Based in the Great Southern region of Western Australia, Keston Economics is an award-winning consulting company specialising in regional economic development, innovation, project and program management and strategy development.

Keston Economics was established by the founders and associates of Keston Technologies, an international consulting company with offices in Australia (Albany and Sydney) and the UK (Oxford). Keston Economics focuses on economic and business consulting, regional development, innovation and commercialisation work in Australia, as well as to diversify and explore new market opportunities globally. 

Since its establishment in 2004, the Keston brand has delivered and supported projects for clients across Australia and Europe.

From developing business cases for local government and community groups to advising state government agencies on strategy development, to monitoring publicly-funded projects, developing regional economic development plans, providing commercialisation services to innovative companies, and assisting overseas companies to access Australasian markets, Keston is a highly effective resource for many organisations.

Michael Keeler

Director, Keston Economics

Michael undertakes a range of business case development, grant consultancy, proposal development and research activities for Keston Economics’ clients. He began working for Keston Technologies in 2012, and has a range of key competencies, including:

• Twelve years of experience researching and writing feasibility studies, business cases and various grant applications within the Great Southern, Peel and South West regions of Western Australia.
• Experience in quickly comprehending advanced or novel concepts and to successfully compile expert documents with in-depth research to support strategic analyses and applications for funding.
• High proficiency in both qualitative and quantitative research.
• Strategic and business planning.
  
• High proficiency in the use of Microsoft Office tools.

Current and recent projects include business case, business plan and feasibility study development, economic analyses and economic modelling for diverse projects across Western Australia.



Dr Richard Ball

Director, Keston Economics

Richard has over thirty years of experience in developing international business in high technology areas in a range of sectors - food & drink, nuclear programs, forensic science, materials & technical software. 

Following a career with AEA Technology, in 2002 he was appointed the founding Chief Executive Officer of the National Metals Technology Centre (NAMTEC) in the UK. In this role, he successfully built the company and its services to deliver against a range of objectives, including inward investment, regional development and support for the metals industry. In 2004, Richard founded Keston Technologies, establishing a prominent brand for robust regional economic strategy, business development and funding applications within Australia and throughout the European Union.

Richard has held a number of academic appointments, including: Lecturer (New College, Oxford), Industrial Fellow (Wolfson College, Oxford), Member of the sub-Faculty of Chemistry (University of Oxford), Visiting Research Fellow (Imperial College, London), Adjunct Senior Lecturer (University of Western Australia).