“We believe real human connection makes everything work better - communities, organisations and systems”. 

With one of their core company values being connection, it seems appropriate that Think Human teamed up with Lee Green through a community connection between founder Mel Lambert and Lee Green Principal Mike Sweeney, via their childrens’ school and basketball club.

Mike started managing Mel’s accounts, initially as a sole trader, in 2016 when she ‘went out on her own’ after a long career in not-for-profit and government management. Since then, Think Human has grown to a team of four full and part-time staff offering co-design, change management and implementation support to businesses and government. The team draws on their experience and qualifications in human-centred design, change management (including Prosci®), behaviour science and design (including Tiny Habits®) and public participation (IAP2) to work with clients to help solve problems, redesign services and create positive change.

Mel made the jump to set up as a company in January 2019, spurred on by the successful launch of Mindset for Life, a co-designed retirement transition program drawing on Mel’s many years experience working with older adults and her expertise in program design, co-design and change and transition management. The decision to transition to a company structure was taken in consultation with Mike, who was able to provide advice and support as the business launched its first ‘product’ that took it beyond Mel’s own individual consultancy offering. That program, which supports people navigate the uncertain transition out of work and into the next phase of life, has since been delivered to over 300 people in South Australia and interstate via Think Human and partner agencies such as local councils and employers.

This project, and other ‘Life Navigation Lab’ work that the team will be co-designing with South Australians in 2022 to support thriving lives, exemplify the values of Think Human: connection, collaboration, curiosity, hospitality and optimism. 

“Running our own in-house projects, co-delivered with people with lived experience and aligned with our values, ensures our consultancy team ‘practices what it preaches’ when we support external agencies to engage in meaningful dialogue and design with their customer,” says Mel. “At the end of the day, we want to be part of helping to create better solutions and services for the communities of Australia, and we believe that will always start with ‘thinking human’.

With further expansion planned for 2022, Mike will again be offering advice and guidance to Mel and the team in the months ahead.

“Mike and the team at Lee Green have been amazingly supportive to us as a small business,” says Mel. “As a first-time business owner, I’ve felt like I’ve thrown some pretty stupid questions his way in the last five years, but Mike and the team always respond graciously (and quickly), and make me feel like I’m on top of it all!”

“We get the opportunity to work with some amazing clients and Mel and her Think Human team are doing some extraordinary projects in their field” says Mike Sweeney.  “While committing her time to developing her business, Mel has also ensured that her internal systems are prepared for future growth – something Think Human has seen a lot of in it’s 5 years of operations”.

You can check out Think Human’s services and programs via their website or on social media via Facebook, while information about Mindset for Life retirement transition support can be found at the program website. If you’re facing a life transition and are interested in participating in Think Human’s Life Navigation Lab co-design process in 2022, you can get in touch via their contact form. 

If Lee Green can help your business succeed, please contact us on (08) 8333 3666 or reception@leegreen.com.au