Peter Dempster is Managing Director of Syneca Consulting. His expertise is in policy and program analysis, using economic, statistical and modelling tools to assess policy issues, options and proposals. Recent work has been dominated by financial and economic appraisals for capital projects of state and local governments, using both cost-benefit and commercial frameworks. He enjoys projects that involve higher levels of planning with regional, network and spatial dimensions including working with other consultants and other disciplines.

Over two decades as an independent consultant, Peter has worked on structural provisions of building codes and regulations, the assessment of energy efficiency and greenhouse abatement proposals, assessment of tourism-related impacts, and the evaluation of research and development programs for major research organisations. His earlier career was lecturing in macroeconomics, monetary and labour economics at the University of Canberra and University of New England. Also, 10 years in the Commonwealth Public Service; at Economic Planning and Advisory Council and the Bureau of Industry Economics. He has been a decades long member of the Economic Society of Australia.

Peter is interested in seeing markets and planning in a happier and more honest relationship; smarter economics for struggling regions; better understanding of housing adjustment processes; and working out how to convert outlived resources into something healthy and sustainable.

Ron Groenhout is a Director of Syneca Consulting. His area of expertise is the assessment of economic and financial impacts arising from decisions on policies, programs and projects. He has extensive experience in studies where the major impacts are constituted by non-market benefits, such as protection against environmental damage, the conservation of ecosystems and natural areas, and reduction in risks to public health and occupational safety.

His approach emphasises the quantitative and analytical making use of his background in mathematics and statistical analysis. Much of Ron’s consulting work is for the public sector. He has over ten years experience in the NSW public service providing economics policy advice at senior levels in NSW Treasury, and the transport and environment protection areas. His clients include Subsequently over a period of 12 years his consulting clients include health and human service departments in NSW and the ACT, environment protection agencies at the state and federal level, public sector authorities, local councils and community groups.

Ron brings a deep understanding of how economic appraisal can support good decision-making in policy development. He brings to the consultancies he works on a wealth of experience in applying economic and mathematical concepts to investigate real world problems.

Ids Groenhout is a Director of Syneca Consulting Pty Ltd. His area of expertise is in infrastructure development. His infrastructure experience extends to all aspects of infrastructure development including: conceptual planning, due diligence and feasibility studies, engineering and project management, project structuring and financing.

Ids held a number of senior executive roles with Snowy Mountains Engineering Corporation (SMEC) managing infrastructure engineering projects and operations across Africa and the Asia Pacific region. This experience extends over some thirty years and in more than twenty countries in the region.

Over the last 13 years Ids has been involved in identifying, developing, and financing infrastructure projects for private sector investment, initially for SMEC and subsequently for InfraCo Asia Development, a Singapore based infrastructure development and investment company. He has been CEO and or managing director of three renewable energy investment companies.

His strength is his experience in and understanding of the full project development cycle in a wide range of socio-economic and technical environments.

Julie Dempster is Senior Consultant with Syneca Consulting. Her areas of expertise are in Education, community program consultation and assessment, and desktop research.

Julie was a Director of the education and HR consultancy, Cookson Cummins and Associates for 8 years and a Director of Syneca Consulting for 5 years. As a Director of Cookson Cummins and Associates, Julie held the position of Managing Director of the City Wide Personnel recruitment brand. In addition, she was Senior Consultant for staffing reviews at Secondary Colleges across NSW. As Syneca Consultant, Julie has undertaken research projects and produced working papers for the Australian Catholic University. Also with the University sector for 4 years, Julie administered National workshops for Universities Australia Executive Women Group. She has worked closely with the Not for Profit sector writing tenders for government funding, desk top reviews of support services, and proposals for provision of expanded services.

Julie spent the first 20 years of her working life in Queensland, the ACT and NSW holding positions at TAFE and Secondary Education as teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal. She was Commissioner (Secondary Principal Representative) for three years on the ACT Catholic Education Commission.

Julie brings to the Syneca team excellent oral and written communication skills, extensive project and business management experience and sound organisational capacity.