About Us

Michael Brawn Consulting - My Story

​

Having collaborated with organisations of all sizes - across public and private sectors and diverse industries, I have honed my expertise in driving change, refining business cultures, crafting impactful business strategies, optimizing operational models, and successfully delivering programs and projects.

​

As I write this introduction, I am embarking on an exciting new chapter. After nearly 18 incredible years across two stints with Microsoft in the UK and Australia, a recent organisational restructuring opened the door to my next endeavour. This moment presents the perfect opportunity to give back and share the insights I’ve gained over decades of experience.

Now, through Michael Brawn Consulting, I am dedicated to empowering small and medium-sized businesses and non-profits to thrive. My goal is to provide specialised consulting services that help turn around and grow businesses and achieve sustainable success.

​

I look forward to working with you, combining my knowledge and experience with your expertise to shape your business's future.

 

My Resumé

 

Michael Brawn AGIA ACG (CS, CGP) ACMP 

Responsible for Digital Transformation and AI (LLM) Change Leadership across Microsoft’s Asia region, also PMO and Program Management, Corporate Governance, Risk Management and Compliance. Business Strategy Alignment, Business Analysis. Communications and Training.

 

Recent Career Overview

 

Microsoft Asia - Change Strategy and Leadership, Business Transformation

Microsoft ANZ - Program Director / Program Manager

PMO Manager – Empired Ltd, Australia (acquired by Cap Gemini)

 

Major Qualifications

 

Chartered Company Secretary

Grad Dip GIA - Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance

MBA South Bank University

BA Hons London Guildhall University,

CobiT5 and PROSCI

Global experience: UK, USA, Australia, Denmark, Portugal, Ireland and Asia 

 

Change Leadership (Asia) Microsoft Feb 2021 - 18 March 2025

​

I led Change Leadership consulting and value realisation across the Asia region across all Industry Sectors fulfilling the client’s business strategy and objectives by landing complex technical deliveries and driving 300% to 500% ROI by removing the main ‘people blockers’ to successful adoption and use of technology – significant technical blockers are relatively rare.

I stepped in at critical moments to maintain stability and service delivery of the regional teams across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa.

 

Achievements: 

As strategist on the Change Consulting Worldwide SLT, I provided strategic change leadership on very large ($20 million +), complex engagements enabling the team to stay ahead of a volatile business environment over multiple years. I defined and developed the operating strategy for the team including its geographical focus across Asia, understanding cultural and language specific characteristics of the region. This enabled the Practice to pivot successfully across the region from Australia and New Zealand to include ASEAN, China and Japan. 

 

Program Director Global PMO (APJ) Microsoft April 2020 - Feb 2022

​

I managed major transformation programs ($10m to $20m USD) in the Asia region. I was responsible for executive relationship management and program direction.

 

PMO Practice Manager Empired Ltd (now Cap Gemini) August 2016 - April 2020

​

As a member of the Senior Leadership Team with a remit encompassing governance and risk, change leadership, service management and management of the PMO in the Eastern States of Australia I successfully managed delivery of technology projects on time, to scope and budget.

I championed and developed the company’s strategy for business transformation and Adoption Change Management business across ANZ and ran the Project Assurance function across Australia, growing the team from almost nothing to a companywide offering.

Achievements: 

Set up and grew the Change Management Practice across Empired and Intergen ANZ.

Lead the Program and Project Assurance Function across Empired.

Significantly reducing project budget overrun and write-offs. 

 

Director Michael Brawn Consulting Pty Ltd January 2014 - August 2016

​

Corporate and IT Governance, Program Management and Business Consulting

Responsibilities: My own business, focussed on executive level, C-Suite consulting. As a business strategy and governance professional I focussed on aligning Governance and Organisational Change Leadership to business strategy, PMO development and the orchestration of consulting resources to achieve excellent levels of client satisfaction.

Consulting to CIO at NSW Family and Community Services successfully streamlining decision-making in the weekly meetings from 2 hours to 45 minutes covering a fuller agenda and delivering significant shorter time to project delivery.

Corporate governance coaching, PMO development advice and change program to NSW TAFE. Carried out detailed review of the Board, the Board committees and the individual Board membership. Worked to modernize Enterprise Risk Management, Business Continuity Planning and IT management including PMO, business architecture and Strategy alignment. 

 

Microsoft Service Delivery Executive (Cloud Services) June 2010 - December 2013

​

Exec and C-Suite consulting enabling customers to make the leap to fully cloud services. Delivered change leadership and business strategy development/alignment.

​

Provided coaching, advice and guidance from corporate and IT governance to the delivery of technical and business services and corporate communications.

Transitioned Caltex, Coca Cola, Echo Entertainment & Flinders University to Office 365. 

Orchestrated and engaged a very wide variety of partners both in-house and outsourced (Fujitsu, HP, Telstra etc.) to minimize the impact of these complex transitions.

 

Microsoft Strategy Consulting Delivery Management 2009 - June 2010 

​

Responsible for aligning solutions and the required changes to business strategy, as well as the delivery of consulting resources to achieve excellent levels of client satisfaction.

End-to-end strategy consulting, scoping, contracts to delivery and review.

Developing and closing qualified opportunities originated by the sales team

Overwhelmingly ‘very satisfied’ clients from survey results.

Breakthrough deals: Qantas, Fujitsu, Macquarie Bank, Optus, Coca Cola & Origin Energy

 

Microsoft Australia MCS Strategy Practice Manager/Business Architect 2007 – 2009 

​

National role across all industry sectors as a Business Architect, leading the Strategy and Architecture Practice and driving the delivery of Business Technology Strategy engagements, value realisation and change management assignments. In this role I was responsible for negotiations, contract terms, scope and deliverables. 

Managed the delivery of, or personally delivered, strategic engagements to Commonwealth and Westpac Banks, Hutchison Whampoa Group, Nortel, Dept. of Defence, Federal Police, Northern Territory Government, Rio Tinto and Worley Parsons.

 

Microsoft Services Sales Executive 2002 - 2007

 

Delivered against revenue quota, pipeline development, origination, contracting, negotiation and closing of services sales.

Development of new $3M+ consulting business.

Consistently achieved 30% increase in revenue year on year.

 

Delivered team utilisation 20% above the Australian average.

Secured long-term repeat business at CBA and Macquarie Banks.

 

Microsoft United Kingdom. Lead Program Manager Solution Development  2000 to 2002

​

Responsible for PMO management, change leadership, functional specification and program management of very large, complex projects typically in the £20m to £25m range (approx. $40m to $50m AUD)

Delivered the business and functional specification and program management of the: UK Government Gateway, the ground-breaking £20m government e-commerce initiative UK Government online Tax Credits system, a £25m government tax and benefits system

Functional specification and program management of UK Government Criminal Justice Exchange, a £20m government ‘joined-up-justice’ initiative.

 

Information Catalysts Ltd, UK (management consulting) Managing Consultant - 1997-2000 

​

Defined and managed a segment of business with full responsibility for contract negotiations, pricing and scope. 

Reporting to the COO Barclays Capital, developed a group-wide risk management solution for the first time integrating corporate information across Investment Banking, Capital Markets, Equities, Derivatives and Options Trading.

Reporting to Lloyds TSB Group Director of Market risk, developed a group-wide market risk analysis architecture and the migration & upgrading of risk management data.