Lisa Gollan

Lisa's first career aspiration was seeded during her high school years - she toyed with the idea of becoming a chef. Growing up a food lover at heart and with a mum who is a culinary genius, she has been known on occasion to exhibit ‘gourmet' skills!

While a chef's apprenticeship was incredibly enticing, Lisa continued at school and art folio in hand, believed she had settled on an artistic/design career. Her stint at university was essentially to acquire the business acumen needed to be able to successfully operate her own design business – an educational initiative wholly supported by her academic dad! Some 18 years (how time flies when you are having fun!) later she is still actively rounding out that elusive lot of business acumen!

Lisa's first foray into business was when she manufactured children's' clothing which she sold through a local specialist giftware retailer. After completing a Bachelor of Commerce her first “real job” was as a management accountant with the Coles Myer owned retail chain Target. It was upon moving to Alcoa, the world's leading producer of aluminum, that Lisa honed her business skills.

During ten years with Alcoa World Alumina, Lisa moved through numerous commercially centred roles learning from some of the most skilled business practitioners. In later years these roles included senior appointments in Internal Audit across Australia & Asia, Finance & Procurement Management for the multi-million dollar Wagerup Alumina Refinery in WA, and Corporate Business Support & Planning Management for the Executive Group for the billion dollar exposure across Australian operations.

Lisa established her own boutique business consultancy in 2003 for lifestyle reasons – to exert greater influence over her life & work dichotomy. She now works with a small and select group of big and small businesses across Australia … and in her ‘free' time she can be found sampling gastronomic delights at local cafes and restaurants and using her artistic/design skills to renovate & furnish properties.

Lisa has a Bachelor of Business (B.Comm), is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), a member of Chartered Institute of Purchasing & Supply Australia (CIPSA) and the Institute of Internal Audit (IIAA), and also has a Masters of Business Administration (MBA) with a focus on International Business. In addition to her refined commercial focus, Lisa has a particular interest in leadership, people, marketing and sales strategies.

Paper qualifications aside, Lisa strongly feels she gained most of her learning with sleeves rolled up and communicating with people on the job. And this is why her preference is to work with a small and select group of businesses enabling her to pass on her craft largely hands on and step-by-step.