We are a values-led business with significant expertise in supporting better decisions through policy development, critical analysis, and capability development support.
We have worked extensively across central government and the community sector and are adept at producing rigorous analysis, persuasive advice, and building other’s capability to do the same. Our business model ensures you get the right person for the job.
Emily Mason
Co-Founder and Managing Director
BA, MPP
Emily is a social investment pioneer, skilled at seeing connections between unrelated ideas. She brings a vibrant personality, perennial optimism, and highly analytical approach to her teaching, facilitating, and consulting.
Emily is an experienced public service leader who is passionate about understanding what works for whom and at what cost. Prior to founding FrankAdvice, she worked in senior strategic and operational roles across central government (including with the Social Wellbeing Agency, the Ministry of Education, and ACC). Emily has been a Teaching Fellow at Victoria University’s School of Business and Government and regularly teaches at Wellington Uni-Professional. She is a co-founder of Impact Lab.
Emily’s pride and joy are her two accomplished teenage sons and sweet dog, Einstein. She’s a keen runner, Dad-joke maker, and bakes tasty gluten-free treats for the office.
Nicole Howarth
Co-Founder and CEO
BCS
Nicole brings business savvy, specialising in driving strategic growth. An expansive international sales career is behind her energy, relentless obsession with the customer experience, and a desire to continuously push new frontiers.
Nicole has a background in communications and public relations, and extensive experience establishing market access and building strategic and/or commercial partnerships at senior level in 22 countries across Asia, Sub-Saharan Africa, Latin America, and Europe. She is skilled at new product development, having conceptualised, developed, and commercialised media, and educational products for local and international markets. On returning to New Zealand, she co-founded FrankCapability, and works behind the scenes setting the strategy and direction of the group.
Nicole lives for adventure, stellar company, and above all, her dog, Sika. She speaks fluent Spanish, is a dedicated mountain biker, and lives half on land and half on a converted fishing boat.
Claire Norris
Principal Policy Consultant
BA, LLB
Claire is perceptive and warm and brings this to her collaborative relationships with clients and stakeholders. She is experienced in legislative analysis, is detail focused, and always ensures written work is clear and succinct.
Claire has led the development of new waste legislation, advice on Budget 2021 for Te Puna Aonui, legislative changes to improve the experiences of children giving evidence in the criminal courts, and the legislative process for the Child and Family Protection Bill. Claire is a trained copyeditor, and projects she has edited have been winners and finalists in New Zealand’s Plain Language Awards. She has also volunteered as a support person for people experiencing family or sexual violence.
Claire loves a good second-hand clothing find, eating delicious food, going to film festivals, and being a Mum to her two smallish, very gorgeous children.
Sarah Morris
Principal Policy Consultant
MC-SCL (Social Change Leadership) (1st Class Hons), BC (Communications)
Sarah is a skilled communicator and big picture thinker who brings an intersectional lens to her work. She has deep links to the NGO and community sector, and a comprehensive knowledge of rights frameworks and social change leadership.
Sarah has managed teams and programmes in roles across the community, government and international development sectors, including at Oxfam Australia, UNICEF Aotearoa and Mana Mokopuna, the Children and Young People’s Commission. Sarah is a trained journalist, drawn to social justice through storytelling. She is also an independent contractor with a special interest in community-led change, and how people and organisations can contribute to fulfilling the vision of Te Tiriti o Waitangi.
Sarah loves getting out into nature, going to see live music, and spending time with her whānau, especially her husband, two daughters, and dog Milo.
Kira Oldfield
Senior Policy Consultant
MPaG (Policy and Governance) (Distinction), BSc
Kira is masterful at translating complex issues into compelling visual narratives, while also being accomplished with words and numbers. She has a natural confidence and approaches problems from a unique perspective, leading to creative and distinct solutions.
Kira has held advisor roles at DIA and Statistics NZ, where she was responsible for providing advice to senior leadership and governance boards. At Statistics NZ she provided advice to the programme director of Census and developed an innovative tool for conducing privacy impact assessments which was published for wider use. With a background in science, she has a strong grounding in research, and can translate between academic and real-world decision making.
Kira is a Conducting Fellow with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, and a pianist and violin player. She loves to watch ice-based sports and create drama with her hairstyles.