Expert solutions for complex people challenges
Helping leaders and boards in education and nonprofit organisations across New Zealand and Australia understand and respond to concerns, complaints, conflicts and crises with expert, independent support.
Welcome
I’m Tim Sterne, Founding Director of Basalt Solutions, specialising in independent investigations and training for education and nonprofit leaders and boards.
When you’re dealing with a concern, complaint, allegation, or people-related crisis – call us first. We work with schools, tertiary institutions and nonprofits both in urgent situations and proactively so you can approach high-stakes moments with confidence.
Trusted to deliver
How we help
Basalt Solutions provides expert independent support to education providers and nonprofits across Australia and New Zealand.
Expert independent investigations into workplace misconduct and sensitive complaints involving your staff, students or people in your care. We are engaged when a case requires more than just basic procedure, including allegations against senior staff, conflicting accounts, or situations with significant risk. Our approach delivers detailed analysis, credible conclusions, and reports that stand up to scrutiny.
Specialist training and capability-building for leaders (including pastoral leaders in day and boarding schools) dealing with complex complaints, concerns, and conflicts. Focus areas include investigation leadership, judgement and decision-making, investigative interviewing, and navigating high-stakes conversations.
Independent support for leaders navigating fast-moving or high-pressure situations where judgement, decision-making and proportionate responses are critical. We bring operational leadership, clear planning, and calm judgement to ensure defensible decisions under pressure.
Evidence-based reviews of systems, processes, decisions, and culture. Reviews are often used where a formal investigation is not required, learning and improvement matter, and leaders want an independent perspective they can trust. This service includes assessments of complaint-handling systems. We identify gaps, benchmark against best practice, and provide actionable recommendations.
Expert solutions for complex people challenges
Whether you’re building capability through training or need immediate support for a sensitive matter, early engagement enables us to find the right solution for you.