About us
Our story
We are not traditional consultants – we are solution-focused problem solvers and creative idea generators. Our end game is contributing to more vibrant and prosperous places for us all to enjoy.
Our small and dynamic team is headed up by husband and wife duo, Steve Thompson and Emma Broomfield. First established on the NSW South Coast, where Emma and Steve were starting their family life together, they had a vision to provide a niche consultancy with a focus on working with the local government sector. Since then, we have established a reputation for our down-to-earth, community-centred approach and have had the privilege of working across over 40 local government areas in NSW.
Now based in Woolgoolga on the NSW mid-north coast, we continue to be inspired by the diversity of the people and places in our beautiful regional areas. We understand the nuances of living regionally and we work side-by-side with our clients to improve our communities.
Meet the team
Our team deeply cares about the success of our regional communities and the clients that we work with.
When you work with us, what you see is what you get. You can expect personal, proactive and independent advice, with a strong dose of realism.
Emma Broomfield
Director Learning + Engagement
emma@localeconsulting.com.au
0421 180 881
About Emma ›
Steve Thompson
Director Places + Strategy
steve@localeconsulting.com.au
0419 700 401
About Steve ›
Cinnamon Dunsford
Planning + Engagement Specialist
cinnamon@localeconsulting.com.au
0401 447 603
About Cinnamon ›
Anna Miley
Mindset Coach + Marketing Manager
anna@localeconsulting.com.au
0409 542 500
About Anna ›
Emma is driven by her purpose to support locally elected leaders and their communities to solve problems together to achieve better outcomes for all.
As a qualified mediator and recovering lawyer with over 20 years of experience in the local government industry, Emma brings an incredible ability to listen to and understand people. She is a master of interpreting complex information to enhance communication and outcomes for all involved.
Emma is known for her dynamic and down-to-earth engagement style. She is adept at designing and structuring engagement processes that support deep conversation, tackle tough topics or involve high levels of conflict.
As a child, Emma’s family travelled around Australia on a double-decker bus. This experience was perhaps the beginning of Emma’s passion for regional Australia.
As a community engagement specialist with an exceptional knowledge of the NSW local government and planning system, Cinnamon’s love is community-led and grassroots planning. Cinnamon is known for her ability to connect people to transform community dreams into action. She establishes and sustains strong working relationships with councils and communities to align visions and aspirations with practical solutions.
Over and above her outstanding professional skills, she listens carefully. This enables an understanding of community needs that she combines with her in-depth knowledge of government processes to provide direction and meaning to community desires.
Outside of planning and engagement work, Cinnamon loves being outdoors, the coast and cooking.
Steve is fiercely committed to delivering high quality outcomes that add value for clients and communities. He has a strong ethical compass and works to understand the values and interests of all parties involved in projects. He describes himself as a connector of dots – he is an expert in bringing the expertise of others and combining these with his own experiences to deliver strategically sound solutions.
Steve’s 20 plus years of experience, having worked in a number of professions both within and as a consultant to state and local government, allows him to comprehensively understand the range of factors that influence outcomes of projects and resulting impacts on communities.
When on the road to meet with clients Steve flicks between listening to 90’s punk pop and local ABC radio.
Anna Miley is an accredited exercise physiologist, yoga therapist and mindset coach whose professional mission is to educate on the power of self-care in leadership. She has a deep understanding of the impact of stress on the body and the mind, and how to boost performance through mindfulness techniques. She is well-known for her genuine accountability in helping others achieve their best.
Having owned her own private practice for over 12 years, Anna knows a thing or two about business marketing, and as a millennial, she has embraced technology and works to keep our message out in the world.
Anna loves being out in the forest on her mountain bike.
Our clients
We have worked for local councils, State government agencies and community organisations, and delivered hundreds of projects in over 40 local government areas. Here is a snapshot of selected clients.
Let's talk
Our door is always open for a good cup of coffee and conversation to see if we are the right fit.