About Us
Privatus Consulting is a boutique Australian consultancy founded in 2019. Based in St Kilda Road, Melbourne, Victoria, we offer our services nationally.
Our core mission is to assist organisations looking to make impactful, positive submissions to consultations by government and others in relation to privacy, cyber security, data governance, AI, risk and communications and related fields across diverse industry and social sectors. We also offer practical, expert policy and strategy advice.
Through our customised approach, we actively partner with organisations in articulating their considered views and proposing solutions. Optimal downstream outcomes include improved legislative frameworks, heightened organisational performance and fair treatment for not only our clients but all stakeholders.
(ABN 93 548 752 115)
Our Services
Successful submissions result from expert preparation. You can choose the services you need depending on your stage of preparation. Our offerings include:
assessment of the parameters of the consultation and advice about approach options
research
stakeholder consultation
refinement of client policy position including identification of evidence in support
analysis and strategic advice about proposed submission content
a template (for client submission drafting) or we will draft your submission
review and finalise (settle) any client-drafted submission materials.
If you need something more, please ask us about it.
Who should use our services?
Consultations frequently specify which groups the sponsoring entity would like to hear from. While our services could assist all interested stakeholders, they are best suited to three groups in particular:
Industry and professional associations and other peak bodies.
Affected businesses and other industry participants.
Clubs and community groups including those with lived experience and consumers.
Why work with us?
As a boutique, expert and cost-effective consultancy squarely focussed on helping clients to make the best possible submissions to consultations on digital-age issues that affect them, Privatus Consulting stands out.
We bring:
Depth of knowledge about current issues and trends in a highly dynamic environment.
Public sector and industry and professional associations expertise, having held senior roles in government and member-based organisations in public policy and process areas.
Specialised skills including policy analysis, strategic communication, and access to (separate, expert) legal advice relevant to submissions.
Understanding of the processes and requirements of Australian and State government departments.
A flexible approach that can be tailored to both client preferences and the terms and requirements of individual consultations.
Privatus People
Deidre Missingham
Deidre brings more than three decades of experience across business, member organisations, professional services and government in developing and implementing policy and strategy as well as executive and consulting roles.
Immediately before establishing Privatus Consulting and joining Keypoint Law as a Consulting Principal, Deidre led privacy, data protection and information governance initiatives across several Victorian government departments and contributed to both state and federal law reforms in these and related fields.
Deidre holds a Master of Arts and JD from Monash University, and a Graduate Diploma in Media, Communications and Information Technology Law and a Diploma in Education from the University of Melbourne. She is also Deputy Board Chair of a Victorian regional hospital and sits on the editorial board of the Privacy Law Bulletin.
Deidre Missingham
Founder and Principal
FAQs
How will I know what consultations are open or concluded? In our Links section we've included links to a limited number of consultation sites that may be relevant to you, but there are many more at all levels of government. Generally, industry participants will see information about consultations in social media such as LinkedIn, newsletters and journals relating to their sector.
Does Privatus Consulting offer legal services? No. Although the policy and strategy advice and services that Privatus Consulting offers includes developing and commenting on legal policy, and is backed by legal qualifications and experience, we are not engaged in legal practice.
What happens if a legal question arises in relation to the policy and strategy advice and services Privatus Consulting offers? Our founder and principal Deidre Missingham is a leading practising lawyer with recognised expertise in areas including privacy, cyber security, data governance, AI, risk and communications. She is a Consulting Principal with national law firm Keypoint Law (www.keypointlaw.com.au) and any legal questions, separate or arising, may be referred to her by phone (+61 3 8199 3300) or by email at deidre.missingham@keypointlaw.com.au
Links to consultation information
At any time there may be open consultations that interest you, and they may be advertised in various media. To assist you we have listed some key dedicated consultation sites which you can add to according to your sector and location. Many of these sites also provide details of earlier consultations now closed, and some publish prior submissions.
Office of the Australian Information Commissioner
https://www.oaic.gov.au/engage-with-us/consultations
Office of the eSafety Commissioner
https://www.esafety.gov.au/about-us/consultation-cooperation
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC)
https://consultation.accc.gov.au
Attorney-General’s Department
https://consultations.ag.gov.au/
Department of Employment and Workplace Relations
https://consultations.dewr.gov.au/
Productivity Commission
The Treasury
https://consult.treasury.gov.au/
Engage Victoria (Victorian Government)
New South Wales Government