Our People
John Grout |
Managing Director
John established Secora’s Australian operations in 2006 and provides expert advice to clients in the resources, utilities and defence industry sectors.
Originally hailing from the UK, John previously held a range of senior executive and operations positions in Europe and the US, primarily in the automotive and defence sectors with a heavy bias in advanced manufacturing and digital capability.
Drawing on this experience, John provides critical advice to clients on industrialisation strategies with particular emphasis on improving operational effectiveness, asset utilisation, cost reduction, technology adoption, organisational design, and Industry 4.0 readiness.
Paul Sheather |
Executive Director – Operations
Paul joined Secora in 2019, drawn to the organisation due to its people and culture, the variety of projects and opportunity for creative problem solving.
Managing Secora’s business operations, Paul utilises his experience in Defence as a Navy Weapons Engineer, along with projects in Renewable Energy (Solar, Wind), Mining (Iron Ore, Coal), Industrial Construction and Power. He enjoys the flexibility, innovation and agility that comes with being part of the Secora team and applying his skills to the intellectual challenges presented on a regular basis.
Paul holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Electrical) degree and a Master of Business Administration.
David Walter |
Executive Director – Innovation & Strategy
David spent close to 27 years as an Engineer Officer in the Royal Australian Navy. Progressing through the ranks he led and served on most of the Navy’s surface platforms. He was awarded the Conspicuous Service Cross, and Navy Commendation (Engineering).
David joined Secora in 2018, having been introduced to the organisation a few years prior, and was impressed by their agile, values-based approach and focus on innovation. Bringing expertise that extends beyond his naval experience to the power and resource sector and large complex infrastructure, he is focused on the integrated strategic management of assets throughout their entire lifecycle from concept to build to operation, and disposal.
In his current role, David is responsible for the future direction of the business and ensuring it supports clients to become industry leaders through the application of current and emerging strategies.
Leanne Mitchell |
Executive Director – Commercial & Finance
Leanne is a Chartered Accountant and the former principal of Number$ Count, a regionally based Chartered Accounting practice which she established and led for over 27 years. Following the sale of the practice, Leanne joined the Secora team in July 2021.
In her many years of accounting practice Leanne has worked with clients from small businesses through to large manufacturing and export operations. More than just a compliance-based accountant, Leanne has a passion for seeing businesses maximise their opportunities and reach their full potential, and during her years in practice she became the trusted adviser for many businesses from start-up to scale-up to sale.
Leanne’s experience and broad expertise includes business management, business plans and structure, asset protection, succession planning, and business tax planning.
Jonathon Gregor |
Executive Director – Strategy & Business Development
For more than 20 years, Jonathon has established and led large-scale change projects for global brands - transforming operations using technology and automation.
After joining Secora in 2020, he now brings this experience to owners and operators of complex assets as our Executive Director of Strategy and Business Development.
Jonathon has a deep strategic advisory background at Accenture, Arthur Andersen and BearingPoint, and in leadership roles in the financial services and energy resources sectors.
His work in hyper-scale projects, international ventures and digital innovation has carried him to Australia, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa and built the skills to deliver in the most difficult of circumstances.
Malcolm Nason |
Sales and Product Development
Malcolm has been part of the Secora advisory team since 2017 when he took on a consulting project requiring specialised knowledge in underground logistics. Having held executive positions in the UK, France, Switzerland, Singapore and now Australia, Malcolm brings his engineering and project management skills to clients in the resource, utilities, infrastructure and government sectors. His experience encompasses sales, marketing, R&D and strategic development.
Malcolm enjoys helping businesses identify and achieve business goals, especially while improving efficiency and outcomes.