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Our Services
Constellation Strategic delivers future-facing consultancy designed for private enterprises, governments and NGOs. We operate at the intersection of policy, design, health, and strategic communications — offering tailored support that’s grounded, effective, and truly impartial.
Service Design & Delivery
Led by tier-one consultants with over two decades of experience improving services across public and private sectors.
Health Economics & Policy
Specialist expertise in cost benefit analysis, financial modelling, policy development and reform — with a clinical perspective from active practitioners.
Government Relations & Strategy
Deep networks and insight across Federal and State jurisdictions. We help clients navigate complex policy environments and influence outcomes.
Strategic Communications & Brand
Campaign development, creative strategy, and branding with a proven record of impact for government and public sector clients.
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About
Constellation Strategic is a right-sized consultancy built for today’s complex landscape -offering tailored advisory services to the private sector, NGOs and Federal and State Government across Australia and New Zealand.
Our team brings together expertise across service design, health economics, government strategy, and strategic communications. We work closely with clients to understand their unique environments, harnessing data, storytelling, and human insight to shape actionable strategies. With a presence in Canberra and Sydney, we offer a responsive and collaborative approach across key jurisdictions.
Constellation Strategic operates on a value-driven fee model, ensuring transparency and a focus on outcomes. We avoid large corporate bureaucracy, instead combining senior expertise with emerging talent to deliver clarity, momentum, and real results. Our work is defined by accountability, innovation, and a commitment to helping our clients define their position, influence stakeholders, and act decisively.
At its core, Constellation Strategic exists to solve today’s challenges with real world solutions, whilst preparing our clients for tomorrow.
We partner, design, and deliver, empowering organisations to lead with purpose in a rapidly changing world where change is the only constant.
People
Dr Girish Palnitkar – Health Sector Director
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MBBS, MSc (Health Economics), MA (Public Policy) , FANZCA
Specialist Cardiothoracic Anaesthetist and Health Economist
Dr Girish Palnitkar is a prominent health sector consultant, anaesthetist and clinical advisor based in Canberra, bringing over two decades of frontline medical experience combined with his health economics and policy background to his consulting work. With a strong foundation in national and international training, Dr Palnitkar’s medical expertise informs every aspect of his strategic and operational contributions across healthcare projects and health sector boards.
He completed his medical degree in Tasmania, followed by junior medical roles across Tasmania and Melbourne, before relocating to Canberra in 2006 to complete the final phase of his specialty training in anaesthesia. His pursuit of excellence led him to advanced fellowship training in two highly complex domains: head, neck, and eye anaesthesia at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital in Melbourne; and cardiothoracic anaesthesia at the prestigious Royal Papworth Hospital in Cambridge, the UK’s largest heart and lung centre. He has also earned Masters level degrees in Health Economics and Public Policy from the prestigious London School of Economics and University of Chicago.
Since returning to Australia in 2010, Dr Palnitkar has delivered high-level anaesthetic services across the ACT’s leading public and private hospitals. His consulting capabilities are grounded in deep clinical expertise in cardiothoracic anaesthesia, transoesophageal echocardiography, ENT, and ocular anaesthesia, making him a trusted advisor in high-stakes perioperative environment and multidisciplinary healthcare strategy.
Dr Palnitkar plays an active leadership role in medical education and professional governance. He is a former Chair of the ACT Regional Committee for the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists (ANZCA), a former ACT Chair of the Australian Society Anaesthetists (ASA) and national committee member of the Economics Advisory Committee of the ASA. He has also been a national executive committee member of ANZCA’s Cardiothoracic, Vascular and Perfusion Special Interest Group. Currently he is the chief convenor of the 2025 National Scientific Congress of the ASA and has recently been appointed as the Federal Scientific Officer of the ASA. The breadth of his experience makes him a sought after mentor for junior doctors.
His affiliations include ANZCA, the Australian Society of Anaesthetists (ASA), the Society of Cardiovascular Anaesthesiologists (SCA), and the European Association of Cardiothoracic Anaesthetists (EACTA). Dr Palnitkar regularly speaks at national and international conferences, sharing insights on clinical innovation, anaesthetic safety, and workforce development.
As a consultant, Dr Palnitkar combines his deep technical knowledge with a strategic focus - providing advisory support on clinical governance, complex case planning, procedural safety, and macro health system improvement initiatives.
James Willson – Strategic Director
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James Willson is a strategic communications leader in business and government, a creative professional, and a published author with over two decades of experience across Canberra, Sydney, and the Australian east coast.
He is the cofounder of Constellation Strategic, and the founder of CRE8IVE, C8.DIGITAL, and the C8.GROUP, and a partner at Crewcible Studios and BCAST - an intergrated group of businesses that together offer strategic advisory, digital delivery, and integrated communications through a performance-led model.
James has built a career delivering high-impact work across key sectors including cyber security, healthcare, transportation, infrastructure, state and federal government, and city shaping. From developing digital campaigns for public health to revitalising transport brands and leading cyber awareness strategies, his work consistently balances strategy with creativity.
He is also the author of Sydney Harbour Ferries, a published tribute to Australia’s most iconic transport system. The book reflects James’s deep connection to Sydney life and his broader interest in the role infrastructure plays in shaping the city of Sydney’s identity. His ongoing work with transport operators and urban authorities continues to influence how transport is experienced and celebrated across Sydney.
With a strong presence in both Sydney and Canberra, James leads teams that specialise in marketing, digital transformation, service design, stakeholder engagement, brand strategy, and government communications. He brings a people-first approach to every brief, with a focus on strategic priorities, purpose, alignment, clarity, and long-term value for clients and citizens.
Outside of his agency work, James serves on several boards, including the National Capital Authority (NCA), RSPCA ACT, Canberra Grammar School, Canberra Grammar School Foundation, the Heart Foundation, Crewcible Studios, and the City Renewal Authority (CRA). These roles reflect his commitment to business, philanthropy, social impact, and his belief that partnerships and creativity can shape cities and people for the better.
How We Work
We combine strategic thinking with strategic creative delivery - ensuring insight leads to impact.
We understand your environment.
Our multi-disciplinary team comes from the sectors we serve, so we bring real-world understanding, not just theory.
We tackle challenges from multiple angles.
We bridge data, story, community insights, and technology to produce layered, actionable recommendations.
We use the power of storytelling.
We help clients shape and articulate their story — internally and externally — to gain alignment and build influence.
We harness data and digital tools.
We integrate modern platforms and tools into our consulting process, enabling efficient analysis and communication
We get people.
From executive stakeholders to end-users, our approach considers the human element at every step.
Why Constellation Strategic
Constellation Strategic is not just a consultancy — it's a partnership for long-term value and accountability.
Right-Sized for Results
We’re small enough to be agile, experienced enough to deliver, and large enough to scale when needed.
Value-Driven Fee Model
Our pricing reflects the outcomes and the value we create in everything that we do. And not time for time’s sake.
Actionable, Measurable Outcomes
We deliver practical tools and strategies clients can act on immediately, not just advice.
Accountability at Every Step
Our partners do the work - no handoffs, no dilution of quality.
Future-Focused
We anticipate what’s next, delivering strategies that respond to today and prepare for tomorrow.
Truly Multidisciplinary
With capabilities spanning clinical, creative, political, and strategic spheres — our team is built for complexity and delivery innovation.