ABOUT US

Our Capability and Our Story

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About Us

Cross Cultural Consultants (CCC) was founded in 1989, with the intention of filling a space in the field of cross cultural training, stakeholder and community engagement. What began as a sole tradership has in the three decades since grown into a thriving and evolving community. As our team expanded, so to did our concepts, ideals and values, creating a dynamic and diverse company in terms of both our people and our capacity.

From our inception we have recognised the need for flexible, independent cross culturally focused training services to support effective engagement with Aboriginal people, communities, organisations and key stakeholders.

We also recognised the reluctance of many people to engage effectively with Aboriginal people, communities and organisations, based on apprehension and a lack of knowledge about how to connect with them in a culturally responsive and appropriate way.

Working alongside our clients and communities, we build on the foundations to build the capacity of individuals, communities and organisations to work effectively across cultures and deliver culturally appropriate and responsive outcomes.

Our team has more than three decades of personal experiences living and working cross-culturally, including strong connections with extensive family and community networks, all of which work together to assist us in delivering projects in the Nothern Territory and abroad.

Our Values

We will respect & embrace diversity
There’s no other way

We will be culturally sensitive
It’s what we do

We will display integrity & trust
We are all partners together

We will strive for constant improvement and drive change
We are a key player in the future

Our Mission & Vision

Cross Cultural Consultants will lead the business community by providing cutting edge, responsive and socially minded services that develop social, economic and cultural participation, while providing reinvestment activities which improve opportunities for our clients and the broader community.

We will be the preferred consultants to improve our client’s business in Australia by ensuring that all opportunities for social, economic & cultural development, integrate best practice approaches for community engagement & cultural responsiveness to achieve the most advantageous outcomes for First Nations peoples.

What We Do

Design
Design and deliver a range of participatory learning programs and tools focused on understanding the role of culture in implementing development programs.
Undertake
Undertake evaluation and assessment activities to build the capacity of individuals, programs, projects and organisations to work effectively across cultures and deliver culturally responsive outcomes.
Collaborate
Collaborate with other stakeholders in delivering inputs to development throughout the process from design through to final evaluation.
Train
Train development practitioners in frameworks, strategies and tools for working effectively with counterparts across cultures to build capacity. We use a unique suite of current practical examples and tools that model best practice.

We Work With…

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OUR TEAM’S STRENGTHS

Cross Cultural Consultants have a small core team that work alongside our diverse group of project partners & consultants. The CCC team combines facilitation skills with technical, sector and culturally specific expertise, working across all sectors. This includes government departments, not-for-profit organisations, community and First Nations controlled organisations, mining, oil and gas companies, as well as private and corporate enterprises.

In assigning teams for specific client training or engagement projects, we consider gender, culture, skills and experience to ensure the best people possible are on the job.

Underpinning all levels of our work are our core values, which prioritise cross cultural sensitivity, flexibility and adaptability; participation in learning and strengths-based capacity development.

Our team bring a lot to the table, including:

Extensive Experience
Extensive experience in remote consultation with culturally and linguistically diverse groups.
Thorough Knowledge
Thorough knowledge of the Northern Territory and the existing frameworks, policies and strategies relating to Aboriginal self-determination.
Connections
Connections with remote Aboriginal communities, key stakeholders and Government agencies.
Understanding
Understanding and experience of program and policy development, strategies and engagement design for effective community participation.

Meet The Team

Jason Elsegood

Director

Jason is an Aboriginal man born and raised on Larrakia Country in Darwin. With over 30 years of experience, Jason has dedicated his career to working with and for First Nations people in a community development context and facilitating community engagement. His journey has also taken him to Western Australia, New South Wales, and the ACT, where he has lived and studied. He has experience working across all industry sectors, private sector, NGO’s, NFP organisations and Government.

Jason holds formal qualifications including a Bachelor of Applied Science (Aboriginal Community Management and Development) with High Distinction Honours, and is deeply passionate about creating real opportunities and driving successful outcomes for First Nations people, businesses, and their communities.

Marissa Elsegood

Business Manager

Born and raised on Larrakia Country in Darwin, Marissa brings extensive practical experience in project and contract management. Her journey has also taken her to Western Australia and the ACT, where she has lived and studied. Marissa’s expertise spans across a diverse range of sectors and regions, including program evaluation and delivery. She is known for her high-level contract management skills and her deep knowledge of the Northern Territory, including both urban and remote service delivery.

Marissa holds formal qualifications in Project Management and Business Management and is committed to supporting the team and clients to deliver culturally responsive and positive outcomes across policy, programs and projects, ensuring that all projects are coordinated professionally, within budget and on time.

Jaya Pastor-Elsegood

Manager, Strategy and Business Development

Jaya is a born and bred Territorian with extensive expertise across Northern Australia, Southeast Asia, and the Pacific. His professional interests span Indigenous affairs, national resilience, resources and energy, infrastructure, national security and defence. With a background in both the public and private sectors, Jaya has served as a policy analyst, policy officer, advisor, and senior advisor. His experience includes working on strategy and engagement, policy development and implementation, supporting global and Australian clients at the executive and c-suite level.

Jaya brings a deep understanding of Northern Australia and the surrounding regions, considering the unique factors for stakeholders in these environments. He has lived in Indonesia and Singapore and is proficient in Bahasa Indonesia.

James O’keefe

Consultant and Advisor

James was born in Melbourne on Wurundjeri Country and grew up in Port Macquarie, NSW. He has extensive experience delivering locally led international development initiatives across a wide range of sectors and focus areas including global health, conflict transformation, economic empowerment and arts and culture across Southeast Asia, Africa and the Pacific.

James provides strong stakeholder engagement expertise and experience securing and delivering development projects for major funding agencies including DFAT, MFAT, the World Bank and the Asian Development Bank. He has also worked for the National Native Title Tribunal and has experience implementing Reconciliation Action Plans in the international development space.

James enjoys working in cross cultural environments and supporting community-led social change initiatives. He speaks Cambodian (Khmer) and Spanish.

Bodhi Pastor-Elsegood

Project Manager and Analyst

Born in Darwin and having lived between Australia and Southeast Asia, Bodhi is an effective communicator who excels in cross-cultural environments and remains calm under pressure. His diverse background has given him broad experience in engaging with people across different cultural contexts. Bodhi has worked in culturally complex settings, tackling highly sensitive topics, and he has a deep understanding of the current issues facing Australia’s First Nations peoples. His work in project management including research, writing, and engagement services spans multiple sectors and locations across the country.

Bodhi delivers grounded governance and management, employing a human-centred design approach, ensuring that the strengths, capabilities, and needs of stakeholders are central to every project.

Our Consultancy Services

Our Courses

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30 Years of CCC

1989-2019
We've been on the ground and lending our expertise for more than 30 years. That is something to celebrate!

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Our Experience

At Cross Cultural Consultants, we pride ourselves on bringing over 33 years of experience into each of our client interactions and relationships. Our experience hasn’t just spanned decades, but also governments, policies and enormous amounts of community change. We know the story of First Nations people in the Northern Territory, because we have lived it and seen it happen. When we come on to a project, we bring with us the cumulative wealth of that experience, spanning Training and Professional Development, Reconciliation Action Planning, Review and Development, Policy and Program Design, Review, Planning and Advice and Community and Stakeholder Engagement.

Our Experience