“[Karina Marcar of Brabourne’s] engagements with my colleagues and myself were led by seemingly innocent questions that zeroed in on key issues, requiring a rethinking of standard replies. Our answers revealed observations and drew out required actions we would not have arrived at without her insight...We are in admiration of her skill.”
How we do things
Brabourne was established by Karina Marcar as a bespoke governance consultancy, focusing on boards.
We facilitate board performance reviews and provide related governance services and leadership development. Our clients range from ASX-listed to not-for-profit organisations, often in complex regulatory environments. We particularly enjoy:
- working with clients facing challenges
- supporting boards and executive teams serious about improving and evolving
- collaborating with values-aligned people on purposeful work
- intellectually rich, practical work with impact.
While our approach is based in research, this does not mean it is a checklist process. Our approach is driven by wanting to understand your organisation, rather than making assumptions about what you need.
A board’s operations and interactions need to be understood in the context of the organisation’s goals, strategy and environment. Our board review process is grounded by one-on-one interviews with your directors and senior team in order to build our understanding of your organisation, trust and broad engagement with the process and its outcomes. Board dynamics and dynamics with management are critical to high performance, including risk performance.
Our professional experience in other fields is invaluable to understanding the board in context.
Brabourne’s consultants and associates have a broad range of experience and expertise, including in the C-suite, professional services, military, regulators, neuroleadership, ethics and anti-corruption.
We have associates accredited to conduct culture assessments using Human Synergistics’ Organisational Culture Inventory® and Organisational Effectiveness Inventory™️ assessment instruments.
Please go to services for information on how we can help you.
Who we are
Karina Marcar
FGIA GAICD
managing director
Following a career of 25 years of corporate law - including over 17 years as a partner in major Australian firms - Karina now works with boards and executive teams to enhance board effectiveness and governance, enabling them to focus on strategic performance rather than process.
Her work draws on a strong understanding of commercial drivers behind both Australian and global organisations. She is financially literate, people-focused and skilled at building trust to surface insights that matter - insights that support good decisions and better boardroom dynamics.
Karina has worked with ASX listed entities, public institutions, charities and across sectors, including financial services, infrastructure, education, research, disability services, the arts and government. She has acted as Adviser to the ASX Corporate Governance Council and supported the work of the ASX Advisory Group on Corporate Governance.
Karina is focused on relationships, substance and shared purpose, especially through her work at Brabourne. She is not looking to return to legal practice, or to pursue growth just for the sake of scale. At Brabourne, we are thoughtful about how we grow and how we support others.
Karina serves on the fundraising committee of the Sir David Martin Foundation, supporting youth in crisis. She has held leadership roles in IWF Australia and the Australian chapter of the Women's Infrastructure Network.
JANE ELLIS seabrook
MAICD FBEI
CONSULTANT
Jane’s expertise is in governance, business ethics and anti-corruption.
Jane conducts reviews into business, not-for-profit and government boards and governance, operations, and workplace practices. This includes working with teams to implement governance and operational reforms and restructures to support organisations operating ethically within their governance frameworks.
Jane’s expertise has been informed by, and developed through, her prior legal career as a partner of a major Australian law firm where she specialised in competition law, consumer protection and anti-bribery law. She has also acted as a governance advisor to organisations across the private, government and not-for-profit sectors, and was a senior manager with the International Bar Association. She has advised in market and utility regulation, finance and risk management and project development.
Jane has served on boards of community and international not-for-profits, including WaterAid and Transparency International in Australia and the Herefordshire Wildlife Trust in England. She has a long-term involvement and commitment to water charities.
BRIAN FREESTONE
MAICD MINSTD
CONSULTANT
Brian brings to his work with Brabourne his experience as a leader and NED of private, public and for-purpose organisations. He is also an advisor to CEOs, C-suite executives, and partners of professional firms and NEDs in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and UK.
People leadership and strategy development are major strengths. His industry knowledge and experience have been gained in infrastructure and services, investment management, business strategy, and management consulting. He has been involved in a wide range of corporate and government organisations focused on organic growth, mergers, acquisitions and divestments. Examples of sector experience include health, disability services, property, forestry and education.
He has led restructuring of organisations and management teams. Brian has also taught strategy in both university and in-company programmes, facilitated strategy workshops and coached senior executives on executing change. Brian co-founded The ArkBowmen Group in 2004 with Gordon Hooper. Brian’s work with ArkTalent focuses on optimising human capital and business strategy.
Brian has been director of a listed entity, a responsible entity and most recently chair of an insurance brokerage and premium funding company. He currently chairs an internet platform start-up.