch Financial Management: Rodrigo De Santiago

Rodrigo de Santiago joined 180 Degrees Consulting in 2011 as a Director of Financial Branch Management, and currently is in process of completing his bachelor degree in economics and starting a master degree in finance. Rodrigo has been working for the last six years in transfer pricing, valuation services, financial and international tax consulting in several organizations such as Deloitte, BDO and currently in Oliver Consulting, a local firm. The functions of Rodrigo in 180 Degrees Consulting involve, among others, the long term financial sustainability of the branches around the world and to ensure its correct reporting to the international organization.

Director of Sponsorship: Edward Miller

Director of Sponsorship: Thomas Farmakis

One of our Directors of Sponsorship, Thomas Farmakis, is studying for a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Sydney, majoring in finance as part of his business degree. Thomas has been involved with 180 Degrees since 2011 when he began as a team leader, consulting the National Aboriginal Sporting Chance Academy on how to strategically diversify their sponsorship base. In his first year at Sydney University, Thomas currently works in mergers and acquisitions. In his spare time, Thomas is a keen stock picker, an opinionated political observer as well as tragic golfer.

Director of Grants: Joy Shi

Our grants director, Joy Shi is studying a Bachelor of Commerce and Law at the University of Sydney majoring in Accounting. Joy started with 180 degrees since 2011 as part of the international executive team. Joy has been involved with range of not-for-profit organisations and in 2011 she participated in Live Below the Line raising money for Oaktree Foundation. She has been involved in various university societies and acts as a law mentor.  Outside of University she works as a tax preparer at KPMG. She has a guilty habit of eating excessive amounts of macarons. She enjoys photography, travelling and watching movies.

Director of Alternative Financing: Jack Lin

Jack Lin is the Director of Alternative Financing for 180 Degrees Consulting. Jack is currently completing a Bachelor of Commerce (major in Finance) and Bachelor of Laws at the University of Sydney and will be attending Cornell University Law School on exchange in August 2011. He has professional experience in investment banking, management consulting and law. Jack was involved in the early conception of 180 Degrees Consulting and is looking forward to the challenge of developing sustainable funding sources for the organisation’s continued growth. In his spare time, Jack is an avid supporter of the Manly Sea Eagles and Manchester United FC.

Information Team

Chief Information Officer Michael West

Michael West, the Chief Information Officer, works for the Australian Government’s Department of Innovation, a place that is not nearly as oxymoronic as it sounds. He recently graduated from the University of Sydney with first class honours degrees in both Engineering and Advanced Science. Outside of 180 Degrees, he runs Munworks.com, which provides custom software to Model United Nations conferences and donates the profits to UN humanitarian agencies. He enjoys brunch, food markets, Malcolm Gladwell books, and other stereotypes.

Director of Information Sharing and Knowledge Management: Nathaniel Slayton

Our Director of Information Sharing and Knowledge Management, Nate Slayton, joined 180 Degrees as a consultant in 2011. Nate was imported from the United States where he was a Hixson, Gilman, and PappaJohn Entrepreneurship Scholar. Currently he is completing a Bachelor of Science in Information Systems at the University of Sydney. Nate has consulted with a range of not-for-profits in redirecting their technology and online strategies. When not engaged in studies or consulting, Nate can be found meditating, in another country, or reading a good book.

Website Director: Elizaveta Fedorenko

Our website Director, Elizaveta Lisa Fedorenko, is studying a Bachelor of Science and Commerce at the University of Sydney majoring in Computer Science (Advanced), Mathematics (Advanced) and Econometrics. Elizaveta has been involved with 180 degrees since 2011 when she began as a consultant. In 2011 she tutored at the National Computer Science School in 2011 and mentored Introduction to Informatics Advanced at the University. Elizaveta has had a number of occupations including working as a pharmacy assistant, a student ambassador for the University of Sydney and the Student catering manager at St. Andrew’s College. In her spare time she enjoys organizing functions and drawing.