Melissa Damnics
B.SSc., Socio-Environmental Assessment & Policy

melissa [at] maiaconsulting.com.au

Melissa Damnics is one of Maia Consulting’s founding partners, establishing the business in 2010 to provide a flexible and ethical workplace which would offer client’s high quality tailored services. Melissa is thrilled to be able to team with long time collaborators, Marg Caithness, Paula Kleverlaan and Nyree Chung, all of whom she has worked with on a variety of projects during the past 20 years.

Melissa has established herself as a professional and dynamic consultant working for several international consulting firms. Melissa has outstanding project management skills having been responsible for the administration and facilitation of International Government Committees and projects for organisations such as the International Energy Agency (IEA), Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Asia Pacifica Clean Energy Partnership (APP) and the Super Efficient Appliance Deployment Program (SEAD). She has proven training experience running education sessions on topics as diverse as Research Methodology, Energy Efficiency and Breastfeeding information. This has included catering for culturally and linguistically diverse participants from 4 year olds to academics to High ranking government officials.

Melissa also has experience in event organisation including organising international conferences and workshops at venues outside of Australia. She has solid research skills particularly in conducting field research and survey design. She has been responsible for editing technical and policy documents and can effectively summarise and decode highly technical documents into lay language to provide succinct yet accurate translation for policy makers and the non technical reader.

Melissa holds a B.SSc., Socio-Environmental Assessment & Policy, and is a trained community educator. She is a member of the ASMRS and the AES. She is passionate about the community she lives volunteering at her local school whenever time permits, working with the School council, assisting in the classroom or coaching the netball team.

Nyree Chung

Masters of Public Health / International Health
Bachelor of Nursing Practice

nyree [at] maiaconsulting.com.au

Nyree  joined Maia Consulting in 2013 bringing with her a wealth of experience in public health. Nyree holds a Bachelor of Nursing Practice from Flinders University in South Australia and a Masters of Public Health (International) from Monash University, Victoria. Nyree is an accredited nurse immuniser, pre and post test HIV/Hep C counsellor and Community educator with the Australian Breastfeeding Association. She has also trained in motivational interviewing with the Australian Psychology Association, undertaken courses in Health promotion and cross cultural training. Nyree has enjoyed a diverse career with over 20 years’ experience in nursing, research and education, working in the areas of pediatrics, blood borne viruses, immunisation, tobacco control, public health, academia and the community sector.

In addition to her clinic work Nyree has experience in co-ordinating research projects, running workshops, writing course curriculum’s,  facilitating meetings/stake holder groups and community consultation. She has worked with a diverse range of people from prison inmates, injecting drug users, indigenous groups, breastfeeding mothers, international students and refugees through to senior government advisors, researchers and academics. Her work has involved highly developed interpersonal and organisational skills to enable effective communication and project outcomes. In addition to completing indigenous cross cultural and basic language courses in Pitjantjara and Eastern and Western Arrente, Nyree was born and raised in Alice Springs.

Nyree is a keen ocean swimmer and bike rider. She enjoys a full life with her husband, two children and a menagerie of animals.

Marg Caithness

Master of Social Science
B.SSc., Socio-Environmental Assessment & Policy

marg [at] maiaconsulting.com.au

Marg Caithness formed Maia Consulting with Melissa Damnics and Paula Kleverlaan after many years working in the research and academic sectors.  Marg is delighted to be part of a boutique consultancy able to provide quality services within a flexible and rewarding work environment, while maintaining a passion for the environment and striving for social equity.

Marg’s research includes energy efficiency policy development, community project planning, implementation and evaluation, poverty alleviation, urbanisation and health issues in developed and developing countries. Marg has co-authored a number of reports including – A Decade of Store Surveys,  Staying Connected: Unraveling energy waste issues in network standby and the 4E Standby Annex Communication Strategy.

With Maia Consulting Marg has been directly involved in research and writing of newsletters, policy briefs and reports, data collection and event organisation.  Prior to Maia Consulting Marg gained a wealth of life experience living in Papua New Guinea and India, and working as the Community Liaison Officer for the Australian High Commission in Malaysia. These fantastic life experiences have enhanced Marg’s cross-cultural sensitivities and communication skills.

Marg holds a B.SSc., Socio-Environmental Assessment & Policy, and a Master of Social Science, International, Urban and Environmental Planning, both attained through the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology.

Marg enjoys a full life with her husband and three children and in recent years has embraced the role of grandma with the arrival of two grandchildren.

Paula Kleverlaan

Grad. Dip. Applied Science – Environmental. Management
B.SSc., Socio-Environmental Assessment & Policy

paula [at] maiaconsulting.com.au

Paula Kleverlaan is a proud founding member of Maia Consulting. Paula has been involved in many research projects in the area of energy efficiency. She has a strong passion for research that is robust, detailed and reliable. As such, her sampling expertise has been very useful in past projects to gain meaningful datasets for analysis and for integrating results into government decision making and policy development.

Paula has conducted numerous phone and in-person interviews over the last 18 years with people of varying socio-economic and professional backgrounds, including executives and CEO’s from some of Australia’s largest companies. She has also conducted focus groups with a range of participants on wide ranging issues and new marketing ideas. Paula is highly skilled at employing the appropriate research methods for the assignment and ensuring that the research outcomes meet the needs and requirements of the client.

Paula has also had much experience in event organisation and has utilised her excellent organisational skills in this area on many occasions. Perhaps the most rewarding of these was a fund raising event that raised over $40,000 for a local school.

Paula holds a Graduate Diploma in Applied Science (Environmental Management) as well as a B.SSc., (Socio-Environmental Assessment & Policy). Paula likes to be involved in her children’s education and is currently a member of the school Education Board. She also volunteers her help regularly in the classroom. She continues to enjoy many travelling adventures and outdoor pursuits with her husband and three children.