Capability, Capacity
+ Coaching

For organisations experiencing rapid growth and major transitions.

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The name Batea comes from the Spanish gold pan used to wash away sand and gravel to reveal gold. It reflects our belief that value is often already present and simply needs clarity and focus to emerge.

About Batea

Batea supports organisations navigating high growth and major transitions by providing executive level capability and hands-on capacity in strategy, governance and risk oversight.

Why Batea exists

Batea was created to fill a gap in the Australian market: flexible, pragmatic support without unnecessary investment.
Many organisations need additional capacity and specialist capability during periods of growth or transformation. Yet boards and executive teams are often encouraged to spend millions on large consulting firms, only to receive advice without execution and no uplift in internal capability.

Batea offers a different approach.
  • We provide executive level expertise combined with hands-on delivery.

  • We design flexible, right-sized engagements that avoid over-investment.

  • We build capability within your teams so you are stronger and more self-sufficient when our work concludes.

How we work

Batea’s approach is grounded in three principles.
  • Substance
    Our work draws on decades of leadership experience across private equity, global organisations and scaling businesses. Every engagement is practical, grounded and focused on results.

  • Partnership
    Whether we work together for a week or a year, full-time or a few days each month, we operate as part of your team for the time we are with you. Your goals are our goals.

  • Flexibility
    Our clients are growing and transforming and that often means uncertainty. We design flexible engagements that meet your needs. We believe in long-term relationships, not long-term contracts.

Bateas are traditionally used where resources are scarce. Their bright blue colour helps the gold stand out, making it easier to recover what matters. We take the same approach: focus on what matters, reduce clutter and apply resources where they bring a return.

What we do

Batea supports organisations and leaders through three core offerings. Batea supports organisations and leaders through three core offerings.

The real value comes from our ability to tailor and combine these offerings into a bespoke engagement that fits your size, budget and goals. Book a conversation to explore how we can support your next chapter.

Advisory & Fractional Leadership

Pragmatic guidance across technology, transformation and performance, with fractional and interim executive options that embed capability and accelerate delivery.

Executive Coaching Programs

Individual and group coaching that builds capability, confidence and clarity for senior leaders and emerging executives.

Strategy Development
& Facilitation

Collaborative strategy design that brings clarity, alignment and focused action to leadership teams.

We chose the name Batea partly because the metaphor fits coaching so well. The gold, or potential, is already there. Our role is to help leaders sift through noise, pressure and complexity so their strengths become visible.

Our Founders

Batea is led by Kim and Ursula Phillips, a husband and wife team with a combined 50 years of experience across IT leadership, transformation and organisational capability.

Ursula Phillips

Ursula Phillips is a successful C-Suite executive, coach and global industry-leader in technology-enabled business transformation. Ursula brings over 20 years of deep strategy and execution experience across technology, risk and operations, including M&A, outsourcing and organisational redesign.

She has experience operating in both large and small organisations, from listed entities (ASX, NASDAQ) and private equity to philanthropy and family offices. Ursula’s industry experience is broad, extending to CPG, energy, manufacturing, mining, property, retail, and transport.

Kim Phillips

Kim is a specialist in adult learning, change management and communications with over 30 years tenure in ERP projects, primarily SAP.

His experience spans local, national and global projects across engineering, FMCG, finance, government, manufacturing and transport. Whilst his long-term work with the Department of Defence has kept him off the market in recent years, he remains active behind the scenes at Batea and leads the financial operations of the business.

Explore our Blog.

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The Digital Deficit - Why is Technology still under-represented in the Boardroom?

In 2025, it is unthinkable that a major business would operate without an AI strategy, data governance framework, or cybersecurity roadmap. Yet many of the boards charged with overseeing these priorities still lack the digital fluency to challenge or support them effectively.

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Technology Investment ROI: Getting it right in high-growth environments

When your business is scaling fast, technology investment decisions become a balancing act. Go too big, and you risk overcommitting financially. Go too small, and your solution may quickly become obsolete. Either path can jeopardize your return on investment (ROI). So how do you strike the right balance?

READ MORE

What our Clients say

"I had the pleasure of working with Ursula on a strategic program during my time as interim CIO and always admired her ability to think ahead, communicate with clarity, and lead with impact.  

Her CxO Mindset program is a natural extension of those strengths — insightful, practical, and highly relevant for anyone preparing for or stepping into executive leadership. The course is structured as a small group, 90-minute session every fortnight — easily manageable alongside a busy workload, yet rich in content and discussion.

It provided new practical tools and also gave me the space and opportunity to connect with a group of like-minded professionals navigating similar challenges. Having wrapped up that interim role, I can honestly say this course would’ve had me walking in more prepared. If you're aiming for the C-suite — or want to lead like you already belong there — this program is well worth your time. Reach out to Ursula if you'd like to know more!

Michael Hua
Head of IT: Merchandise, Supply Chain & Enterprise Applications
Country Road Group

What our Clients say

"In isolation, each of the lesson or topics by themselves were incredibly important lesson, but when they were brought together in the final session the mindset shift clicked. "

CXO Mindset participant, Mar 2025 Perth, WA

What our Clients say

"I was privileged to attend [CXO mindset]. I loved the content and you have lots of vital lived-experience to impart to the group. Thank you!"

CXO Mindset participant, Mar 2025 Sydney, NSW  

What our Clients say

"The course is structured as a small group, 90-minute session every fortnight – easily manageable alongside a busy workload, yet rich in content and discussion. It provided new practical tools and also gave me the space and opportunity to connect with a group of like-minded professionals navigating similar challenges."

CXO Mindset participant, Mar 2025 Melbourne, VIC

What our Clients say

"Ursula was instrumental in supporting some of our key IT strategic sourcing and negotiation initiatives. Her ability to combine deep IT expertise with strong commercial acumen made her an invaluable partner. She not only integrated seamlessly with our team but also unlocked the full potential of our collective expertise, enabling us to deliver outstanding results.”

Kathy Kantaros, Head of Procurement
Country Road Group  

What our Clients say

"Your insights, strategic approach, and ability to challenge our thinking have been invaluable. I truly appreciate the time, effort, and dedication you have brought to this engagement."

CEO, Retailer Client

What our Clients say

"Don't worry, it's all in the mind!", they say. But you should. How you think… determines how you act. Over recent weeks, I've had the privilege of sitting in on a new program by Ursula Phillips GAICD – all about developing a CxO mindset!

Do you have a mind to change? Sign up for Ursula’s program – she has loads to share with you to help make your tomorrow’s different from today'

"You are today where your thoughts have brought you; you will be tomorrow where your thoughts take you." — James Allen

Nick Gillan - Manager
Technology & Data Governance at Asthma Australia

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