Meet the FRI Team

Ree-Anna ChatmanOperations Manager

Ree-Anna has been a part of the FRI team for 5 years now. She has an honours degree in psychology and is completing her final supervision requirements to become a registered psychologist. She delivers client workshops and conference presentations, runs Nathan Profiler training sessions and manages all client projects. She is liked and respected by clients for her friendly, straight-forward approach. She also does a fantastic job of managing and developing our Consulting/Research assistants. If you are using our services, Ree-Anna is the person that ensures we properly understand your needs and makes sure we have all bases covered.

Speaking of bases, Ree-Anna is a keen softball and touch football player.

Debb LoweSenior Associate

Like many top franchise professionals Debb started her franchising career 18 years ago with McDonalds, where she held Operations and Training roles, including the role of Olympic Operations Manager for the McDonald’s Olympic Project. This involved hiring and training 100 managers and 1000 team members. She was also instrumental in developing the people and systems for Master Franchisees in the Pacific Island countries and had the prestigious role of Professor at the famous McDonald’s Hamburger University in Sydney. Debb has held senior people development roles with Krispy Kreme and Foodco (the franchisor for Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue) where she worked predominantly as a change agent, developing culture, people and systems. She has a reputation as an outstanding presenter and facilitator.

When not facilitating or training Debb loves music and dancing.

Ann NathanPublications Director

Ann has a degree in English literature and for many years worked as a Research Fellow at Monash University’s Department of Higher Education. She loves to read and is addicted to Sudoku. Ann looks after our publications division, so if you are ordering books by phone or through our web site, chances are she will be looking after you. She has the dubious honour of being the partner of our MD and thinks there is a real opportunity for franchise companies to be more environmentally conscious.

Katherine Saunders Marketing and Events Manager

Katherine is our go-to girl at FRI, she is across all aspects of the business from managing our Marketing, to running our Events, supporting the MD and Operations team, as well as handling all our IT needs! Prior to moving to Australia and becoming a part of the FRI team she spent seven years in the British Navy as a Navigation Officer, where she was responsible for the safety and welfare of up to 200 crew. She has an extraordinary ability to get things done.

Katherine loves cooking, loves travelling, loves music, and is CRAZY about animals!

Joanna ConnelleyResearch and Development Manager

Joanna joined the team in early 2008 and up until recently provided unparalleled support to our Operations Manager as a part-time Research Assistant. We were very excited when she recently completed her Masters in Psychology and took on a full-time role with us as our Research and Development Manager. She now manages all our R&D projects, as well as the Nathan Profiler tool and works closely with our MD improving our current products and devloping new ones!

Lucky for us, Joanna loves to cook and often takes time out to make delicious sweet treats for the team.

Rebecca MurrellConsulting Assistant

Rebecca completed her psychology degree at the end of last year and is about to embark on her supervision to become a registered psychologist. Rebecca is the newest member of the FRI team but will soon be known by our clients for her warm, bubbly personality and for her follow through. She is the Operations Manager’s left hand lady and knows the ins and outs of all our projects.

Rebecca happens to be a state-level ballroom dancer, specialising in latin!

Nicole SimpsonResearch Assistant

Nicole has been a Research Assistant at FRI for 2 years now and has recently completed her Honours in Psychology. Although she helps out in every department of the FRI community, she adds enormous value to our Operations team and is frequently involved in the preparation of our Franchise Satisfaction Surveys. Nicole is an enthusiastic musician with a passion for the franchising industry, and soon hopes to become a registered psychologist.

When Nicole isn’t rocking out at FRI, you’ll find her rocking out at Indie Music Festivals.

Ilana NathanResearch Assistant

Ilana is currently completing her psychology degree at the University of QLD and works with us part-time, 2 days a week. Just like her Uncle Greg, Ilana has great writing skills and is an integral part of our Operations team assisting with our Franchisee Satisfaction Surveys and with the organisation of our Public events.

Ilana loves to exercise and can often be found sweating it out at the gym.  We've also heard on the grapevine that she has a great singing voice!

Moshe the Golden Retrieverex-Director of Security

We are sad to report that we recently lost our Director of Security to old age. He was 14. We are told that in the canine security industry this is equivalent to being 98 years old — not a bad innings. Moshe brought a lot of joy to our staff and our guests. As a dedication to this loyal, lovable, generous soul we share the following tips. Like all good teachers, Moshe inspired us through his example rather than his words.

Moshe’s Rules for a Happy, Stress Free Life

• Don’t hold grudges.
• Maintain a healthy sense of curiousity.
• Show it when you’re happy to see someone.
• Be optimistic and proactive in seeking things out.
• Always be on the look out for someone to have fun with.
• When there’s nothing to be done, relax and enjoy the moment.
• Enjoy your food.
• Have a good stretch every morning.
• If you want something from someone, be nice to them.
• And if they don't give it to you, still be nice to them.
• Be loyal to your friends and family.

Despite his wisdom a little known fact about Moshe is that he never learned to let go of a ball and consequently missed out on the fun of playing fetch.

Greg NathanManaging Director

Greg is a corporate psychologist and international expert on the franchise relationship. He has a Masters Degree in Psychology and Education from Monash University and is a prolific writer on managing the people issues in franchising. He developed the popular Franchise E-Factor model and is regularly invited to deliver keynote addresses at franchising conferences all over the world. Greg’s introduction to franchising started in 1979 with the Brumby’s Bakery group where he was a multi-site franchisee and later became the group’s National Marketing and Operations Manager. In 2003 the Franchise Council of Australia presented him with the inaugural National “Contribution to Franchising” Award in recognition of his pioneering work in franchise education and research.  In 2007 The Franchise Times named Greg as one of the "Top 20" thought leaders to watch in the USA.

Greg is a passionate blues musician and is always in search of unusual stringed instruments to add to his collection.

Dr Chris JacksonResearch and Development Consultant

Chris is Professor of Psychology at the Australian School of Business, University of NSW, and is an expert in the design and use of psychological tests. He works with our R&D team on the development and validation of our products. Chris’s energy and enthusiasm for psychology is infectious and his visits to our office always result in new and valuable insights.

Chris has developed one of the world’s most respected learning styles questionnaires, “The Learning Styles Profiler”, (see www.cymeon.com).