Meet The Team

Simon Petie is one of Australia’s most respected leaders in business resilience, crisis management and strategic incident response. As the Founder and Managing Director of Escalate Consulting, Simon not only leads the business – he continues to play an active role in delivering high-impact consulting engagements across critical industries, both in Australia and internationally.

With over 20 years of experience in senior leadership roles, Simon brings depth, pragmatism and a hands-on approach to resilience uplift programs, crisis exercising and strategic advisory. He is deeply practiced across the full business resilience lifecycle, from risk identification, gap analysis, policy and framework development, and business impact assessments, through to practical implementation, training and scenario-based exercising for Executive Leadership Teams and Boards.

Simon is widely regarded as one of the most effective and engaging facilitators in the resilience industry. His expertise in crisis simulation and leadership exercises is sought by ASX-listed and global organisations, particularly in highly regulated sectors including finance, telecommunications, energy, transport and government.

Simon’s unique strength lies in combining deep technical knowledge with exceptional facilitation and communication skills – ensuring that every engagement builds confidence, clarity and capability. He is frequently retained to deliver multi-year exercise programs, lead complex post-incident reviews, and support organisations preparing for regulatory change, such as APRA’s CPS 230.

Above all, Simon leads with a genuine enthusiasm to improve how teams think, act and lead in times of disruption shaping Escalate Consulting into the trusted partner it is today.

2024 BCI Consultant of the Year, AUSPAC

Trent has over 20 years’ experience in emergency management (law enforcement and fire rescue) and resilience consultancy. He has been involved in some of the largest events and incidents in Australia, with significant experience operating at a strategic level within multi-agency environments.

He is passionate about bringing this experience into the boardroom through detailed preparation, planning and realistic simulation exercises, and confidently engages senior stakeholders across multiple sectors.

With experience across government, health, utilities and resources, Trent is skilled in driving engagement and delivering outcomes for organisations looking to strengthen their organisational resilience.

Geoff has more than 15 years of leadership experience in the military and business executive roles. During this time, Geoff has developed and honed a unique breadth of skills to critically analyse and solve complex organisational problems, driving and influencing change – especially in demanding, high-stakes environments.

Geoff is practiced in all aspects of the business resilience lifecycle, from gap analysis and problem identification through to policy and plan development, implementation and change management, and validation activities including training workshops and facilitated exercises.

A Graduate and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and BCI-certified, Geoff combines strategic insight with his significant experience and hands-on advisory to help organisations build, test, and continuously improve resilience capability in line with international standards, regulatory obligations, and best practice.

Joshua is a seasoned professional with a background in law enforcement and extensive expertise in business resilience, governance and emergency management. He specialises in developing and implementing crisis management frameworks, business continuity strategies and critical infrastructure exercises under national counter-terrorism frameworks.

With experience spanning law enforcement, academia, and corporate governance, Joshua has led large-scale counter-terrorism exercises, advised government agencies and lectures at Western Sydney University on disaster management and disease control. He is passionate about enhancing organisational resilience through capability development, stakeholder engagement and the application of global best practices.

Joshua’s expertise includes capability gap analysis, exercise facilitation, crisis management and business continuity planning, making him a trusted advisor in building resilient and adaptive organisations.

Keryn has extensive experience in business resilience and disaster management, specialising in crisis management, business continuity and risk mitigation. With two decades of knowledge across the public sector, she has worked at all levels of government, supporting organisations to prepare for, respond to and recover from emergencies, natural disasters and operational disruptions.

Since 2023, Keryn has been operating in a senior leadership capacity at Escalate Consulting, guiding strategic risk and resilience outcomes within complex organisational environments. She brings a pragmatic, outcomes-focused approach to strengthening organisational capability, with a strong emphasis on governance, regulatory alignment and operational readiness.

At Escalate Consulting, Keryn leverages her expertise in disaster preparedness, response and recovery to help organisations build robust and adaptive resilience frameworks. Her deep understanding of emergency management principles, crisis leadership and continuity planning enables organisations to navigate uncertainty with confidence.

Keryn is also a co-author of the Queensland 2021/22 State Disaster Risk Report, contributing valuable insights into disaster risk assessment and resilience strategy.

Josh is an operational leader who brings broad experience across business operations, program management and operational supply chain management. In a diverse career in the military and as a management consultant, Josh has worked with a broad range of organisations, including military units and government agencies, to ensure they are adequately prepared to respond during periods of heightened risk and disruption.

Josh is an experienced exercise facilitator and business continuity practitioner. He leads our Melbourne office and works with clients and partners to deliver risk, emergency management, business continuity and crisis management solutions.

Josh holds a Master of Business and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He applies this best practice governance guidance when working with organisations to ensure they prioritise risk and resilience when planning and executing their strategies.

2024 BCI Continuity and Resilience Newcomer of the Year, AUSPAC

Daniel has extensive experience in the business resilience industry, leading business continuity, crisis management and operational risk and resilience projects across sectors including government, financial services, healthcare and not-for-profit. His background in management, client relations and frontline operations enables him to understand complex organisational challenges and deliver practical solutions that strengthen risk and resilience capability.

Daniel holds a Bachelor of Business from the Queensland University of Technology, majoring in Management and Marketing. Combined with his consulting experience, this supports his ability to deliver effective outcomes across business continuity, crisis management and enterprise risk.

As a Manager at Escalate Consulting, Daniel works with organisations to strengthen resilience through continuity planning, risk management and crisis preparedness. He supports executive teams to enhance decision-making under pressure and embed risk and resilience into day-to-day operations across all levels of the organisation.

He is a Member of the Business Continuity Institute (MBCI) and was recognised by the BCI in 2024 as Continuity and Resilience Newcomer of the Year.

With experience delivering resilience outcomes across multiple sectors, Cole is a Senior Resilience Consultant at Escalate Consulting, specialising in business continuity, crisis management and operational risk. He has supported organisations in identifying critical risks, addressing gaps in preparedness and implementing practical solutions that strengthen organisational resilience.

His work focuses on business impact analysis, continuity planning, crisis management frameworks and exercising, with an emphasis on aligning strategies to real-world business needs. His structured, data-driven approach enables him to deliver outcomes that are practical, scalable and embedded within day-to-day operations.

Working across diverse industries and complex environments, Cole understands the challenges organisations face in managing disruption and uncertainty. He is committed to helping clients build capability, strengthen decision-making under pressure and maintain continuity through increasingly complex risk landscapes.

Amelia holds a Bachelor of Communications and brings expertise in research, policy development and strategic communication, alongside experience in client relationship management, project leadership and business resilience. She has worked across construction, manufacturing and corporate sectors, supporting organisations to strengthen operations and drive continuous improvement.

Her background in business analysis, reporting and change management enables her to enhance business value and improve operational performance. Amelia combines strong analytical and critical thinking with a practical approach, building trusted client relationships and supporting long-term resilience outcomes.

Amelia specialises in business continuity, crisis management and emergency management. She supports organisations to prepare for, respond to and recover from disruption, with a focus on practical capability, clear decision-making and effective coordination.

Equipped with a Master of International Business, in addition to a strong background in international studies and consultancy, Lewis brings a unique strategic and globally minded perspective to the world of business resilience. Lewis brings a developed skillset in guiding diverse and intercultural teams towards strategic organisational goals, married with a proven track record in achieving success in the fashion, international trade and government liaison industries.

As a Business Resilience Consultant, Lewis utilises his extensive background and experience to identify critical vulnerabilities, assess risks and develop tailored solutions that support clients in achieving long-term resilience. He takes pride in his capacity to work alongside organisations to ensure they are equipped with the tools, strategies and insights necessary for resilience, whether business continuity, crisis management, emergency management or strategic adaptation to change.

Isla has extensive experience in student crisis management and organisational resilience. Her previous role as a Residential Assistant at Cromwell College provided a strong foundation in policy implementation, culture-building and managing complex interpersonal dynamics. She is adept at resolving conflict with empathy and structure and supporting individuals through personal crises with clear, strategic guidance.

Building on this foundation, Isla now applies her expertise as a Business Resilience Consultant. She has supported the development and delivery of crisis management exercises for ASX 200 organisations, drawing on her practical crisis response experience to design realistic scenarios. She also has experience in business continuity analysis and planning, helping clients identify vulnerabilities and implement strategies to maintain critical operations during disruption. Isla is passionate about strengthening organisational preparedness through practical, tailored resilience solutions.

Jonathan attended the Queensland University of Technology, with academic foundations in Marketing and International Business. He developed key interests in strategy implementation, global market analysis, logistics and cross-cultural communications. Jonathan has also worked in diverse industries, including sales and hospitality which has allowed him to adapt to different scenarios and navigate complex business environments with strategic insight.

As a business resilience consultant, Jonathan leverages his experience to support clients across business continuity, crisis management and risk, helping to identify their vulnerabilities and strengthen organisational preparedness. Jonathan thrives in collaborative environments and enjoys working with the Escalate team while being committed to building strong client relationships.

Grace attended Edith Cowan University and the University of Portsmouth, equipping her with a diverse academic knowledgebase. This international experience has provided her with a well-rounded understanding of global security environments and organisational risk landscapes. Throughout her studies she developed adeptness in threat management, strategic reporting and intelligence gathering.

As a Business Resilience Consultant, Grace brings a forward-thinking approach to problem-solving. Grace has sound critical and analytical thinking capabilities enabling her to identify organisational vulnerabilities, assess risks and provide strategic and actionable solutions, that support sustainable resilience for clients. Grace is passionate about helping organisations anticipate and mitigate threats, through strategic planning and intelligence-led decision-making.

Claire is an experienced Finance Director with a Bachelor of Business from the Queensland University of Technology and is a qualified Chartered Accountant with the Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. She has over 15 years of accounting experience specialising in financial management and business analytics. Her strengths lie in streamlining accounting processes, financial modelling to aid in business decisions, budgeting, and end of month reporting requirements.

She has previous experience working within public practice, the hospital and health care industry and disability services.

Dawson Petie has over 30 years’ experience as a company director and has served on the boards of some of Australia’s largest organisations, including Qudos Bank, Queensland Investment Corporation (QIC), Queensland Rail, Sunsuper and UnitingCare.

Dawson has held senior executive positions in both commercial and not-for-profit organisations. Prior to his retirement from full-time employment, he was a General Manager for QIC – one of Australia’s major institutional investors with over $70 billion in funds under management for its clients.

His career has equipped him with a blend of knowledge, skills, relationship networks and business philosophy which is quite different to the usual corporate career – and particularly valuable in the current business landscape.

Dawson has developed an outstanding reputation of high integrity and ethical practice, and he was awarded the Centenary Medal in 2003.

Dawson is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a fellow of the Association of Superannuation Funds of Australia and an affiliate of Governance Institute of Australia.