About Us
Overview of services
Our story
Sierracon was formed in 2010 by John Hamilton with a goal of providing high quality specialist consulting services for social and economic studies and projects across Australia, Asia and the Pacific. Time flies and now after over 16 years in business Sierracon has developed a great track record across a wide range of projects to deliver benefits and address the needs of clients and communities.
Why the name Sierracon? Sierra represents “S” in the phonetic alphabet. The “Sierra” in Sierracon represents the “S” for “Social” and “Con” is an abbreviation of “consulting”.
Example project deliverables
Capability Statements
Our team
John Hamilton
Director, Social and Economic Consultant
Education
- Masters of Social Science with Distinction, RMIT. 2014
- Grad. Cert. Applied Finance and Investment (Kaplan), 2008
- Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) and Bachelor of Commerce, University of Melbourne, 1998
- Certificate in Public Participation (IAP2), 2008
- Mining Investment Analysis (Kaplan), 2008
John has 26 years of experience in undertaking social and economic impact assessment, stakeholder engagement and community consultation, resettlement and social programs, government policy development and program evaluation and monitoring. He also has extensive experience in project management, including projects involving multiple simultaneous tasks, tight timelines, divergent stakeholder demands and multi-disciplinary teams. Combining a social science, economics and science background, John brings a range of technical knowledge and practical experience to address a variety of challenges in the mining, oil and gas, international development, hydropower, government, agriculture, water, and environment sectors. He is additionally a member of the International Association of Impact Assessment.
Margaret Green
Margaret Green joined Sierracon in 2024 and is based in Melbourne and Geelong. Margaret is soon to complete a Bachelor of Commerce (Economics) / Bachelor of International Studies (Policy and Politics) at Deakin University. Coming originally from a regional area, and with a range of interests, Margaret brings a passion for social and economic development and recovery.
Amos Ona
Amos is a senior project manager and social/environmental baseline specialist with over 20 years of experience leading field studies, stakeholder engagement, and impact assessments across Papua New Guinea. He brings deep expertise in directing socio-economic baselines, environmental impact studies, human rights assessments, and community resettlement strategies for major resource infrastructure and conservation initiatives. Skilled in conflict management, monitoring and evaluation, and inter-agency coordination, he offers a proven track record of managing complex field logistics and aligning multi-disciplinary teams with international standards and national development priorities.
Claire Gangai
Claire is a dedicated social scientist and field researcher with over 10 years of experience executing socio-economic data collection, household surveys, and community engagement throughout rural Papua New Guinea. Holding a Bachelor of Arts in Environmental Sciences, Human Geography, and Demography, she possesses technical expertise in utilising digital mobile mapping tools like ArcGIS Survey123 and CS Pro to deliver rapid, accurate field insights. Her extensive background spans resource sector social assessments, transport studies, and community-led health and hygiene initiatives, combining strong organisational skills in team supervision, field logistics, and cross-cultural stakeholder communication.
Francis Kup
Francis is a senior social development, governance, and resettlement specialist with more than two decades of experience navigating complex social landscapes and institutional frameworks in Papua New Guinea. Holding a Master’s degree in Policy Planning and Management from the University of Leeds, he has led field teams across major infrastructure, energy, and donor-funded development projects, specialising in IFC social safeguards, gender impact analyses, land access negotiation, and community affairs management. His career combines high-level strategic planning with hands-on field leadership in community engagement, grievance resolution, and local capacity-building initiatives.
Partnering and Collaboration
Sierracon partners and collaborates with trusted consulting firms from around Australia, Asia and the Pacific and other regions to form multi-disciplinary project teams and to provide a range of locally appropriate services. Consulting partners and collaborators have included: ERIAS Group, Rhelm Consultancy, Steyn Reddy Associates, Ekistica, DT Global, Intersocial Consulting, Stantec, ERM, Accent Environmental, Partnear, StoryUp and a range of other capable individual consultants.