Our Story
nem began in Melbourne in 2001 with a simple idea: experienced business people helping other business leaders work through real challenges and make better decisions.
Since then, nem has grown across Australia and New Zealand, expanded into new sectors and taken on increasingly complex work — while staying grounded in the same practical, relationship-led approach.
The tools, technology and scale of the work have changed.
The principle has not: bring the right people and perspective to the moments that matter, and work alongside clients to help turn decisions into action.
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More than two decades in business has taught us that experience is shaped as much by what doesn’t go to plan as by what does. Those lessons continue to influence how we think, advise and work alongside clients today.
Journey through the years
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2025
AI became an increasingly practical business tool, creating new opportunities for efficiency while raising important questions around data, information security and governance.
nem continued helping clients understand where the technology could add value and where appropriate safeguards were needed.
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2024
nem continued to broaden the Partner group, bringing in additional technology and AI capability while evolving internal tools and ways of working.
The focus was on using new technology to improve knowledge sharing, efficiency and practical client support.
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2022
nem was engaged on the East Micronesia Cable Project through the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) panel.
It became nem’s largest project involvement to date and further expanded the firm’s experience in complex, multi-stakeholder infrastructure work across the Pacific.
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2021
nem provided mentoring and coaching to businesses navigating the effects of the pandemic, including work through the Victorian Chamber of Commerce and Industry and similar activity in the Blue Mountains.
The period reinforced the value of experienced outside perspective when business conditions change quickly.
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2020
As businesses responded to the disruption of COVID-19, nem worked closely with clients through lockdown and changing operating conditions.
The firm also joined the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) panel, opening the way for a significant new area of government and infrastructure work.
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2019
nem experienced a year of significant change, including the passing of Partner Brendan Bourke and the departure of its hospitality team.
At the same time, the firm supported a client through a major trade sale.
The year prompted a deliberate refocus on nem’s core strengths, values and the type of work where its experience could make the greatest difference.
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2016
nem opened a Singapore office, extending its reach into Asia and creating new opportunities to build relationships and work across the region.
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2015
nem reviewed its Partner model, recruitment approach and internal expectations to ensure the business remained aligned around its values and the way it wanted to work with clients.
The experience reinforced the importance of shared standards across an independent Partner group.
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2013
nem established a white-label advisory business with a Queensland firm and expanded its work developing industry blueprints and supporting organisations through implementation.
This reflected a growing role not only in advising on what should change, but in helping make change happen.
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2010
nem expanded into Perth and Adelaide, strengthening its national presence and broadening the experience available across the Partner group.
The year also saw the passing of Partner Michael Guthrie, an important member of the growing nem community.
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2004
nem moved to St Kilda Road and evolved its business model, welcoming new Partners and expanding into Sydney and Brisbane.
The growing Partner group brought greater diversity of industry experience and capability.
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2001
nem was founded in Ashburton, Melbourne by John, Andrew and Noel, with John King joining the early team.
What began as a small consulting business quickly developed through referrals, with clients valuing practical commercial experience and access to people who understood the realities of running a business.
How it began and what remains true
Origin
In 2001, three experienced business people sat around Noel’s kitchen table with an idea.
They wanted to create a consulting firm that gave small and medium business owners access to practical commercial experience — the kind that comes from having worked inside businesses and dealt with real decisions, pressures and opportunities.
The aim was straightforward: work with real people, understand the issue, make practical recommendations and stay close enough to help those recommendations become reality.
They each put some money in, opened a small suburban office, hired their first support person and started building the business through relationships and referrals.
More than two decades later, that basic idea still sits at the heart of nem.
Mission
From the beginning, nem wanted to be more than a source of advice.
The aim was to become a trusted point of counsel for business leaders — someone they could talk openly with, rely on for sound commercial perspective and work with to turn recommendations into practical outcomes.
That meant understanding where the client genuinely needed help, bringing in the right experience and always focusing on what would create value for the business.
Referrals became an important part of nem’s growth because strong client relationships naturally led to introductions to other business leaders facing similar challenges.
That philosophy remains central today: bring the right people and perspective to business leaders so they can move forward with confidence when it matters most.
Future
The business environment will continue to change, and nem needs to evolve with it.
That means continuing to broaden the Partner group, bring in relevant new experience and perspectives, and stay current with the technologies shaping how businesses operate.
AI is already changing the way information is accessed, analysed and used. We see it as another tool — one that can improve efficiency and support better thinking when used well.
But easier access to information does not remove the need for judgement.
Experience, context, relationships and the ability to understand what matters in a specific business situation remain difficult to replicate.
nem’s future is therefore about combining the best of new tools and thinking with something that has always mattered: experienced people working alongside people.
Careers at nem
Put your experience to work where it matters.
nem is always interested in experienced business people who share our values, bring sound commercial judgement and want to help leaders work through important challenges and opportunities.
Partners work independently while being part of a collaborative group, with access to the experience, relationships and support of the wider nem network.
Start with a conversation
Have a business challenge, opportunity or decision you’d like to talk through?
You don’t need to know exactly what help you need. Tell us what’s happening, what you’re trying to achieve or where progress is getting stuck.
We’ll listen, help clarify the situation and connect you with the right Partner if we believe nem can help.