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Cost benefit analysis and business case development

RMCG have in-depth experience in applied economics, particularly in the application of cost-benefit analysis for investment and public policy decisions across our areas of expertise.

Our team has postgraduate training in economics, finance, engineering and environmental management, and apply our technical skills to core subject matter areas including:

  • Urban water particularly Integrated Water Management projects
  • Rural water irrigation schemes, recycled water projects and pipelines and environmental water programs
  • Agricultural investments including assessment of new technologies such as robotics and alternative energy
  • Biodiversity conservation and environmental investments, including economic assessment of policies and programs
  • Waste management, including assessing alternative options for landfill augmentation.

RMCG has a track record of delivering high quality and convincing business cases to validate investment in critical water and environmental infrastructure and programs.

Our economic analysis forms a key component of our business case work, in which we assemble economic and other project information to make a case for investment from government or the private sector.

Business cases require highly transparent and rigorous economic assessment along with related analysis such as risk assessment and stakeholder mapping. Our work is routinely scrutinised by economic regulators and is presented to State and Commonwealth departments of treasury and finance for review.

Team

Nick Beresnev

Nick Beresnev

Consultant

B.A., B.Comm., M.Env.Sci. & Policy

Nick has over 15 years’ experience in Australia and internationally as an economist, project manager and policy advisor, with a focus on natural resource management, climate change, agriculture, forestry, energy, water and international trade.

He has expertise in project- and industry-level economic analysis in a range of sectors as well as extensive experience in project design (including monitoring frameworks, work plans and budgets), primary and secondary research (including survey design and community consultation) and stakeholder management at a government and private sector level.

Nick has excellent communication skills, covering technical publications, monitoring reports and policy briefs.

Tristan Wardley

Tristan Wardley

Senior Consultant

B.Ag.Sci. (Hons)

Tristan is an experienced economics consultant at RMCG. He has worked across the agriculture and horticulture industries and has experience in natural resource management. Tristan is experienced in business and financial planning and decision analysis.

He has a thorough understanding of business structural change, specialising in micro-economic investment and production decisions, with a particular interest and skill set in risk analysis. His experience within the agricultural industry through private and public forums has given him the opportunity to contribute to progressive agricultural research.

Tristan has a developed commercial, operational and strategic skill set, and a deep understanding of sustainable and profitable business models.  He has extensive experience in stakeholder engagement and understands the range of factors influencing a business owner’s needs, risks and aspirations.

 

Carl Larsen

Carl Larsen

Associate

B.Env.Sci., B.Soc.Sci. (Env.), PG.Cert.CCPI.

Carl is a socio-environmental scientist with 15 years’ experience in planning, delivery and evaluation of agriculture and natural resource management programs, integrated water management, climate change and stakeholder engagement. He understands the practical implications of policy and science on communities and agriculture. Carl has worked with a range of government departments, resource management agencies, research and development corporations, private organisations and communities around Australia on catchment management, sustainable water use, resource management in agriculture/horticulture, land use, climate change, strategic planning, industry development, extension and practice change.

Matt Shanahan

Matt Shanahan

Principal

B.Tech. (Env.)

Matt has been working in the water/irrigation industry for the past 15 years, having spent the last 12 years with RMCG consulting to a range of private and government clients.  Matt has worked extensively in the field of recycled water and organics management, having prepared master plans, land capability assessments, irrigation management plans and environmental management plans for a range of clients.  He is also experienced in the development of works approval applications and undertaking technical assessments involving the management of soils, nutrients and salinity/sodicity.

Adrian Kennelly

Adrian Kennelly

Associate

B.Ag.Sci. (Hons), M.Ag.Sci., CPAg.

Adrian has more than 30 years’ experience in agricultural business and natural resource management research, policy, education and extension. He is a specialist farm business management adviser, who consults to medium to large-scale private farmers, agribusiness investors, agricultural industry groups and government agencies.

Adrian has specific skills and experience in strategic planning, business analysis, impact and loss assessment, facilitation, and training and education in rural Australia.  Adrian chairs the advisory boards of a number of family farming operations in south-eastern Australia and has undertaken due diligence exercises for several domestic and international investors.

In addition to this, his most recent industry project work includes the development of an Investment Attraction Program for Rural Councils Victoria, an agricultural impact assessment of the Western Highway bypass of Ararat and the development of a business planning program (Our farm, our plan) for the Australian dairy industry.

Jencie McRobert

Jencie McRobert

Associate

B.Sci., Grad.Dip.Eco., Assoc.App.Sci.

Jencie understands the science and economics of natural resource management and has grounded and practical experience in soils, mixed farming and viticulture. She has highly developed skills in evaluation of agricultural and natural resource management programs, business case writing, greenhouse emissions analysis and sustainable resource use, and catchment management.  Jencie knows and appreciates the issues affecting communities in rural and regional Australia.

Rob Rendell

Rob Rendell

Senior Fellow

B.Eng. (Ag), CPAg., GAICD

Rob has more than 40 years’ experience in irrigation, groundwater drainage, salinity management, project management, extension, reclaimed water re-use, practical irrigation farming and farm management, agricultural industry benchmarking and sustainability indicators.  Rob’s wide range of experience from the practical to the technical/managerial and also to strategy and policy, gives him ability to contribute at many levels. He is recognised as a leader in the water and irrigated agriculture sector.

Anna Kelliher

Anna Kelliher

Managing Principal

BA, BE (Hons), GAICD

Anna is an environmental engineer with 20 years’ experience in water and catchment management. She specialises in recycled water planning, irrigation modernisation, land capability assessment, environmental risk assessment and catchment condition reporting. Anna has experience working with industry, government, farmers and the community, and has developed sound teamwork, communication and project management skills.