Boutique development consulting for a better world.

Better insights.
Better understanding. Better world.

Better Things Consulting provides communications, research, analysis, data and insights to support better aid and development projects and stronger policies, focusing on the Indo-Pacific region.

Led by Ashlee Betteridge, former Manager of the ANU Development Policy Centre, Better Things uses evidence, data and a blend of 'on-trend' and traditional communications tools to support impactful projects and tell compelling stories of change.

Services

    • Communications advisory, plans and strategies

    • Infographics and placemats

    • Social media content and management, including campaigns

    • Communications training, workshops and capacity development

    • Complete publication services for reports and other products (writing, graphic design, editing)

    • Graphic design

    • Multimedia production (animation, video, other)

    • Web development for simple sites (i.e. project sites, small NGOs)

    • Web content

    • Quantitative and qualitative research

    • Policy analysis

    • Data visualisation

    • Report writing

    • Consultation and interviews

    • Fact sheets, policy briefs, synthesis documents

    • M&E support

    • Knowledge uptake or learning strategies

    • Knowledge, learning and accountability products

    • Op-eds, blogs and columns

    • Speechwriting

    • Copyediting

    • Presentations

    • Hosting/chairing/MC services

    • Event support (including promotion)

Recent clients and projects

  • Australian Humanitarian Partnership (communications management)

  • Australian Red Cross (synthesis and summary writing)

  • KONEKSI — Knowledge Partnerships Platform Australia -Indonesia (GEDSI communications)

  • DFAT Indo-Pacific Centre for Health Security (data visualisation)

  • DFAT Humanitarian Response Planning Section (graphic design, editing)

  • Australia Solomon Islands Partnership for Governance (ASIP-Gov) (Communications and Public Diplomacy Strategy, branding)

  • Support Unit for Gender Equality (SURGE) (communications strategy, graphic design)

  • PNG Incentive Fund Phase IV review (research and analysis)

  • DevDAS (bid writing)

  • ANU Development Policy Centre (data visualisation)

Meet Ashlee

Lead Consultant and Owner Ashlee Betteridge (she/her) brings more than 15 years of experience in the aid and development sector to her consulting practice, with a particular interest in impactful communications to support learning and knowledge uptake.

Ashlee spent a decade at the ANU Development Policy Centre, shaping the centre's outreach, communications, publications and events. Through her work at ANU, she developed a deep understanding of the Australian aid and development sector, and took the lead on several large projects in the Pacific and Papua New Guinea. Previously, she worked in Timor-Leste and Indonesia in development communications. She holds a Master of Public Policy (Development Policy) from the ANU Crawford School and a BA Communications from the University of Technology, Sydney.

Based on Ngunnawal Country in Canberra, Ashlee understands the nuances of working politically and influentially, and is also interested in opportunities to engage in the domestic policy space.

We work well with others.

Small is beautiful, and as a boutique consulting firm we are able to take on projects that may be overlooked by the bigger players. But we largely work in collaboration with others — from large development contractors to small NGOs.

We’re always interested in opportunities to work together as part of a bid or project team, or other partnership.