Providing ground-breaking and innovative techniques and processes, Comber Consultants manages highly complex projects in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal terrestrial and maritime archaeology and cultural heritage management. Archaeological services provided by Comber Consultants include research, assessments, excavation, monitoring, significance, assessment, and the provision of mitigation and management recommendations. Working closely with clients and Aboriginal communities, Comber Consultants develops management recommendations that meet all legislative requirements whilst meeting the needs of clients and the Aboriginal community, and while respecting Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal heritage. In addition to archaeological management, in association with the award-winning architectural firm of Patrick O’ Carrigan & Partners, Comber Consultants prepares Statements of Heritage Impact and Conservation Management Plans to the highest standards. Led by Director, Dr Jillian Comber, the company has a commitment to excellence and is renowned for innovation. “Comber Consultants’ goal is to provide best practice, end-to-end archaeological and multidisciplinary heritage management solutions and alternative dispute resolution services,” she explains. “We have a commitment to ensuring the provision of best practice services.” The firm’s reputation in this regard has been established and maintained over 30 years of operation. Using these years of experience to inform its decision making and client service, it has been a leader in its field in promoting diligence and empathy in heritage consultancy services. Its commitment to high operational standards lead to it being the first archaeological consultancy in Australia to obtain an integrated certified management system covering quality, safety, and environment. The firm’s clients include the private and public sector (government agencies, private enterprise, community groups, and individuals) in the archaeology, heritage, mediation, and arbitration arena. All members of the Comber Consultants professional team have post-graduate qualifications and extensive experience in their field. Dr Comber, whose research centres on decolonising Aboriginal cultural heritage, is a qualified mediator and arbitrator undertaking extensive Aboriginal consultation and mediation between Aboriginal communities and local government. She provides outstanding professional mediation, conciliation, facilitation, and arbitration services to successfully resolve environmental, land management, and cultural heritage disputes. “Our highly skilled and experienced staff play a major role in the success of Comber Consultants,” she elaborates. “Comber Consultants is committed to excellence and quality in the provision of services. All members of the Comber Consultants professional team have postgraduate qualifications and extensive experience in their field.” Dr Comber continues to sing the praises of her dedicated and highly experienced senior team. Best Heritage Management Consultants 2022 - Australia Australian cultural heritage specialist company, Comber Consultants has set the benchmark for best practice, high calibre Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal archaeology and cultural heritage management. With a value-led work ethic, proactive approach, and a customer focused business strategy, Comber Consultants has made itself a leader in its field and a Global 100 company. Company founder, Jillian Comber elaborates following the firm’s recent success in the Small Business Awards 2022. David Nutley, Maritime Archaeologist, initiated predictive modelling of Inundated First Nations’ sites in Australia in 2006 and has a specialisation in ship’s anchors and their conservation and management; Dr Agata Calabrese’s ground-breaking research into cognitive neurobiological aspects of the senses, using GIS to explore experiential aspects of mortuary rituals in Early Bronze Age North Mesopotamia has led to a whole new way of reconstructing past sensorial experiences; Supriya Singh’s cultural heritage research has made her a leader in the field of cultural heritage management; whilst Glenn Suey of the Kamilaroi Nation, has studied the manufacture, origin, and management of ground implements from Papua New Guinea, leading to an understanding of implements bought to Australia for ceremonial or chiefly purposes. All members of the team have exceptional field skills and have introduced new and exciting field techniques. They all continue their international research whilst undertaking research into Australia’s colonial origins and First Nation’s history and culture. To support the team’s pioneering international and national research, the Comber Consultants’ extensive library is managed by librarian/archivist, Lindsay Walker. The field team is supported by Operations Manager, Chris Jones, who ensures high level environmental management of all fieldwork. The expertise of Jillian and her senior management team is acknowledged by appointments to state government panels providing expert advice to government on cultural heritage management; by appointment to Heritage Council advisory panels and committees; appointment as Heritage Advisor to Local Government and by the provision of guest lectures to the University of Sydney, NSW, and Flinders University in South Australia; and as an Adjunct Research Fellow with Flinders University. Jillian is also a Justice of the Peace. Comber Consultants is committed to excellence and quality in the provision of services. Working within Aboriginal archaeology and cultural heritage management, the company acknowledges that it has a responsibility towards the Aboriginal community to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander history and culture is represented appropriately. “Towards this aim, and to reflect equity and diversity, around 50% of the firm’s staff are Aboriginal and they lead and direct the provision of cultural research and knowledge,” Dr Comber explains. “In addition, the company provides cadetships for Aboriginal students. When recruiting new staff, apart from qualifications and experience, we look for confident people with a non-judgemental attitude, confidence, and a “can do” attitude. Important skills include the ability to listen and understand the client and the community’s requirements.” Over the years, Comber Consultants has been acknowledged by the Australian Enterprise Award of “Best Cultural Heritage Specialist 2022” and by a National Trust Award for the conservation and adaptive reuse of Waratah House, the office of Comber Consultants and Patrick O’ Carrigan & Partners. Dr Comber herself was also the recipient of an Australia Day Award for “outstanding
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