Our Team

Atlas Counsel brings together a breadth of experience and expertise to solve every client’s challenge.

Whether it’s coaching and development, strategy, legal, risk, governance, social impact or management – we are your partners in designing solutions with impact.

  • Steve Palmer

    PARTNER

    Steve is a highly sought after solutionist, and an expert facilitator and coach. He provides deep and actionable insights into the performance of people and teams.

    He is particularly skilled at working with groups and individuals navigating change, and has a special interest in supporting peak organisational performance during the implementation of strategy.

    Steve holds a Master of Science in Coaching Psychology from the University of Sydney, in addition to postgraduate qualifications in education and degrees in law and commerce from the University of Melbourne. He is a Fellow Member of the Institute of Coaching, McLean Hospital, Harvard Medical School.

    He is discrete, confidential and resourceful.

    Steve sorts things out.

  • Kath McCarthy

    PARTNER

    Kath is a registered psychologist, senior lawyer, highly-skilled consultant, facilitator and executive coach.

    Working nationally and internationally across a range of sectors, Kath has helped leaders, teams and organisations define their purpose and unlock their potential.

    From executive coaching through to cultural reviews – she meets clients where they’re at, helping to define and deliver on their goals using the latest in evidence-based practice.

    She transforms good teams into exemplars of performance. She takes struggling teams and helps them talk, repair, and thrive.

    In short: Kath makes people into the leaders they want and need to be. And supports teams to maximize their impact.

    Prior to her work as a coach and facilitator, Kath was a partner of a law firm and an in-house lawyer and leader within a regulatory agency.

    Kath is a qualified psychologist and holds a Masters of Educational Psychology, Graduate Diploma in Educational Psychology, Bachelors of Law (Hons) and Bachelor of Science. She is also an EMCC accredited systemic team coach.

  • Solly Fahiz

    DIRECTOR

    Solly brings his considerable experience to the Atlas Counsel team, as a skilled management and strategy consultant with nearly a decade working in the highest levels of politics and government.

    Whether its business planning or project delivery, Solly works with our clients to articulate their future goals and identify the strategic, actionable steps that will get them there.

    This includes partnering with organisations to define and deliver on their ambitions in the sustainability and social impact space – ensuring measurable, authentic and lasting change.

    Before joining Atlas Counsel, and reflecting his passion for making meaningful impact, Solly worked as a strategy and management consultant with a particular focus on not-for-profits, charities and local governments.

    Solly has also served in an Executive Management role in the TAFE sector and as a consultant assisting clients with government and stakeholder relations. His near decade in politics included as Chief of Staff and Adviser to State and Federal Ministers, and as a Media Advisor to a State Premier. He also serves on the board of the Nick Kyrgios Foundation.

    Solly holds an Executive Masters of Business Administration (MBA) from Melbourne Business School, as well as Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in International Relations from the ANU. Solly was awarded the Dean’s Letter of Commendation for Consulting for Social Impact during his MBA studies.

  • Bridget Macciotta

    DIRECTOR

    Bridget is your one-stop shop for all your problem-solving needs. 

    Her strategic planning, project management, research, and policy analysis skills enable her to develop tailored solutions that drive positive change and outcomes. 

    Bridget’s holistic approach allows her to effectively navigate complex issues across various sectors, including human resource consulting, executive recruitment, grant application writing, and program/funding evaluations. 

    With extensive experience in stakeholder consultation, focus group design, development, and implementation, Bridget excels at facilitating effective communication and collaboration between teams, organisations, and communities. 

    She is dedicated to providing innovative solutions that make a meaningful impact. 

    Bridget holds a Juris Doctor from Melbourne Law School and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Melbourne. 

    She is an Australian Legal Practitioner, admitted to practice in Victoria and Federally. 

    Bridget is your partner in problem solving excellence.

  • Peita Duncan

    DIRECTOR - EXECUTIVE & BOARD SEARCH

    Peita leads Atlas Counsel's executive, board search and recruitment operations.

    She is a creative, passionate and dynamic professional with a broad-based transferrable skill set in sales, marketing and management.

    Peita thrives in fast-paced environments, bringing the unique ability to focus on the big picture without losing sight of the details needed to achieve the best outcomes for her clients.

    With over 15 years of experience in business development, consultancy, executive and board search and recruitment, Peita has a strong reputation across Victorian industry as a high-energy leader, willing to take on the challenges others will pass over.

    She is a decisive team leader with an exceptional ability for developing and leveraging comprehensive strategies that support client objectives and will achieve their goals.

  • Dr Leah Collins

    SENIOR CONSULTANT

    Leah is a registered Clinical and Health Psychologist and experienced coach and facilitator.

    She is highly accomplished and passionate about designing and delivering solutions-focused, evidence-based coaching support for clients and their teams.

    With a focus on empowering people to be their best, she works one-on-one with individuals and teams to clarify goals, improve performance, strengthen leadership skills and more.

    Before joining Atlas Counsel, Leah worked across a diverse range of sectors, including private clinical practice, research, public hospitals and professional practice associations.

    She also offers more than 15 years of experience in consultancy, project management, facilitation, policy development and government relations services.

    Leah holds a Doctorate of Psychology from the University of Melbourne.

  • Katie Tobin

    SENIOR CONSULTANT

    Katie helps transform potential into performance.

    A registered psychologist and proven Human Resources professional, she offers extensive experience in coaching, leadership training, talent identification and recruitment in both the public and private spheres.

    With an in-depth knowledge of organisational psychology, Katie works with leaders, teams and individuals to navigate complex challenges and achieve genuine solutions. This includes a particular focus on supporting executive women, including those working in high-pressure and male-dominated environments.

    Katie’s wide-ranging experience extends across industries, sectors, even continents – giving her a unique, in-depth understanding of how to help organisations identify and unlock potential. This includes direct experience, having served in executive HR Strategy and Engagement roles within the Victorian Public Service.

    In addition to her Masters in Industrial and Organisational Psychology, Katie holds qualifications in HR Management and Business.

  • Dr Samantha Smith

    SENIOR CONSULTANT

    Samantha is an experienced strategist, executive search and board adviser.

    Her broad experience across sectors has given her an intimate understanding of the foundations required to develop good strategy and the tools to align and perform engaging and effective search.

    Equipped with a Doctorate from Monash University for her behavioural science research, Samantha has an in-depth understanding of human behaviour and the tools to drive change. She also has IDEO certification in designing human-centred and business-focused strategy.

    Outside of her consulting role to Atlas, she is a Director of Melbourne agency, Pinnacle Collective, a Fellow of the global Chartered Governance Institute (FCG), a Non Executive Director of the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), an Australian Institute of Company Director’s Victorian Division Councillor and Chair of Swinburne University’s Master of Marketing Course Advisory Committee.

    She also assists in judging the Telstra Australian Business Awards and is a published author on the topics of Generation Y and social media.

  • Tessa Minns

    CONSULTANT

    Tessa’s breadth of professional and personal experience have shaped the diligent and creative approach she brings to her work at Atlas Counsel.

    This includes having worked and volunteered across a range of research and advocacy organisations, including the Asylum Seeker Resource Centre and the Australian Institute of International Affairs. She is also currently an Assistant Editor at the Journal of International Humanitarian Legal Studies.

    Tessa also brings a unique perspective on how to effect meaningful change, having served asSecretary of the 2021 Wills Youth Advisory Committee. In this role, she effectively raised the voices and needs of young people with Federal and State Parliamentary representatives, in addition to facilitating a national youth dialogue forum.

    Through the Victorian Parliamentary Internship, Tessa also worked with various stakeholder organisations to prepare a policy report on the impact of COVID-19 on access to domestic and family violence services.

    She is currently undertaking her Juris Doctor at the University of Melbourne, and recently graduated with a Bachelor of Arts, where she majored in political science and international relations.

  • Daniel McCarthy

    CONSULTANT

    Currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in psychology and physiology, Daniel was welcomed into the Atlas Counsel team in 2022.

    With a focus on leadership performance and workplace culture, Daniel is passionate about empowering workplaces and organisations to be their best.

    Before joining Atlas Counsel, Daniel worked in aged care support as a mentor and carer for residents, in addition to retail and warehousing.

    He has a keen interest in sport, playing regular competitive basketball and Australian Rules football, and has recently begun developing his skills on the golf course.

  • Ayesha Dang

    CONSULTANT

    Ayesha is a law and commerce student majoring in finance at Deakin University.

    She brings her experience of working in customer and client-facing roles to the Atlas Counsel team, and is passionate about getting the best out of herself and others.

    In her spare time, Ayesha is an avid tennis player, currently representing her local club in Grade 2 of Tennis Victoria’s Women’s Pennant League.

  • Thomas Dillon

    CONSULTANT

    Tom has undergraduate qualifications in Politics and Philosophy, and is currently completing both his Master’s in Public Policy and Management, and his Juris Doctor in Law, concurrently at the University of Melbourne.

    Before joining Atlas Counsel, Tom worked as a Legal Assistant in a Melbourne-based family law firm. Tom also spent 4 and 1/2 years labouring at an aluminium foundry in Bayswater, Victoria.

    This, in addition to his experience working in small business, gives him a well-rounded and real-world understanding of the challenges and opportunities experienced by our clients

  • Easterin Ang

    CONSULTANT

    Easterin is currently completing a Bachelor of Commerce, majoring in Finance and Marketing, at the University of Melbourne.

    Passionate about social impact, she’s worked on several management consulting projects, including a placement at a leading not-for-profit organisation in the youth mental health space and as part of the University of Melbourne’s Bachelor of Commerce Case Competition (BComp), where she was placed in the Top 20 participants.

    Having lived in several overseas countries, she brings her experience in managing cultural differences and strengthening cultural connection, in addition to her resourcefulness and ability to work and think creatively.

  • Shreya Jha

    CONSULTANT

    Shreya is a highly-skilled performance science professional, with a focus on people development, strengthening team dynamics and achieving effective organisational change.

    Having worked with businesses and organisations in Chicago, New York and Mumbai – as well as volunteering in Cambodia, China and India – she now brings the breadth of her experience to Atlas Counsel and its clients.

    Her work locally and internationally have equipped her with a keen understanding of navigating cultural differences, and the ability to solve problems creatively and quickly.

    Shreya is currently pursuing her doctorate in organisational behaviour at the University of Melbourne. She also holds a Master’s Degree in social-organisational psychology from Columbia University, and a Bachelor’s Degree in psychology from Illinois Institute of Technology.

  • Vishal Bhat

    CONSULTANT

    Vishal in a natural problem solver.

    Currently completing a Commerce degree with majors in economics and finance, he is adept at using his skills to face challenges head on and drive long-term impact for our clients.

    Before joining Atlas Counsel, Vishal completed an internship at the Department of Treasury and Finance, where he conducted research on developing balanced and efficient property taxation policy and the creation of a framework to assess the transmission mechanisms by which climate change will affect Victoria’s tax revenue lines.

    Working at Vesparum Capital, Vishal further nurtured his interest in financial advisory and equity capital markets, supporting the team by conducting due diligence on private acquisitions, investor relations work for public ASX-listed clients and key business development tasks.

    Vishal is an Executive Member of the Melbourne Microfinance Initiative (MMI), the first and largest Australian student-run microfinance organisation. He has also played chess at a competitive level and represented Australia at the World Youth Team Chess Olympiad in Slovakia.

Who we’ve worked with

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