About Us

At Synodal Consulting, we believe in the art of accompaniment, journeying together, listening and discerning with communities, and offering best models to strengthen communities in their mission.

Our commitment is to facilitate growth and vitality with both communities and with individuals, and engage in honest and prayerful discernment through all our interactions.

Synodal Consulting offers support in the areas of planning for mission, leadership support, community engagement, project management, ministry training, and discipleship formation and can tailor any of these areas to suit the needs of a community.

Lisa Bright

Lisa has spent the past 12 years working in the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta, most recently as a Project Officer for the Pastoral Planning Office where she accompanied communities in envisioning, engaging and empowering themselves to live God’s mission. Lisa previously worked in parish communities in a variety of roles, engaging with people of all ages and backgrounds and walking with them on their journey of life and faith as well as being a Parish leader, coordinating, engaging, facilitating and planning for mission.

Prior to that, Lisa served on the NSW State Council of the St Vincent de Paul Society and on various committees for Religious Communities after working for the St Vincent de Paul Society in Youth Coordination on a local and State level for five years. She was Human Resource Manager of Kernels Popcorn early in her career after working in sales. Lisa has owned a consulting company journeying with people and assisting in marriage and funeral preparation, as well as project management. She is experienced in small business with policy preparation, human resources, finance and leadership.

Lisa enjoys volunteering with her local faith community and is a member of several committees. She is proud of her Maltese heritage, working with other networks to bring awareness to the story of Maltese immigrants to Australia and ensuring Maltese traditions are remembered by new generations.

Lisa is passionate about people and connecting them to safe and welcoming spaces both physically and online, to grow and share life and faith and experience life to the full.

Lisa holds a Bachelor of Commerce majoring in Human Resource Management, a Bachelor of Theology, and a graduate certificate in Theological Studies. She is a mother to three children and two rabbits.

Richard McMahon

Richard has worked as the Director of Pastoral Planning in the Catholic Diocese of Parramatta for the past six years. For 10 years prior, he served in the Catholic Diocese of Wollongong as the Director of Parish Services and the Coordinator of Faith Formation. In these roles he has a proven track record as executive leader and team manager and has ministered with a variety of church communities, Religious Institutes and organisations offering adult enrichment courses, shaping mission approaches via strategic plans, and engaging with stakeholders in parishes, education, social services, and church movements. Richard has shaped, coordinated, and implemented a range of key diocesan, state and national conferences and projects. He is the co-chair of the Pastoral Ministry Network in NSW, chair of the Mission Planners Network of Oceania and hosts an Oceanic bi-monthly pastoral ministry webinar.

In prior roles he has ministered in parish leadership over three communities and led adult faith formation opportunities, established a nationally recognised spiritual program and has been editor of a diocesan flagship publication. He has worked corporately in Information Technology in banking and administrative services.

Richard enjoys creating possibilities for people and communities to bring their visions to life. He is committed to accompanying young people in his local community and provides adult support to Antioch Youth Ministry. He also enjoys science fiction and fantasy and is currently writing his own novel.

Richard possesses a great passion for our faith as it is lived through our Catholic Church, and offers high-level engagement strategies, and skills in planning for mission, facilitation and change management for church communities of any denomination and all community organisations.

Richard holds a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Theology and is completing a Master of Professional Studies in Theology. He is married with four children.

We look forward to connecting with you to consider how we might accompany you on your journey.

Please contact us with your enquiry, or to arrange a complimentary, initial 60-minute consultation.