... advising the world's most aspiring, but thoughtful companies.

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Please note:  As a rule, we don't publicly advertise our clients due to their privacy and the sensitive and commercial nature of the work we do. However, in order to authenticate the testimonials below, we have obtained the author's consent (at the time of writing) to provide their name, position and organisation.   

​​​​Mullins Lawyers acted for Masonic Care Queensland in 2016 in relation to the divestment of a significant aged care and retirement living business. The various transactions were finally settled in May and September 2016. The major transaction was a sale of the freehold assets for a gross consideration exceeding $200 million. These transactions were highly successful from the seller’s point of view due to the coordination, skill and efforts of Gary Mark. It was a challenging divestment in the sense that Gary had to coordinate various different professional advisors together with keeping the senior executive team focused to ensure ongoing day to day compliance, quality resident care and financial performance, and to ensure that MCQ settled these transactions respecting confidentiality. The successful sale enabled the establishment of a significant charitable foundation, Hand Heart Pocket the Charity of Freemasons Queensland, to further its mission in relation to its charitable activities across Queensland and Papua New Guinea. I would not hesitate to support Gary Mark’s expertise in the aged care, retirement living, community care and philanthropic industries.
David Williams | Partner | Mullins Lawyers


“Gary has guided our board in transitioning from being an aged and community care provider in a regional centre to becoming a philanthropic foundation. His strategic leadership and insights combined with strong industry knowledge have enabled us to establish a successful investment fund, restructure the legal entity to change its purpose, and to successfully commence granting to worthy causes across Queensland.” His professional approach, experience, connections to expert advisors and attention to detail has given the board confidence to proceed knowing all aspects of governance have been addressed”
Jonathan Nantes | Chairman of the Board | Eastern Star Foundation (previously Star Gardens Aged Care Limited)

"Gary consulted to our firm, a diversified engineering and civil construction company operating throughout Australia providing a broad range of services to the energy, mining, government, commercial development and agricultural sectors and consulted mainly in our accommodation and facilities management division where we constructed and operated workforce accommodation and facility management centres for up to 2000 people across a dispersed geographic area including regional centres and remote locations, handling all aspects of camp construction and facility management including; design, utilities, accommodation, transport, lifestyle, parks & gardens and catering services. During a period of prolific growth Gary brought strategic and operational planning expertise to the organisation to ensure growth was appropriately managed and compliance standards were not only met but exceeded. His industry knowledge and ability to build a positive culture was important to our organisation at that critical time.
Brendan Ostwald | Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer | Ostwald Bros.

"Change Agency has known and worked with Gary Mark for almost a decade. Firstly, as COO of RSL Care, then as CEO of Masonic Care Queensland and finally as the CEO of Hand Heart Pocket. Gary is committed to capacity-building and leadership development, both at an executive and board level. Our most recent work with Gary and the Board of Hand Heart Pocket involved the creation of a new Strategic Plan and accompanying Business Plan. I watched Gary combine his great strategic focus with an ability to absorb the detail and keep things simple, yet meaningful so that the outcome is understandable and measurable for his Leadership Team. Gary knows the importance of planning and measuring business performance to ensure strategy delivery over the long-term. He is also a great mentor, is excellent at developing capability in the business, and works well with senior managers to help them deliver on the board’s strategy. I would thoroughly recommend Gary to guide any CEO or board seeking results."
Peter Keith | Managing Director | Change Agency

Ernst & Young Real Estate Advisory Services had the pleasure of being instructed by Gary Mark on behalf of Masonic Care Queensland to sell their aged care and retirement living portfolio across Queensland in 2015/16. This was a very complex process involving seven aged care facilities totalling 764 beds, three retirement living villages with 142 independent living units, and sixty-six affordable living villas across six locations throughout Queensland. Gary was able to significantly restructure the business prior to the sale, ensure that it operated effectively during the sale process, and he was a key contributor in the final sale contract negotiations. In all aspects, I found that Gary did an exceptional job in creating an effective management team, delivered strong financial results, was clear in communications, and created a strong, vibrant culture within the business. As a result of this meticulous planning, the transaction was considered to be one of the key sales in Queensland aged care history and a lot of the success was created by Gary.
Marcus Willison | Partner | EY Real Estate Advisory Services

"One of several matters that I was actively involved with Gary Mark in during 2018, 2019 and 2020 was work concerning the Eastern Star Foundation. The Eastern Star Foundation had sold its aged care business – Star Gardens in Beaudesert and had to transition to a charitable foundation. The work involved was complex involving complicated issues around company law, charity law and necessary Court application. Board members had to be guided carefully through, what for them was, unchartered waters in a legal maze. At a practical level, Gary steered all board members through the process, painlessly and confidently.  He was crucial in directing the legal process and in the charity fund investment process also. The matter proceeded smoothly and has successfully ensured the Eastern Star Foundation's legacy will continue by way of a perpetual charitable fund for the benefit of many; particularly elderly women. Gary is a great project manager/director with a rare mix of talents in terms of intuition, intelligence and leadership."

​​Paul Paxton-Hall | Director | Paxton-Hall Lawyers


"Gary worked as a consultant providing a review on the management of a major church run Age Care, Retirement Living and Community Care business with which I had a significant involvement.  Gary brings significant experience to consultancy projects, assisting with identifying issues relevant to the successful operation of a complex and geographically dispersed business and drawing upon his network of experienced consultants to ensure appropriate personnel and teamwork where sourced and engaged to meet the brief.  I would strongly endorse Gary’s knowledge and experience in the Aged Care, Retirement Living and community Care industry.”
Michael Klatt | Chairman - Risk, Audit & Finance Committee  | Lutheran Services

​​​Testimonials

As almost all of our work comes from referrals, we thought it might be appropriate to ask a small number of our clients and the professionals we have worked with to say a few words about us.

​​​​"I began working with Shane Fracchia when I was providing M&A & business consulting services to Brown Consulting (later to become Calibre Consulting) where Shane was the CFO/COO. Shane was leading Brown/Calibre Consulting’s corporate services team consisting of finance, HR, marketing, IT, and M&A. In my M&A consulting role I liaised with Shane on merger due diligence investigations and integrations across all of these corporate functions as well as participating with Shane in corporate strategy development. Shane at all times showed great leadership and direction of the corporate team and it was very evident to me that he enjoyed significant respect not only from the corporate services team but also from the operational business managers and the MD. Shane always took a calm and considered approach regardless of what business pressures may have been applied at the time. I was consistently impressed with his ability to rise above the detailed operational matters and consider the big picture issues and facilitate a discussion of ideas and opportunities particularly when it came to strategy and organisational governance. I keep in contact with Shane regularly and appreciate our ongoing interactions and business discussions. I would be more than happy to act as a referee."
Steve Coote | Managing Director | Burchills Engineering


“Shane has assisted our board and executive in positioning our organisation as a major regional health and aged care leader. His strategic leadership and insights combined with strong financial and analytical skills has enabled us to plan, secure and implement a range of major projects, sustainably and efficiently.”
Lynne Sheehan | Chief Executive Officer | Mercy Health CQ


“Accrue have worked with Shane and his team over many years in various capacities within the professional services sector, mostly with the goal of positioning firms to improve their growth capability and performance. We have always enjoyed working together and in the development of practical and sustainable solutions across a range of complex areas; such as mergers or acquisitions, accounting policies, employee ownership strategies, agreements, business valuations, etc. We consult regularly with each other on contemporary issues and strategic investment decisions.”
Don Di Placido CA | Partner | Accrue Chartered Accountants and Advisers


​​​“Shane was Independent Non-Executive Chairman of our firm at a critical time in its growth, where specialist strategic support, guidance and practical governance was needed to minimise growing pains and maximise our opportunities. Shane assisted the board and management team develop its vision and the strategic plan to achieve it; as well as designing a scalable and effective corporate structure to support it. This included the facilitation, analysis and design of back office processes, performance reporting and a new shareholder deed to better attract senior leaders and incentivise talented new shareholders to grow the firm and become its future. We have also worked successfully with Shane and his team on many large-scale innovative award-winning master planned projects for Bluechip innovative clients in the health and aged care sector. Although challenging, these projects have exceeded expectations due to a combination of strong strategic design & planning, experience, creativity, client collaboration and robust economic analysis.”
Andrew Masters | Managing Director | Bickerton Masters Architecture​

"Fracchia Advisory worked as consultants providing a review on the management of a major church run Age Care, Retirement Living and Community Care business with which I had a significant involvement.  Gary & Shane bring significant experience to consultancy projects, assisting with identifying issues relevant to the successful operation of a complex and geographically dispersed business. Drawing upon their broad skill base and teamwork our organisation was presented with a comprehensive advice document which was carefully considered and was of immediate assistance.  I would strongly endorse Gary & Shane’s team approach, knowledge and experience in the Aged Care, Retirement Living and community Care industry.”
Michael Klatt | Chairman - Risk, Audit & Finance Committee  | Lutheran Services


“Geolyse engaged Fracchia Advisory and Shane Fracchia to advise us in planning our shareholder succession strategy and reviewing our equity and valuation structure to enhance ownership attractiveness and better incentivise our senior employee shareholders to grow the firm. His strategic leadership and insights combined with his professional services experience has enabled us to enhance ownership transition, maximise engagement and develop our talent with a longer-term view.”
Greg Cooper | Managing Director | Geolyse

“Shane Fracchia is an exceptional leader and business executive. He is one of the few people I've met who possesses the rare skill of high levels of emotional intelligence, combined with strong, logical, and structured thinking. A rarer quality still, is his ability to listen - really listen. Shane focuses on your business challenge or need. Large or small - every engagement is customised. His advice is always honest, direct, informed and empowering. Shane is someone who engages with key stakeholders to bring life to or help define corporate goals. Shane can develop structure around business plans or company vision, and set the framework to ensure accountability and understanding.  I had the pleasure of working with Shane on a range of projects including developing brand strategies, marketing plans as well as the integration of acquired businesses for both listed and private infrastructure businesses. I would have no hesitation in recommending Shane Fracchia for any senior-level executive engagement.”
Monique Roberts | General Manager - Marketing & Communications | Calibre Group Ltd (ASX:CGH)


“As CEO at Masonic Care Queensland, Gary Mark was instrumental in turning the operations of that organisation around from monthly deficits in 2013 to be an attractive acquisition target for the nation’s largest Aged Care and Retirement Living operators in 2016.  Working closely with Gary as commercial advisor to him and the board, his skills as a CEO came to the fore in keeping his team focussed on operational improvements whilst a divestment process was being undertaken. The ultimate sale to Regis & St Vincent’s Care Services and the price realised is a testament to the turnaround work led by Gary.”      
David Barrie | Director | +FINANCIAL ANALYTICS