Track record
Three decades advising the organisations that carry regional Australia, across government, education, water, energy, mining, finance and community.
Last updated 31 August 2026
Sectors we work in
Our client base spans every sector that shapes a regional economy.
- State and local government: economic development, infrastructure, planning, community services
- Higher education and vocational training: universities, TAFEs and RTOs, campus economics, workforce
- Water and energy utilities: infrastructure business cases, pricing, regional network economics
- Agribusiness and primary industry: sector strategy, market analysis, financial modelling
- Mining and resources: regional impact, closure planning, workforce
- Financial services: regional lending, agribusiness banking, cooperative and mutual sector
- Community and not-for-profit: service model evaluation, social infrastructure business cases
- Industry associations and Regional Development committees: regional economic strategy, advocacy evidence base
Representative engagements
Client engagements are often commercial-in-confidence. The following examples illustrate the type of work SED does, described so we can share the approach without breaching client trust.
Regional university campus: economic impact assessment
An economic impact assessment for a regional university campus commissioned to inform state government funding conversations. SED quantified direct, indirect and induced impact using regional input-output modelling; separated on-campus from town-facing effects; and produced sensitivities around student cohort scenarios. The client used the assessment as the evidence base for a multi-year funding submission.
Regional water authority: infrastructure business case
A multi-hundred-million-dollar infrastructure business case delivered to state gateway framework standard. SED led the economic and demand analysis, worked with the client's engineering advisors on capital and operating cost modelling, and prepared the cost-benefit analysis and options assessment. The business case cleared its gate review.
Regional cities network: economic evidence base
A shared economic evidence base for a network of Victorian regional cities, comparing productivity, workforce composition, industry structure and knowledge-base composition across member cities and against capital-city benchmarks. The output has been used in regional advocacy, strategic planning and business case development by member councils.
Agribusiness sector: market and workforce study
A combined market analysis and workforce study for a regional agribusiness sector facing structural change. SED mapped current sector economics, projected demand under three scenarios, and analysed workforce composition and knowledge-base gaps. The client used the work to shape a five-year sector development strategy.
Regional health service: service model evaluation
An ex post evaluation of a regional health service model, benchmarking outcomes against comparable services and identifying process improvements. SED combined quantitative service data with qualitative stakeholder engagement and produced practical recommendations the board could act on immediately.
Regional council: economic development strategy
An evidence-based economic development strategy for a regional Victorian council. SED delivered the regional economic profile, ran stakeholder engagement across industry, community and state agencies, and drafted a strategy structured around the region's actual knowledge-base strengths, not a copy of a neighbour's plan.
Chosen across the regional economy
We're happy to walk you through comparable work directly. Get in touch.