Who We Are

Kismet Forward is a collaboration between three women (Jen Lilburn, Janine McNeilly-Rowe and Leeanne Palich); together we have a diverse range of skills and experience which, combined with our inherent enthusiasm, make a real (and timely) contribution to the successes of our clients.

We also work with a wide range of project partners to ensure that we always have the necessary capacity and skills to meet the needs of our clients.

Jennifer Lilburn

Bachelor of Education (Environmental Studies)
Bachelor of Applied Science (Environmental Assessment and Land Use Policy)
Advanced Diploma (Group Facilitation)

Jen established Kismet Forward in July 2007, having successfully run a consulting business as a sole operator during the preceding 18 months.

The consultancy’s success is due in no small part to Jen’s 20 years’ experience in the public sector, the last 8 at the executive level. Roles have included:

• for Western Coastal Board: Executive Officer;
• for Parks Victoria/Melbourne Parks and Waterways/Board of Works: Regional Manager (leading 135 people), Manager Stakeholder Partnerships, Manager Albert Park (over the first two Grands Prix), Manager and Area Manager of a variety of regional, state and national parks, Business Manager, Manager Media and Public Relations;
• for Melbourne Wine Company/Provenance Wines: General Manager, Business Manager,
• for Deakin University and Department of Education: secondary and tertiary teacher/tutor of biology, science, geography, environmental education.

Across these roles Jen has developed exceptional skills in facilitation, communication, leadership, mentoring and coaching, strategic development, project management and evaluation.

Jen works with clients and their stakeholders to truly understand the full breadth of issues and potential solutions around a given opportunity or problem. Her fantastic communication skills enable her to quickly build relationships that are founded on trust and openness; this ensures that all points of view are taken seriously in the development of the solution. Her strategic thinking ability enables her to put the ‘solution’ into a broader framework, indicating desired outcomes, flow-on impacts and/or need for high-level actions/ decisions.

In addition to the above, Jen has acted as a champion for the resolution of issues faced by women progressing through the public sector. Her 2002 paper entitled “The Transition from Maternity Leave to the Paid Workforce… A Survival Guide for New Mums and their Managers” has been utilised by staff and Human Resources departments of a range of organisations including Parks Victoria, Department of Sustainability and Environment, Department of Primary Industries, Department of Human Services, several catchment management authorities and a number of local governments. This led to Jen being featured in ‘Sunday Life’ (Sunday Age magazine) in 2004; this article in turn was used as a teaching resource by RMIT during 2007.

Janine McNeilly-Rowe
Bachelor of Arts (Recreation)

Janine brings to any team or project a wealth skills and knowledge about park management and project management, having worked for Parks Victoria and its predecessors in operational and corporate roles for 18 years and as a consultant since 2007.

Janine's experience includes:

• Park and strategic planning across the park estate
• Business management and program development
• Project management of major Expression of Interest projects and subsequent Lease negotiations and documentation.
• Project and issues management across the park estate.
• Park operational management including Ranger in Charge or Albert Park (leading a team of 11 people and extensive stakeholder and community relationships)

Janine can assist you in a variety of ways including:

• project management services
• undertaking research and preparing reports
• issues management and community engagement
• program development and strategic planning projects
• preparation of park management plans and natural resource management statements

Janine has a strong commitment to community and stakeholder engagement and endeavours to understand projects or issues from various perspectives. She has demonstrated performance in proactive issues and stakeholder management. Years of liaison with community groups, visitors and key stakeholders has given her an appreciation of the diverse expectations for the park estate and natural values.

Leeanne Palich

Over 30 years’ experience in accounts, payroll, purchasing and business administration provides Lee with all of the necessary skills to ensure that the Kismet Forward machine keeps running, and we all get paid!

Lee also has extensive experience in hospitality: she and her partner owned and operated a motel and then a ‘grand old mansion’ in Rutherglen. This was followed by a 12-year stint as manager of a large general store – the ‘hub’ of the Murray town of Wahgunyah. These experiences have given Lee fantastic customer service skills.