Who we are

Tarah is an expert in data-driven public policy. Over the past 15 years, Tarah has supported more than 20 government agencies and departments to make quality, evidence-driven decisions. She leads data strategy, policy design and advanced analytics projects across education, employment, industry, health, justice, community services, disability service and emergency management. Tarah holds a Master in Public Policy from Harvard University, where she studied as a Fulbright Scholar. Tarah also holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours Class I) and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from the University of Sydney.

Greg is a health analytics leader with over 20 years of experience across health, consulting, and analytics. He has worked extensively with Commonwealth health portfolios across the COVID-19 response, aged care, medical benefits, primary care, and First Nations health. Greg specialises in data strategy, operating model design, and the application of advanced analytical techniques. He holds an MBA from New York University and a Bachelor of Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

James has over 12 years of experience in data science, specialising in leading advanced analytics solutions to address public policy questions. He has worked with Commonwealth health portfolios for five years, supporting primary care policy incentive reviews, policy design and costing, compliance analytics, COVID-19 and vaccine rollout strategy, and reporting. He has also supported education and compliance agencies on data and AI strategy. James holds a Master of Science majoring in Mathematics and a Bachelor of Science majoring in Mathematics from The University of Melbourne.

Steph is a qualified actuary with over a decade of experience in actuarial, strategy, and economics consulting. Steph specialises in leveraging advanced analytics to support government clients across health and social services sectors solve complex problems to inform policy and improve operational decision making. Steph is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries Australia (FIAA) and a Chartered Enterprise Risk Actuary (CERA). She holds a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies and a Bachelor of Applied Finance from Macquarie University.

Cat is a Principal at Ember Advisors with expertise in using analytical and machine learning methods to solve public policy problems. She has over ten years of experience in analytics, research and public policy.

Sophie specialises in compliance with a focus on improving the effectiveness of government compliance functions to ensure the sustainability of critical government payment schemes. Sophie has led large projects for numerous clients across the Commonwealth to design and deliver compliance strategies, conduct reviews of investigations capabilities, implement analytical solutions to detect fraud and non-compliance and deliver analytical tools to support the detection and intervention in fraud and non-compliance cases. Sophie holds a Bachelor of Public Relations and Law and is admitted as a lawyer of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory.

Michelle has over fifteen years of experience working in public policy. She has a strong record of navigating sound outcomes in complex reform areas, deep knowledge of Government, and broad skills as a public policy practitioner. Michelle leads projects that include strategy development, policy and program design, reform implementation and change management. Michelle was previously a Director at KPMG, a Senior Advisor at the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and an advisor to a senior Cabinet Minister. She has a particular interest in partnering with First Nations communities and organisations on issues that impact First Nations outcomes.

Sam is a Principal at Ember Advisors with over seven years' experience working across government and analytics. Sam specialises in data-driven policy design, costings and evaluations, and compliance and risk analytics. Sam has led large analytical teams to design and cost of substantive health policy reform programs, and to deliver data driven innovations in government compliance functions. Sam has also held roles at the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, The Australian Energy Regulator and the Parliamentary Budget Office where he worked in regulatory, investigative and policy roles. Sam holds Master of Economics, graduating with First Class Honours, and a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Melbourne.

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Alex has specialist experience in solving complex regulatory, compliance and enforcement problems in schemes across the Commonwealth. He has led large-scale civil and criminal investigations, prioritisation framework reviews, and the development of bespoke investigation and intelligence tools. He has supported agencies to strengthen their capabilities by embedding risk-based and data-informed methods for prioritisation, targeting, decision making and resource allocation.

Max excels in analytics and data consulting for government departments, leading multi-disciplinary teams to leverage government data and software systems, develop predictive machine learning algorithms, and perform deep analyses to support policy decisions and interventions.

Nic is an analytics and strategy specialist committed to enhancing data-driven decision-making across government. He has extensive experience leading large teams to deliver complex analytical projects across health, disability, education, social services and compliance.

Faza is a former public servant experienced in using data analytics to inform public policy. He is passionate in supporting evidence-based decision making to improve the lives of Australians and elevating the use of data in government. Faza has deep experience working in and for the public sector including the ACCC, the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Health and Aged Care and NSW Department of Communities and Justice. Faza holds a Bachelor of Finance and Economics from the Australian National University.

Cressy brings over seven years of experience in data science, policy and strategy in the public sector. She has worked across the domains of health, aged care, education, and disability, and is driven by the potential of data to enhance social policy and bring about meaningful change. Prior to joining Ember, Cressy was a Senior Manager at the Victorian Department of Health. Cressy holds a Bachelor of Science and Graduate Diploma of Applied Data Analytics from the Australian National University.

Talia is a data scientist with specialised experience in public sector consulting. She has led teams to deliver innovative technical and strategic projects to support data-driven decision making across various social policy domains. Her previous experience includes fraud detection, outcomes modelling, and policy reform analytics. She works with Commonwealth and state government clients across disability, health, and aged care. Talia holds a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics) from the University of Melbourne.

Bek has a background in providing data-driven insights to inform policy decisions and enrich sector understanding across multiple public sector entities. She has contributed to a wide range of projects conducting data analysis, projecting cost estimates to guide new policies through the budget process, developing machine learning models to understand and predict performance, building data ingestion and cleansing pipelines and performing project management duties. Bek has a keen interest in developing policy recommendations through insights, particularly in the health care space, to improve the lives of Australians. Bek holds a Bachelor of Science (Biology, Psychology) from the Australian National University.

Leslie has a deep interest and strong academic background in using data science to drive positive social policy outcomes. Leslie has worked extensively with Commonwealth Government Departments, not-for-profit, and private sector clients, building data solutions in the areas of aged care, early childhood education and care, renewable energy, vulnerable communities, green skills, and aged care. Leslie holds a Masters of Economic Analysis from the University of Sydney, graduating with First Class Honours.

Alice has more than 6 years' experience using data to inform public policy and is motivated by the opportunity to solve complex policy problems. She has used a range of analytical and modelling techniques to support decision-making and major reforms in healthcare, childcare, family violence services, community services and justice and corrections. Alice previously worked at the Department of Premier and Cabinet in Victoria where she held policy and data analyst roles. Alice holds a Master of Economics, graduating with First Class Honours, and a Bachelor of Science (Mathematics and Statistics) from the University of Melbourne.

Amy is an experienced data scientist, who has previously worked with a range of public and private sector clients. She is passionate about using mathematical techniques to solve complex public policy problems, in particular, in the health and social services sectors to improve the outcomes of vulnerable cohorts. Amy holds a Masters of Science (with Distinction) majoring in Mathematics and Statistics from the University of Melbourne, where her research focussed on the application of game theoretic techniques to probabilistic games.

Jake has more than four years of experience supporting a diverse range of local, state and federal public sector clients. Jake specialises in providing actuarial and data analytics support on projects spanning actuarial valuations, scenario testing, financial and demand modelling, predictive analysis and data visualisation. Jake is passionate about problem solving, working closely with stakeholders and communicating data driven insights in a simple manner. Jake holds a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies & Bachelor of Science (Pathology), graduating from the University of New South Wales.

Ben is a data scientist with specialised experience in designing complex analytical solutions for government clients. Ben has experience in developing ETLs, self-service analytical tools and implementing compliance analytics solutions to improve the effectiveness of compliance functions. Ben holds qualifications in actuarial studies, economics and computing from the University of New South Wales.

Pat is a data science consultant with a passion for using analytics to drive impactful outcomes in the public sector. With extensive experience in Commonwealth compliance projects, Pat combines advanced analytics and regulatory expertise to help clients identify risks and address potential fraud. He is dedicated to translating data into actionable insights and collaborating closely with stakeholders to achieve positive change. Pat holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics and Finance) from the University of Melbourne.

Rafid is a qualified actuary with more than six years of experience applying data-driven approaches to support better decision-making. He has worked on projects spanning data strategy, analytics, and stakeholder engagement, with a focus on translating complex information into clear insights that drive impact. Rafid has led teams and contributed to high-profile initiatives, including the design of predictive models and the development of decision-support tools for public and private sector organisations. Before joining Ember Advisors, he worked in actuarial consulting, where he provided actuarial advice and analytical solutions to health insurers in Australia. Rafid is a Fellow of the Institute of Actuaries Australia (FIAA) and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Actuarial Studies and Commerce from the University of New South Wales.

Melina holds a Bachelor of Science (Computational Science) and a Bachelor of Commerce (Finance) from Monash University. She has four years' experience delivering data analytics and solution design across public and private sector clients, with expertise in building end-to-end data solutions, analytical modelling, and strategic reporting tools. Melina is passionate about AI and helping clients apply emerging technologies in practical and impactful ways.

Chris has a background in developing analytical tools and software to support strategic decision making within Government, with further experience in using data to inform public policy through various modelling techniques. This experience includes the implementation of state-of-the-art deep learning models for audio transcription, isolation and classification as well as traditional clustering techniques to improve the operational capability of clients. With a passion for solving technical challenges, Chris aims to uplift the capabilities of clients through his work. Chris holds a Bachelors of Engineering (Honours) and Bachelors of Finance.

Tara is passionate about leveraging her technical analytical skillset to assist clients in creating positive change. She has experience in providing data-driven solutions to government and private sector clients. This includes constructing predictive models with machine learning, performing costing exercises and analysing complex datasets. Tara holds a Bachelor of Actuarial Studies (Co-op Scholarship) from the University of New South Wales.

Zac is an experienced strategist, data analyst, and consultant with over four years' experience in analytics-backed business and policy decision support. He has a passion for impacting positive social outcomes through meaningful insights and leverages his range of industry knowledge across private and public sectors. Zac has specific expertise in Energy and Health.

Sarah is a data analyst with a background in Actuarial Studies who is passionate about using data-driven insights to inform decisions made in the public sector. She has experience in government health and has previously contributed to a diverse range of projects including the automation of processes, modelling enhancements, and the creation of dashboards and reports. Sarah holds a Bachelors in Actuarial Studies and Applied Finance.

Carl is an analyst with a background in Actuarial Science and a passion for leveraging data to enhance decision making in the public sector. He has contributed to a broad range of projects including providing enhancements to models, streamlining processes and developing data models and dashboards for reporting purposes. Carl holds Bachelor Degrees in Commerce (Finance and Accounting) and Actuarial Science from Monash University.

Lewis is an analyst with a strong background in data analytics, specialising in applied statistical modelling. His previous work included the exploration of the theoretical properties of applied linear models through Monte Carlo simulations, and the application of these findings in an evaluation of consumer experience methodologies and the subsequent pricing of products, as well as supporting public policy reform through a range of modelling techniques. Lewis holds a Bachelor of Science (Statistics), graduating with First Class Honours in Data Science from the University of Sydney.

Ollie holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Honors) and Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University. He has previous experience working on data capability systems engineering projects for Government clients. Since joining Ember, Ollie has applied his deep analytical and strategic skill set to a broad range of public sector problems. He is passionate about supporting policy design that drives positive social impact.

Jiah has a background in biomedical engineering and project management, and is passionate about working on meaningful work with positive impact in the healthcare field. She has previous experience working as a melanographer and research assistant at the Sydney Melanoma Diagnostic Centre within RPA, and also spent time as a program coordinator at PMLogic, where she recently helped support a program that won the Best NSW Government Project Award at the 2024 AIPM Project Management Achievement Awards.

Conor holds a Master of Business Analytics with a foundation in Commerce (Economics and Finance). His experience includes interning at St John of God Health Care, GPRS Capital and as research assistant at Melbourne Business School. Conor is keen to apply data analytics to make a real-world positive impact for clients. His skills include predictive modelling, causal analysis, decision optimisation, and communication of complex ideas.

Andrew has a Masters degree with Distinction in Math and Statistics from the University of Melbourne as well as a Diploma in Computing. He previously worked in data science roles at Coles, Mirvac and NAB, and has also led data analytics projects during university for startup clients. In his spare time, Andrew enjoys playing golf and badminton.

Oli is an analyst with a Bachelors in Mathematics and Neuroscience from the University of Sydney. He previously worked as an AI specialist at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, as well as at KPMG where he developed proof-of-concept Large Language Model applications.

Alice holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Actuarial Studies) from the University of Melbourne. She has experience in actuarial science and applied data analytics, supporting decision-making across commercial and public policy contexts. Alice is passionate about using quantitative evidence to inform government strategy and bridging the gap between technical analysis and practical outcomes.

Caitlin holds a Bachelor of Arts in Politics and International Relations from the University of Melbourne. She has experience supporting data strategy and intelligence uplift, including work with Triple Zero Victoria, and has previously worked in administration at St Vincent’s Hospital. Caitlin is passionate about supporting policy design and delivering positive outcomes for the public good.

Sally holds an Advanced Graduate Diploma in Psychology (Honours equivalent) from the University of Melbourne, alongside a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Sydney. She has experience in teaching, communication, and client-focused environments, and brings strong analytical and interpersonal skills with an interest in applying behavioural insights to consulting and strategy.

Vincent holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) in Economics from the University of Melbourne. He has gained experience across data, consulting, and economics through internships at KPMG, the Productivity Commission, and Frontier Economics. Through his research on road vehicle externalities, Vincent has developed a strong foundation in causal inference, machine learning, and data analytics.

Jamie holds a Bachelor of Science in Data Science from the University of Melbourne. He has a background in machine learning, statistics, mathematics, and computer science and enjoys using these skills to address complex data challenges. His professional perspective is informed by experience volunteering at an opioid substitution clinic, where he applied analytical thinking to high-stakes environments. Jamie focuses on delivering precise, ethical insights that translate technical modeling into actionable solutions.

Josh is an analyst with a background in mathematical research and brings an adaptable problem-solving skillset to his analytics and consulting projects. His previous work includes research on classification tools in high-dimensional geometry as well as research on algebraic modelling of graphs and networks. Josh holds a Bachelor of Science (Pure Mathematics), graduating with First Class Honours from the University of New South Wales and has recently submitted his PhD thesis on Algebraic Topology at the same university.

Aadya is an analyst with a background in mathematics and policy, holding a Bachelor of Science Advanced – Global Challenges (Honours), with a major in Mathematics. Her experience includes interdisciplinary research, consulting, and policy projects, where she has supported evidence-based analysis and decision-making. Aadya is particularly motivated by applying quantitative methods to address social and economic challenges, especially in digital inclusion and healthcare.

Rosie is Ember’s Head of Operations and a social purpose leader with over 15 years' experience in operational and project roles across major Australian corporations, NSW Government and the non-profit sector in Australia and overseas. Rosie has an MBA from Melbourne Business School, a Graduate Certificate in Social Impact from the Centre for Social Impact (UNSW) and a BA (Honours) in Development Studies from the ANU. Rosie is a member of the volunteer Management Committee of the Botany Family and Childrens Centre.

Sophie is Ember’s Head of Operations, covering Rosie while she is on Parental Leave. Sophie brings over 15 years' experience in Social Impact and Sustainability consulting across a range of public and private organisations. Sophie is passionate about doing good work for social and environmental benefit, building a culture where people thrive and enjoy their work, and working with mission-driven teams. Sophie graduated from the University of Sydney with a Bachelor of Science (Hons) majoring in Geography. Sophie is also a Board member of the Antarctic Science Foundation, and a volunteer surf life saver.

Junko has a background in healthcare and over a decade experience supporting data, analytics and AI teams across complex environments. She has worked across consulting and corporate contexts, partnering with stakeholders to translate strategic opportunities into effective delivery. Her experience spans cross-regional coordination and technology-enabled initiatives. Junko holds a Bachelor of Nursing from Australia Catholic University.