Redwood Field AdvisoryAbout Redwood Field Advisory
Practical business counsel rooted in Newcastle, serving owner-led firms across the Hunter and wider regional NSW.
Registered business
Redwood Field Advisory Pty Ltd is the official registered business name. We have operated from Newcastle since 2011, beginning as a two-person practice focused on operational reviews for manufacturing clients in the Hunter Valley.
Our history
Founder Margaret Chen spent a decade in plant management and regional operations roles before establishing the firm. The name reflects two ideas: redwood for longevity and measured growth, and field for work done on the ground — in warehouses, on shop floors, and in the meeting rooms where decisions actually get made.
What started as project-based turnaround work grew into retained advisory relationships with firms that wanted ongoing counsel without a full executive hire. Today we serve roughly thirty active clients across manufacturing, trades, distribution, and professional practices.
How we work
We believe good advisory starts with listening to the people who run the work, not just the owner. Site visits matter. So do written deliverables your team can reference six months later. We do not sell retainers for the sake of continuity — we recommend follow-on work only when there is a clear scope.
Our team
Margaret Chen
Founding Director
Former operations manager with an MBA from the University of Newcastle. Leads operational advisory and client relationships.
David Okonkwo
Senior Advisor
Chartered accountant (CPA) with twelve years in corporate finance. Leads financial modelling and governance reviews.
Sarah Whitlam
Engagement Coordinator
Manages scheduling, document flow, and client onboarding. First point of contact for new enquiries.
Values we hold
- Clarity over complexity — Recommendations in language your floor supervisor and your board can both understand.
- Accountability — Named owners for each action item, with dates that reflect real capacity.
- Regional commitment — We live and work in Newcastle. Our clients are not fly-in engagements from a distant metro office.
Relationship to our community
We sponsor the Hunter Manufacturing Network’s quarterly roundtable and contribute pro-bono governance reviews to two local not-for-profits each year. Several of our advisors mentor through the University of Newcastle’s business school internship programme.