We stand for ambitious leaders with great vision.

The world progresses through the confident conviction of ambitious leaders with great vision - leaders who can see what their organisation could become, and have the courage to commit to it. We stand for that progress, and for the leaders whose visions deliver it.



Our role is to refine the vision so the leader can commit to it with confidence, and to build the evidence that lets the stakeholders whose support matters share that confidence as allies of the change. In this way, visions worth pursuing are pursued, and the change worth making is made.

Polaris is a decision architecture firm.

We work with leaders facing decisions that shape what their organisations become - where wrong is unaffordable and waiting is unsustainable. The discipline is rigorous, but the conviction underneath it is simple: visions worth pursuing deserve the diagnostic work that lets them be pursued.


The name comes from the North Star - the one fixed point in the rotating night sky that sailors and travellers have set their course by for centuries. Clearly, it's not their destination, but it gives them their bearing: a steady, reliable reference that remains in place when the conditions around them do not. The metaphor is built on the same principle - leaders with a vision know where they want to go, but what they need is a steady reference that lets them commit to their own course when the conditions around them are not.


That is the role we play.

Who you work with

Each of the people here has led or advised organisations like yours. Joining the Polaris community means accessing expertise that doesn't emerge from MBA college or a statistical model. Each is made available to our clients through advisory panels, projects, and interim or fractional roles. And the value of the group is that we share challenges - a client's question will find its way to the best experience in the group. Together, we will find a way.

John Critchley

Founder

John advised banks and their boards for over a decade before founding Polaris - at Booz & Company, inside Commonwealth Bank, and as a director in KPMG's financial services practice, where his work included strategy & transformation work and merger analysis for some of Australia's largest mutuals. His industry experience spans banking, health funds, superannuation, telco, transport, among others - giving him unique insight into the patterns of decision making.

Kevin Dupé

Chief executive mentoring

Kevin was Chief Executive of Regional Australia Bank for twenty years, and has since served on the boards of Bank First and Coastline Credit Union. He trained as an organisational coach after his executive career, and now works alongside chief executives and executives in the situations that they cannot rehearse by themselves or in their organisations. Kevin believes that no leader should walk alone, especially in moments of change.

How we show up

When we do our best work, these are the features we keep seeing in ourselves and the people we work with.

Curiosity

We believe curiosity is essential to progress and innovation. We approach every challenge and opportunity with an eager mind, always questioning, always exploring. This openness drives us to uncover new insights, rethink conventional wisdom, and push beyond the status quo to create solutions that are uniquely tailored to our clients' needs.

Authenticity

From authenticity springs trust, which is core to who we are. We uphold the highest standards of integrity in all we do, communicating openly and honestly with our clients and each other. We are true to our word, to our mission, and to our clients' trust in us, offering advice and solutions that are sincere, transparent, and in the best interest of those we serve.

Rigour

We take a scientific approach to problem solving. Each Challenge is met with rigorous analysis, a deep dive into the facts, and a systematic evaluation of potential solutions. This ensures our advice is always grounded in facts, data-driven insights, and thorough examination, delivering robust and impactful results for our clients.

Impact

We are driven by the desire to make a positive and lasting difference in the world. We help our clients achieve their goals and aspirations and create value for their stakeholders. We measure our success by the results we deliver and the impact we create in the world around us.