Wise Heads
Embedded advisory for associations and not-for-profits.
Who We Are
Our Philosophy
Wise Heads is a fractional advisory practice built exclusively for associations and not-for-profit organisations. We work alongside CEOs and boards as embedded senior partners — the experienced people your organisation needs in the room, without the full-time cost.
We are not generalist consultants. We are sector specialists who have spent our careers inside associations — doing the actual work, not advising on it from outside. We don't cut costs. We maximise value —finding where every dollar counts.
We are not generalist consultants. We are sector specialists who have spent our careers inside associations — doing the actual work, not advising on it from outside. We don't cut costs. We maximise value —finding where every dollar counts.
Specialists, not generalists
Associations are all we do. We know what good looks like at your stage — because we've built it many times before.
Implementation, not just advice
The same people who shape the strategy stay to build it. Events delivered. Revenue grown. Start to finish.
Value, not cost-cutting
We look at every dollar and ask what it should return — then build the structures to make that happen.
Proportionate, not expensive
Fractional, flexible, priced for the size of organisation you actually are.
Senior thinking without the full-time cost
.
HOW WE WORK
The Alongside
System
"We work alongside every critical layer of your organisation — from strategy through to delivery."
Not outside advisors who send reports and leave. We pull up a chair at your board table, sit beside your CEO, work inside your team, connect with your members and build your commercial partnerships. The same wise heads throughout. No handovers. No junior staff. No gap between advice and action.
Not outside advisors who send reports and leave. We pull up a chair at your board table, sit beside your CEO, work inside your team, connect with your members and build your commercial partnerships. The same wise heads throughout. No handovers. No junior staff. No gap between advice and action.
Right beside you. Strategy and delivery — side by side. "In the room. Doing the work."
Alongside
Your Board
Governance · Strategy · Decisions
Board meeting participation and preparation, strategic planning and facilitation, governance and risk guidance, CEO support and counsel."Better decisions, made with confidence."
Alongside
Your CEO
Strategy · Clarity · Execution
Strategic advisory and prioritisation, commercial and revenue strategy, stakeholder and government engagement, day-to-day decision support."A senior partner, right beside you."
Alongside
Your Team
Delivery · Capability · Execution
Project delivery and implementation, systems and platform rollout, internal capability uplift, operational problem-solving.
"We don't hand it over. We help deliver."
"We don't hand it over. We help deliver."
Alongside
Your Members
Engagement · Retention · Value
Membership model design, loyalty programs, events, communications and campaigns, value proposition development.
"Members who stay — and bring others."
Alongside
Your Partners
Revenue · Funding · Growth
Partnership strategy and frameworks, sponsorship and commercial programs, government funding strategy, new business models and revenue streams."Revenue that works as hard as you do."
The Track Record
Between them, they have delivered outcomes that very few advisory firms of any size can credibly claim. The following represents selected highlights from their combined careers working inside associations and NFPs.
$2.8B
Federal - State Funding Uplift
Led the advocacy campaign securing a $2.8 billion Federal–State school funding uplift — recognised as External Campaign of the Year at the 2025 Associations Forum Awards
300%
Commercial Revenue Growth
Grown commercial partnership income by up to 300% through specialist business development strategy and hands-on implementation across multiple associations
$188M
Single Funding Win
Secured $188 million in a single government funding commitment for a peak body — one of the largest association advocacy wins in recent Queensland history.
15%
Member Insurance Savings
Facilitated end to end tender process for member insurance offerings and delivered 15% savings — reducing costs for both the organisation and its members while maintaining or improving cover.
200%
Partnership Income Growth
Grown partnership income by 200% across multiple engagements — building sustainable commercial relationships that deliver ongoing revenue year on year.
✓
Parliamentary Advocacy
Written parliamentary submissions and presented at committee hearings at state and federal level — getting associations into the rooms where decisions are made.
Systems
Systems Integrations
Implemented CRM and member billing systems, launched LMS platforms and led full digital transformation programs — from procurement through to implementation and go-live.
60→12%
Revenue Diversification
Reduced a peak body's government funding dependency from 60% to 12% by building sustainable commercial revenue — divisions, partnerships and new business units.
6 - 1
Mergers, National Unification
Led the complex process of unifying six state-based industry bodies into a single national organisation — governance, systems, culture and all.
Completed across multiple industries .
THE SEAT SYSTEM
Six
Seats
Every Wise Heads engagement is a seat at the table. Each service maps directly to one layer of the Alongside System — and can be taken as a standalone engagement or combined into the full programme.
Board · CEO · Team · Members · Partners
Board · CEO · Team · Members · Partners
Alongside Your Board & CEO
Fractional Monthly Retainer
The Retainer Seat
Embedded Senior Leadership
"Wise heads at your table, every month — without the full-time cost."
Our signature offer. One or both founders embedded in your organisation on a monthly retainer. Board meetings attended. Strategy shaped. The CEO supported. Always there for the hard decisions.
Includes→ Monthly sessions with CEO & leadership team→ Board meeting attendance & preparation→ On-call advice between sessions→ Membership & revenue strategy oversight
Our signature offer. One or both founders embedded in your organisation on a monthly retainer. Board meetings attended. Strategy shaped. The CEO supported. Always there for the hard decisions.
Includes→ Monthly sessions with CEO & leadership team→ Board meeting attendance & preparation→ On-call advice between sessions→ Membership & revenue strategy oversight
Alongside Your Board & CEO
Diagnostic · 6 Weeks
The Review Seat
Clarity & a Practical Roadmap
"Every dollar. What it's returning. What it should be."
A specialist diagnostic across your systems, contracts, suppliers, membership model and revenue streams. Deep sector expertise. Six weeks. Honest findings. A roadmap you act on immediately.
Includes→ Systems & technology audit→ Membership value proposition review→ Insurance & supplier contract analysis→ Revenue model & diversification roadmap
A specialist diagnostic across your systems, contracts, suppliers, membership model and revenue streams. Deep sector expertise. Six weeks. Honest findings. A roadmap you act on immediately.
Includes→ Systems & technology audit→ Membership value proposition review→ Insurance & supplier contract analysis→ Revenue model & diversification roadmap
Alongside Your Partners
Commercial Strategy Implementation
The Revenue Seat
New & Diversified Revenue
"We've grown commercial revenue by 300%. We know how to do it for yours."
Commercial partnerships, new business units, RTO strategy, government funding and income diversification. We design the commercial model and implement it — not just advise on it.
Includes→ Commercial partnership development→ New business unit design & launch→ RTO management & growth→ Government & recurring grant funding
Commercial partnerships, new business units, RTO strategy, government funding and income diversification. We design the commercial model and implement it — not just advise on it.
Includes→ Commercial partnership development→ New business unit design & launch→ RTO management & growth→ Government & recurring grant funding
Alongside Your Board & CEO
Advocacy & Government Relations
The Advocacy Seat
Influence in the Right Rooms
"We've presented at committee hearings. We know how to get your association heard."
Advocacy strategy, stakeholder mapping, parliamentary submissions, committee appearances and government relations — by people who have done this at the highest levels.
Includes
→ Advocacy strategy & campaign planning
→ Parliamentary submissions
→ Committee hearing preparation
→ Government relations & funding strategy
Alongside Your Members
Member & Stakeholder Engagement
The Member Seat
Deeper Engagement & Retention
"Members who feel the value stay — and bring others with them."
Member loyalty programs, LMS platforms, events, annual reports and impact statements. The work that keeps members engaged and demonstrates the value of belonging.
Includes→ Member loyalty program design & launch→ LMS build & go-live→ Conference & event delivery→ Annual reports & impact statements
Member loyalty programs, LMS platforms, events, annual reports and impact statements. The work that keeps members engaged and demonstrates the value of belonging.
Includes→ Member loyalty program design & launch→ LMS build & go-live→ Conference & event delivery→ Annual reports & impact statements
All Five Layers
END TO END - FLAGSHIP
The FullTable
"Every seat filled. Every layer covered. One consistent team from the first conversation to the final outcome."
The complete Wise Heads engagement. All five seats — the Retainer, the Review, the Revenue, the Advocacy, the Member — alongside every layer of your organisation, with the same two wise heads throughout. No handovers. No junior teams. No gap between advice and action.
Everything included
→ The Retainer Seat → The Revenue Seat
→ The Review → The Advocacy Seat
→ The Member Seat → Events, LMS, reports & campaigns
How we work
Every engagement begins with a conversation — not a proposal template. No discovery questionnaire. No onboarding delay. Just two wise heads and your real challenges.
01
The First Conversation
A no-obligation conversation with your CEO or Board Chair. We listen before we talk — understanding your organisation, your challenges and what you've already tried. No templates. A real conversation.
02
The Right Seat
We'll tell you honestly whether we're the right fit — and which seat makes the most sense. Sometimes it's the Retainer. Sometimes The Review. Sometimes just one board session. We'll tell you which, and why.
03
We Show Up
Once the engagement is agreed, we pull up a chair and get to work. The board meeting. The leadership session. The strategy day. Ready from day one — because we've done this before, many times.
04
We Stay
Unlike most consultants, we don't hand you a report and disappear. The same two wise heads who shaped the strategy are there when the platform goes live, the submission is lodged and the revenue grows
.
Who we
work with
Wise Heads works exclusively with associations and not-for-profit organisations. We are not for everyone — we are for the organisations described below.
Small Associations
Typically 1–5 staff, 500–5,000 members. A CEO who needs senior strategic support they can't justify as a full-time hire. A board doing its best with volunteer-level expertise. More potential than current capacity.
Peak Bodies
State or national peak bodies navigating advocacy, commercial development, governance and the complexity of representing a diverse membership. Organisations that need to be in the right rooms, saying the right things.
NFPs Without a CEO
Boards that need fractional senior executive capability while building the revenue base to justify a full-time appointment. We fill the seat and help the organisation grow into it.
CEOs Building Capability
The CEO 2–3 years in who knows their sector but needs two wise heads beside them on membership strategy, commercial development or advocacy — not a report about them.
Revenue-Ready Organisations
Associations that can see the commercial opportunity — new business units, training, events, government funding — but lack the senior capacity to design and execute it. That's exactly what we do.
Advocacy-Led Bodies
Associations whose primary value to members is representation and influence. We've written the submissions, attended the hearings and built the government relationships. We know how to get an association heard..
Our Founders
Scott Wiseman
CEO · Strategist · Governance Specialist · Leadership
Scott brings over 27 years of leadership inside associations and member organisations. He has served as CEO of multiple peak bodies and holds membership of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Australian Society of Association Executives since 1998.
He has unified fragmented state bodies into national organisations twice. Secured over $188 million in government funding for a single association. Reduced government funding dependency from 60% to 12% by building commercial revenue. Sat on 30+ government committees. Built RTOs from scratch. Delivered multiple financial turnarounds. 2025 Associations Forum — External Campaign of the Year2025 Associations Forum — Association of the Year FinalistMAICD Since 2020 AUSAE Member since 1998
He has unified fragmented state bodies into national organisations twice. Secured over $188 million in government funding for a single association. Reduced government funding dependency from 60% to 12% by building commercial revenue. Sat on 30+ government committees. Built RTOs from scratch. Delivered multiple financial turnarounds. 2025 Associations Forum — External Campaign of the Year2025 Associations Forum — Association of the Year FinalistMAICD Since 2020 AUSAE Member since 1998
Clare O'Brien
Partnerships · Advocacy · Commercial Growth Specialist
Clare brings over 15 years' experience driving strategic partnerships, advocacy, commercial growth and organisational transformation across NFP, education and B2B sectors.
Clare led the advocacy campaign that secured a $2.8 billion Federal–State funding uplift — recognised nationally as External Campaign of the Year at the 2025 Associations Forum Awards. She has grown partnership income by 200%, delivered $10M+ in vendor-funded growth programs, opened 109 service locations as part of a national market entry, and presented to state and federal parliamentary committees.
2025 Associations Forum — External Campaign of the Year2019 WMRR National Award — Community EngagementMember — Institute of Community Directors Australia
Clare led the advocacy campaign that secured a $2.8 billion Federal–State funding uplift — recognised nationally as External Campaign of the Year at the 2025 Associations Forum Awards. She has grown partnership income by 200%, delivered $10M+ in vendor-funded growth programs, opened 109 service locations as part of a national market entry, and presented to state and federal parliamentary committees.
2025 Associations Forum — External Campaign of the Year2019 WMRR National Award — Community EngagementMember — Institute of Community Directors Australia
Wise Heads
Ready to pull up a chair? Let's start with a conversation — no templates, no proposals, no obligation. Just Wise Heads and your organisation's real challenges.
Scott Wiseman - 0402 605 766
scott@wiseheadsadvisors.com.au
Clare O'Brien - 0407 905 811
clare@wiseheadsadvisors.com.au
wiseheadsadvisors.com.au
Contact us
Get in touch
Address
10 Dibbil Street Chermside West Qld 4032