Rivers advisory
Helping organisations get better outcomes from funding and investment
About
Rivers Advisory was founded by Barney Smith, a former senior NSW Government executive with 25 years' experience across state and local government, statutory authorities and the private sector, including leadership of a $1B+ disaster resilience and recovery investment portfolio.
We help organisations working for public good develop stronger funding propositions, establish effective governance and risk controls, and build the evidence and learning needed to improve outcomes. Interested? Get in touch!
Our Services
Investment and Funding Strategy
Helping funders and delivery organisations define what to invest in, say why it matters and secure support.Governance and Risk
Designing proportionate funding, governance, risk and assurance controls that support confident delivery.Learning and Accountability
Building monitoring, evaluation and learning approaches that show what is working, support accountability and improve future decisions.
Who we work with
We work with councils, NGOs, and community organisations seeking funding, and with foundations, government and private-sector organisations making investments for public or social good.Engage Rivers Advisory when you need to:Develop an investment or funding strategy, proposition, theory of change or business case.
Strengthen a funding application, investment case or program proposal.
Design or review grants, funding governance, risk and assurance arrangements.
Establish monitoring, evaluation and learning systems that support accountability and adaptation.
Review program effectiveness, benefits and value, and turn evidence into better decisions.How We Can Work With You:Consulting advice / fee for service
Contracting, fractional roles or retainers
Why Rivers Advisory
Experience
Barney has been a funder and decision-maker, and understands funding decisions beyond the guidelines.
Agility
We are fast to mobilise and easy to work with, providing senior expertise without large firm overheads or lock-in.
Partnering
Our focus is on building internal capability, so each bid, program or evaluation leaves the organisation stronger.
Track Record
Barney has led teams responsible for:
• a $1B+ resilience and recovery investment portfolio, strengthening investment discipline, oversight and accountability
• Securing $200M+ for NSW from the Commonwealth Disaster Ready Fund, building sector capability and strengthening application rigour
• Integrating a $390M+ disaster recovery program portfolio into a new delivery environment, stabilising governance, operations and stakeholder confidence
He has also:
• Designed the funding strategy for NSW’s first State Disaster Mitigation Plan, and oversight of a $150M Treasury-compliant business case for the State Disaster Mitigation Fund
• Led the integration of evaluation and learning across a complex portfolio of grants and programs, strengthening accountability, learning and investment discipline
• Directed the development of a $60M social innovation portfolio at icare, with evaluation confirming a $2 return for every dollar invested
Contact
Need support with funding, delivery or evaluation?Let's Talk!Tel: 0424 003 865
Location: Sydney, Australia