The Expert Advisory Network

We connect NSW Government teams with in-house experts who can help you with your project.

A group of people collaborating in front of a laptop

The Expert Advisory Network (EAN) is a network of NSW Government expert teams who can provide in-house advice and project support.

How we can help you

What we do

If you need support for your project and there’s a government team that can provide that expertise, we’ll help you find them. The EAN can help frame problems, scope projects, and identify available in-house capability to support your work. 

 

The EAN makes it easier to find in-house capabilities to support your project: 

A client journey for EAN showing the progression from identification of a project need to delivery

Services our partners provide

Our expert partner teams have specialist knowledge and experience in the following project categories:

View the project categories

Project category  

Example services and projects  

Policy, strategy and business processes 

  • Policy development and system design 
  • Business case development, cost-benefit analysis and financial analysis 
  • Economic analysis and appraisals
  • Process, outcomes and economic evaluations for government programs 
  • Health data analysis, data linkage, reporting, and complex modelling
  • Pricing models and expenditure review 
  • Data science and insights
  • Future trend analysis
  • Demographic analysis to inform policy and service design, including population and household change
  • Assessment of the gendered impact of policy and programs 
  • Econometric and statistical analysis, and economic modelling of significant policies or shocks to the economy 
  • Behavioural insights research to inform policy and service design 
  • Evidence-based independent scientific and research commercialisation advice 
  • Review of local and international evidence and horizon scanning
  • Support for independent panel reviews and public consultations 
  • Independent market or industry investigations, review, and monitoring
  • Probity advice

Stakeholder insights and engagement 

  • Community and customer insights research to inform communications and service delivery     
  • Large scale online and in person stakeholder engagements to gather insights and feedback on government frameworks, policies or proposed strategies     
  • Partnering with Aboriginal stakeholders in regional NSW, and supporting government agencies to engage with Aboriginal businesses     
  • Culturally appropriate consultation advice, translation, and interpreting
  • Collaborative co-design and workshop / event facilitation
  • Workforce engagement strategies  

Financial services  

  • Commercial and financial advisory services 
  • Payments and banking advisory services
  • Financial management, accounting policy and climate-related financial disclosures  

Actuarial services  

  • Complex financial and actuarial modelling of investment returns on policies, programs and strategies to support evidence-based actions  

Infrastructure, design and planning in natural and built environment services 

  •  Architectural and urban design landscape advice​
  • Procurement and design quality advice for government projects​
  • Project and program management​​
  • Infrastructure and capital works advisory
  • Natural disaster and incident response planning ​and design​
  • Complex modelling of environmental impacts​​
  • Economically valuing environmental rehabilitation
  • Land use forecasting and projections​​
  • Development capacity and feasibility analysis​​
  • Inform service design, community planning, and asset management using databases centred on geography, property and land​
  • Land remediation and specialised environmental services to manage contaminated land

Technology and digital solutions 

  • Geospatial solutions, applications and data 
  • Digital design, accessibility and printing services 
  • Infrastructure services and digital products 
  • Core and common digital platforms 
  • Data platforms and dashboard development  
  • AI applications 

The level of support our partners provide depends on the type of project and the capacity of the partner team at the time of your request. Support can range from: 

  • upfront advice (one-off advice on scope, policy, technical content, or process) 
  • project coaching (regular advisory support) 
  • project delivery (discrete components of work or an entire project) 
  • peer review (quality assurance throughout or review of a piece of work or advice). 

Our prioritisation principles help ensure projects supported by the EAN are aligned with Government priorities, as well as the expertise and availability of our partner teams.


Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What next? 

Before contacting us, review the information on this page about the EAN to determine if it is a good fit for your project. Our FAQs may also answer questions you have about how and when to access this support. 

General

What is the EAN? 

The EAN helps NSW Government teams tap into the expertise that exists within the Government sector today. Hosted by the Premier’s Department, the EAN connects teams with in-house expertise to undertake project work. 

How do I contact the EAN?  

Contact the team through the online inquiry form. A member of the team will respond to your inquiry within two business days. 

I'm an individual who has specific expertise and skills, and I'd like to offer my services for project support.

The EAN is not recruiting for individual expertise. Only NSW Government expert teams who have the approval of their Executive can join the EAN as an expert partner.

 

Are you a client?

Who can use the EAN? 

Any NSW Government team who is looking for project support can utilise the EAN. Inquiries should come from those with delegated authority to engage a project. We ask that you explore support options within your agency before reaching out to us. 

 

What services does the EAN provide? 

Please see the information under ‘how we can help you’ at the top of this page, for the list of services currently available through the EAN. If the support you’re after isn’t listed, or if you’re unsure about the support your project needs, reach out to us via the online inquiry form to allow us to better understand your needs. 

 

Does the EAN have capacity to help with my project? 

The EAN is in establishment phase, so we are starting small – but we are growing. The level of support our partners can provide depends on the type of project you need assistance with, as well as the capacity of the partner team at the time of your request. 

 

How does the EAN support clients when there is no internal capacity? 

If an expert partner has no capacity to deliver a project, they may still be able to provide you with some upfront advice on how best to scope your project. In addition, the team at the Premier’s Department may be able to provide you with limited support, for example by working with you to test the scope of your project, or by connecting you with someone who has delivered a similar project. 

  

Do I have to use the EAN? 

Use of the EAN is voluntary.  

 

At what stage should I contact the EAN? 

To help us gauge the level and type of support you need for your project, it’s best to reach out to us as early as possible via our online inquiry form. That way, we can understand your project needs and identify if there is a potential partner quickly. 

 

What costs are involved in using the EAN? 

There is no fee to submit a project inquiry. Our expert partners usually offer their services under a cost-recovery model when a project is agreed. Fees are negotiated directly with partners.

 

Can I access expert partners directly, or do I have to go through the EAN? 

We encourage you to submit your project inquiry through the EAN, as it helps us to understand demand and supply for these services across the public sector. Some of our expert partner teams have established referral pathways already, so if you have an existing relationship with a particular partner, you may continue to engage with them directly. 

 

How do I submit a project inquiry? 

It’s easy – just use our online inquiry form. A member of the EAN team will be in contact within two business days. 

 

I’ve submitted an inquiry. What happens next? 

A member of the EAN team will be in touch shortly. We will work with you to clarify the high-level scope and timeframe of your project and then determine if there is an expert partner that can support you.

I submitted an inquiry and haven’t heard back. Who can I contact? 

We aim to respond to all inquiries within two business days. You may contact us via the EAN email if you haven’t heard back from us within this time. If this is a new inquiry, please fill out the online inquiry form as this will help us assess your needs. 

 

How will the EAN prioritise client inquiries? 

We have a set of prioritisation principles to help ensure projects supported by the EAN are aligned with the Government’s priorities, as well as the expertise and availability of the partners at the time of your project request. 

  

Are you a partner?

Can my NSW Government team join the EAN as an expert partner? 

Yes! If you believe your team would be an asset to the EAN, we’d love to hear from you! We're always on the lookout for new teams to join our expert partner network. Fill in the online inquiry form as a new partner and let’s talk. 

 

What is the benefit of partnering with the EAN? 

By partnering with the EAN, you will be exposed to a potential pipeline of projects from across the public sector. The expertise of your team will also be promoted across government, offering the opportunity to highlight successful case studies to a broad audience. 

I’m not an NSW Government organisation. Can I join the EAN? 

Unfortunately, no. The EAN is currently focused on partners that are from the NSW Government. 


Contact us

Are you ready to connect with the EAN? Please fill out the inquiry form below and the team will be in touch. The information you provide will help us direct your inquiry to the right person in the EAN.

What support do you need?
Please describe the type of support you need (e.g. business case, program evaluation etc) and provide any other background that will be important for us to know when reviewing your inquiry (e.g. Cabinet decision dependencies).
When are you aiming to start your project?
What is the status of your project?
Tick all that apply

Who within your agency has endorsed this project?

Please note that the EAN is currently open only to expert partners that are from government.
Please also refer to our FAQs to see if there is an answer to your question there.
How did you hear about the EAN?
Privacy Collection Notice

This form collects personal information. Please read the privacy collection notice for more information about how we handle your information.   

The Premier's Department (we, us) is collecting your personal information (your information) through this form.

Why are we collecting your information?

We are collecting your information to respond to your enquiry.

How will we share your information?

We may share your information with other relevant agencies who can provide the services requested. We will not share it with anyone else unless you give your consent, or the law requires or allows us to do so.  

Are you required by law to give us your information?

You are not required by law to give us your information, but if you choose not to, we may not be able to respond to your enquiry.

Your right to access and correct your information

To access or correct your information, please contact:

The Cabinet Office's Information and Privacy Unit (IAPU) - Supporting the Premier's Department

GPO Box 5341
Sydney NSW 2001
Australia

infoandprivacy@tco.nsw.gov.au

(02) 9228 5871

Further information

This form is hosted on the nsw.gov.au website managed by the Department of Customer Service.  For more details on how your information is handled on the nsw.gov.au website, please refer to the Privacy statement | NSW Government.

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