Why Us

When innovation and commercialisation matters, NOAH is here to help.

Our experts have been helping businesses access significant non-dilutive government funding programs for decades. Let’s do the same for you.

Accelerate your growth with a government funding strategy

Since 2003, the NOAH brand has been an industry-leading force in the identification and analysis of research and development (R&D) activities across all Australian industries and sectors.

With 70 years of combined experience, our team brings together consultants across a range of technical fields including engineering, science, biology, law, computer science, economics, and more. We are an owner-led, boutique consultancy with a highly specialist team of experts, passionate about relieving the burden of government funding applications from the shoulders of our clients.

Our personalised service and relationships-first approach means that we take the time to understand your unique needs and goals, working closely with you to develop a customised plan for accessing the funding and support you need.

We understand that applying for funding can be a daunting task, which is why we are here to guide you every step of the way.

We specialise in:

Applications for state and federal government funding programs

Helping you understand the complex eligibility requirements for R&D tax and government grant programs

End-to-end service including identification of eligible activities, drafting of technical descriptions against eligibility/merit criteria, calculation of expenditure, review of supporting documentation, and more

R&D tax claim review and audit support

Drafting of supporting documentation for government grant applications and management of ongoing reporting

Liaison with government officials including AusIndustry, the ATO, and grant case managers

Clients receiving expert advise about their R&D Tax Incentive claim

Here’s what to look for when choosing a government funding consultant:

Consultants who are registered R&D tax agents and grant specialists.

To be successful in the government funding space, you’ll need specialist expertise and guidance – like that provided by our expert consultants: registered tax agents with backgrounds in law, engineering, environmental science, computer science and more.

Consultants who demonstrate a proven track record of success.

Throughout our 70 years of combined expertise in the government funding sector, our team has drafted and submitted thousands of successful applications. Whatever sector you are in and whether you’re a start-up, multi-national, or anywhere in-between, NOAH can help.

Consultants with a broad network.

Whenever a particular business need is expressed, we love connecting our clients with our trusted networks of business professionals across a variety of fields including accounting, patents, business strategy, and more.

Providers who’ve trained only as accountants.

The accounting field is more likely to treat your claim or grant application as an add-on to other services, offering it less time and discounting the importance of conveying the strong technical arguments necessary for a successful application.

Providers who can’t demonstrate a long, successful history in their fields.

If a consultancy is a trusted voice in the field of government funding, they’ll be able to demonstrate the results, networks and long list of successful funding applications to back up their claim

Providers who don’t carefully convery each program’s eligibility requirements.

The government funding field involves complex territory, best navigated by trained professionals with experience in reviews, audits and consultation with regulators

Our team

Sam Ekanayake
Director

BCom, MEcon

Sam has been providing consulting services in R&D tax and Government grant programs since 2011.

Sam is a director at Noah Connect and has been providing consulting services in R&D tax and government grant programs since 2011. Sam has extensive experience across many sectors and has specialised in helping early stage companies access government funding support, securing millions of dollars in industries such as software, agri-food, bio-tech, advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, and many more.

The R&D tax program is critical to the success of many start-ups and Sam’s in-depth knowledge regarding the impact of issues such as clawback, payments to associates, and changing compliance processes has allowed her clients to confidently navigate the complexities of the program.

Sam is a keen runner and placed last in the Biggest Morning Tea company bake-off.

Tina Zhao
Director

BEnvMgmt, LLB, GradDip LegPrac

Tina is Noah’s legal expert. She is a member of the Law Society of NSW and a registered tax agent.

Prior to joining the Noah team in 2009, she supplemented her law degree with work experience in legal firms specialising in commercial and criminal law. Tina’s expertise lies in her ability to interpret the legislation and case law governing the R&D space and apply them to provide tailored client advice. In addition to R&D compliance services, she is our resident expert in Advance Findings and has helped many Australian businesses claim eligible R&D activities based overseas.

Tina is an avid (although not very good) snowboarder and golfer, and boasts zero broken bones as her main achievement in both sports.

Maggie Ng
Director

BSc(Hons) Chem, PhD Chem, GradCert ResMgtCom

Maggie has extensive experience in the innovation and strategy space. She has worked closely with start-ups, universities, governments, and fortune 500 companies.

Maggie has come full circle, starting her career as a graduate consultant with Noah over a decade ago, and now returns as a director after a long stint in both the US and Singapore.

Maggie has extensive experience in the innovation and strategy space, across various levels, having worked closely with start-ups, universities, fortune 500 companies, and across different levels of government. Together with a PhD in Chemistry and years of experience working with researchers from a broad range of disciplines, she can navigate through technical details and offer unique insights when it counts.

Maggie is a keen badminton player and enjoys hiking and yoga. She is eager to continue her world travels and hopes the borders will reopen soon.

Matthew Plowman
Senior Manager

LLB, GradDip AsianLang, GradDip LegPrac

Matthew has a Legal background and has been assisting both large and small companies with R&D tax compliance for over twenty years.

Matt is a Senior Manager at Noah Connect and has been providing R&D tax services for over 20 years with Big 4, mid-tier and AusIndustry. He has assisted a range of companies from start-ups to multinationals across a variety of industries including IT, resources, manufacturing, agribusiness and engineering.

Matt has a legal background and has used this to develop a deep understanding of the R&D tax legislative and regulatory frameworks to assist clients understand their R&D tax entitlements.

Matt has recently become a new puppy dad and is enjoying watching his little boy grow up. He tries to maintain regular exercise to offset his other passion, baking.

Lee Au
Senior Manager

BEng (Hons), BCom and CPA

Beginning his career as a mechanical engineer, Lee transitioned into the R&D Tax Incentive space over 10 years ago.

With his industry experience and passion for technology, Lee has a comprehensive understanding of the technical aspects of the Government R&D programs and has successfully helped his clients access funding to accelerate their R&D.

Lee has services clients ranging from start-ups to multi nationals, and across a range of industries from fintech and agriculture, to manufacturing and biotech.

Lee enjoys the outdoors.

Noah Connect Senior Consultant, Michelle Ansen

Michelle Ansen
Senior Consultant

BSc(Hons) MolBiolGen, PhD BiolBiomedSc

Michelle specialises in R&D claims for agrichemical, pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies with her extensive scientific background knowledge.

Prior to becoming an R&D Tax Consultant, Michelle spent her undergraduate, postgraduate and post-doctoral years honing her skills as a Research Scientist in various departments within the University of Sydney.

Michelle was first awarded a BSc (Hons), majoring in Molecular Biology and Genetics. She then worked as a Research Assistant and also conducted her PhD in the Hormones & Cancer Group at the Kolling Institute of Medical Research located at Royal North Shore Hospital. During Michelle’s PhD, she developed a method using a cutting-edge technique called RNA interference to study an endocrine protein known to be involved in cell and cancer growth, with a particular focus on its role in breast cancer.

Michelle’s post-doctorate was undertaken at the Centenary Institute in the Gene & Stem Cell Therapy Group where she worked on two separate projects: the development of a targeted therapy for prostate cancer using stem cells, and also characterisation of proteins found to be essential for embryonic and haemopoietic stem cell development.

Michelle swapped her lab coat for R&D Tax legislation almost five years ago and with her extensive scientific background knowledge, she specialises in R&D claims for agrichemical, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology companies.

Ben Millar
Consultant

BE MatSciEng

Ben has worked in fundamental research and product development across a diverse range of fields including process metallurgy, medical devices, computing hardware, and food technology.

Ben has an engineering background focusing on applied materials science.

He has worked in fundamental research and product development across a diverse range of fields including process metallurgy, medical devices, computing hardware, and food technology.

His experience in analysis, ideation, and prototyping of novel solutions allows the in-depth understanding of the technical core of clients’ R&D necessary for robust claims.

You can usually find Ben in the mountains: skiing when it’s snowing, canyoning when it’s not.

Noah Connect Business Operations Analyst, Adrian Borg

Adrian Borg
Business Development Manager

Adrian plays an important role supporting the Consulting team and ensuring good business processes are in place. His professional golfing career is off to a slow start, but he remains optimistic.

Three reasons to choose NOAH Connect

1

Great relationships and personalised service form the core of our business

Have you started looking into the R&D Tax Incentive and government grants but don’t know where to begin? We’ll help you navigate the landscape with ease.

As a boutique, people-first consultancy with big-agency expertise, we’ve spent years cultivating and nourishing our networks. You’ll feel our warmth and pragmatism from your very first contact.

2

We provide decades of experience without the corporate overhead

With a boutique feel founded on large-scale networks, we have the experience and approach to help you strengthen the financial foundations of your business.

There’ll be no jargon, lofty explanations or pushing the paperwork back onto you – just clear communication, professionalism and competence that means you can focus on your business and leave the hard work to us

3

We are your long-term partners in exciting opportunities for government-funded innovation

There’s a reason why so many of our clients have been with us for over a decade.

Recognised for our expertise and regarded for our staunch commitment to quality and ease to work with, we invest in our client relationships and have an eye for the long-term.