Australian Bureau of Statistics Workshop: Effective Statistical Consulting

Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Workshop: Effective Statistical Consulting. Negotiation, Scoping and Client Communication Skills.

Build practical consulting capability through interactive sessions focused on defining problems, scoping work and communicating statistical advice effectively.

Date: Thursday 4th June 2026

Time: 11am to 1pm, and 2pm to 4pm (AEST)

Online by Zoom: Link provided upon registration

To register, you MUST be an ABS staff. Please email your expression of interest to Paul Schubert at paul.schubert@abs.gov.au.

Title: Effective statistical consulting

Successful statistical consulting is grounded in effective negotiations with clients and skilful communication. This workshop will combine formal presentations with interactive activities to present principles and practice of negotiating with clients to define a project or problem and scoping work on a project. The workshop will include a session on developing effective communication skills in working collaboratively with clients

Presenters: Professor Ian Gordon and Associate Professor Sue Finch

Ian is the Director of the Statistical Consulting Centre at the University of Melbourne with over 45 years of experience in applied statistical work. He works with clients from academia, business, industry and government. Ian has acted as an expert witness in many court cases in a variety of jurisdictions. Ian was President of the Statistical Society of Australia from 2002 to 2024. Ian has been teaching statistical consulting skills to post-graduate students for about 30 years.

Sue is the Deputy Director of the Statistical Consulting Centre. She brings to consulting over 40 years of experience in working in the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Victorian government agencies, and academic institutions. Sue is co-chair of the Statistical Consulting Network of the Statistical Society of Australia.