Our Team
Left of Boom have assembled a leading team of crisis and emergency management practitioners ensuring you have access to contemporary expertise and advice to enhance your crisis and emergency management capability.
Grant Chisnall
Grant is the CEO and Founder of Left of Boom, and he specialises in Crisis Preparedness and Response. He is the author of the book, Boom or Bust, Survive and Thrive During Crisis and producer of the Podcast, Crisis Talks.
Grant has a passion for leadership, communication and decision-making and he has supported some of the world's leading organisations through crisis events ranging from cyber-attacks to coronavirus; activism to air crashes; and from Natural disasters to workplace fatalities.
Since 2020 alone, he has supported 18 separate crisis responses to Bushfires, Coronavirus, Cyber-attacks, Cyclone Harold, a major IT outage, product recall, civil unrest and natural disasters.
Kel Donovan
Kel Donovan is a globally experienced resilience advisor who supports organizations operating in high-risk industries and environments. With over 16 years of expertise, Kel has led the development of crisis management frameworks, business continuity programs, and AI-integrated platforms that simplify complexity and enhance decision-making.
He has worked with some of the world’s largest mining, energy, logistics, transport, and infrastructure companies, including BHP, Rio Tinto, Newmont, Fortescue, Peabody, and Viva Energy. Kel’s approach includes intuitive platform design, streamlined planning processes, and a self-paced training continuum that empowers users to maintain capability independently.
Kel continues to help organisations prepare for and respond to crises ranging from natural disasters and cyber threats to industrial incidents and geopolitical disruptions.
Gus McManus
Gus is an experienced crisis preparedness practitioner who began his work consulting to Government and Defence on strategy, crisis communications and media relations.
Most recently, Gus has developed and delivered Crisis Management Training and Exercises for clients ranging from Incitec Pivot Limited, Hapag Lloyd, CSL, NHP, St John of God Health Care and Hall and Wilcox. Prior to this Gus worked in the Joint Experimentation Directorate where he conducted risk assessments and exercises for the Australian Defence Force’s national logistics, its cyber and network resilience, and its operational continuity and scalability.
Erica Robinson
Erica is a communications and project management professional with a proven track record delivering complex, high-stakes projects across government, corporate and FMCG sectors.
Skilled in steering campaigns from strategy to execution, she brings a structured calm approach to stakeholder engagement, issues management, and crisis communications, keeping projects on track and on message.
Her clients have included multiple state government departments, spanning biosecurity, infrastructure, sustainability, and corporate affairs, Tennis Australia, Ego Pharmaceuticals, and Piper-Heidsieck.
Matthew Gill
Matt Gill is a Crisis Leadership Advisor, helping leaders prepare for high-stakes events and make clear, timely decisions under pressure.
He brings real-world crisis command experience, including as General Manager at Beaconsfield during the 2006 mine rescue operation. With 40+ years in underground and multi-site operations across Australia, PNG, India, Ghana, Bolivia and the USA, Matt has led teams through complex, high-risk environments from frontline roles to CEO and Managing Director.
Matt is recognised for calm, credible communication, practical readiness, and disciplined incident leadership that protects people, reputation, and operational continuity.
Melissa Chisnall
Melissa has worked within Marketing and Corporate Communications for more than 20 years and has significant experience in media and stakeholder engagement, major event planning and execution.
Melissa is an experienced exercise Control Lead, managing role player coordination and exercise logistics. She provides specialist communication advice and input into both the training material and training execution. In the event of a response, Melissa provides communications advice and support for all internal and external communications.
Melissa has worked with clients including Bowen Coking Coal, CSL, Darwin Port, MedHealth, CSC, AusPost, Incitec Pivot Ltd, ISPT Pty Ltd, Victoria Racing Club, Port of Melbourne and Peabody Energy. She brings a breadth of knowledge of Crisis Communications Management.
Peta Barry
Peta is our Office Manager. With an eagle eye for detail and decades of experience in Office Management and Account Coordination, Peta is the glue that holds the Left of Boom team together.
Angus Chisnall
Angus is the Left of Boom Team Coordinator. Currently studying a Bachelor of Business, Angus brings a youthful exuberance and valuable support to the team.