Strategy · Operations · AI

The firm that
delivers, not
just advises.

Zira & Co. is a boutique strategy and operations consultancy helping financial services, superannuation, and high-growth organisations transform how they operate — with precision, speed, and results that last.

8+
Years C-Suite
Experience
3x
Minimum ROI
Per Engagement
$0
Wasted on
Unused Reports
Z
30
days to your
first result
Trusted by leaders from
AustralianSuper Cbus Superannuation REI Super Financial Services Property & Real Estate
What We Do

We don't consult
from a distance.
We embed.

Most consultants hand you a report and leave. Zira & Co. works differently. We embed inside your organisation, work alongside your team, and stay until the transformation is real — not just documented.

Founded by a senior operations leader with over eight years supporting C-suite executives across superannuation, finance, property, and risk — we know what good looks like because we've built it from the inside.

Meet the founder →

Strategy that gets executed

We build execution architecture, accountability systems, and sprint plans that turn vision into reality — not just a slide deck.

Operations that actually work

We audit, redesign, and document your processes — eliminating friction that quietly costs you time, money, and talent.

AI that creates real leverage

We find exactly where AI creates genuine efficiency and implement it with your team — not over them.

Leadership that performs

We build the operating rhythms, governance, and communication frameworks that unlock executive performance.

Our Services

Six ways we
transform you.

View all →
ZC_SVC_001

Operational Diagnostic

A forensic audit uncovering the hidden inefficiencies costing you growth and momentum.

Learn more →
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Strategy & Execution

Translating vision into a precise, executable strategy with clear owners at every level.

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ZC_SVC_003

AI Integration

Practical AI implementation that creates genuine leverage in your operations and decisions.

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ZC_SVC_004

Leadership Performance

Elevating how executives operate and lead — freeing capacity for high-leverage work.

Learn more →
ZC_SVC_005

Playbook & Governance

Creating the operational DNA of your organisation — documented, scalable, permanent.

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Fractional COO

Senior operational leadership embedded in your business without the full-time overhead.

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How It Works

The Zira & Co. process.
Five steps to transformation.

01

Diagnose

We audit your operations and strategy — finding exactly where friction lives and what it costs you.

02

Design

We co-create a precise roadmap — practical, prioritised, and built for your specific context.

03

Deploy

We embed alongside your team and execute — staying until it's done, not handing over a deck.

04

Develop

We build playbooks and frameworks that make your transformation permanent and scalable.

05

Deliver

We measure outcomes and hand over a business measurably better than when we arrived.

Client Results
"Working with Zira & Co. transformed how our Risk function operates. What took weeks now takes days. The playbook they built is still running our processes 18 months later."
Group Head of Risk · Major Superannuation Fund

Ready to transform
how you operate?

Book a complimentary 45-minute discovery call. No pitch, no pressure — just an honest conversation about whether Zira & Co. is the right fit.

Book Your Discovery Call →
The Founder

Built from the
inside out.

V
Vanessa Giordano · Founder
About Vanessa

Zira & Co. was founded by Vanessa Giordano — a senior operations leader with over eight years embedded at the highest levels of Australia's financial services and superannuation sector.

Before founding Zira & Co., Vanessa served as Business Specialist for Cbus Superannuation, supporting five Group Heads and the Chief Executive of Risk — managing complex transformation programmes, redesigning incident and breach management processes, and leading the operational uplift of an entire Risk function.

Prior to that, she held senior roles at AustralianSuper — including Workplace Experience & Administration Manager leading nine direct reports across four national offices, and Executive Assistant to the Chief Executive Office of one of Australia's largest funds.

Vanessa was seconded to New York to set up AustralianSuper's US office. She has negotiated leases that saved her organisation significant costs. She has built governance frameworks still running years later. She doesn't consult from a distance — she builds from within.

Work with Vanessa → View Services
Track Record

Experience that
speaks for itself.

Cbus Superannuation · Business Specialist, Group Risk

Supported five Group Heads and the Chief Executive of Risk. Redesigned incident and breach management — implementing a full playbook, process templates, and house rules. Led the operational uplift of the entire Risk department.

AustralianSuper · Workplace Experience & Administration Manager

Led nine direct reports across four domestic offices. Seconded to New York to manage the setup of AustralianSuper's US office — navigating sharp deadlines, complex logistics, and international processes.

AustralianSuper · Executive Assistant to CEO Office

Provided direct support to the Chief Executive, Chief of Staff, and senior Retirement leadership. Managed board and committee papers and strategic project oversight for one of Australia's largest funds.

AustralianSuper · Workplace & Property Lead

Oversaw property portfolio across multiple states. Sourced a new lease within a compressed timeframe, saving the organisation significant costs by pivoting from a high-risk decision.

REI Super · Executive Assistant to CEO & Marketing

Delivered comprehensive executive support including board papers, HR administration, and event management — while simultaneously supporting the marketing function with brand materials and campaign delivery.

Our Values

What we stand for.

01

Delivery over decks

We measure our value by outcomes, not outputs. Every engagement ends with something permanently better than before Zira & Co. arrived.

02

Embedded, not external

We work inside your team. We don't helicopter in with recommendations — we roll up our sleeves and build it alongside you.

03

Honest, always

We tell you what you need to hear. If something isn't working, we say so. Our reputation is built on candour — not on telling you what's comfortable.

Let's build something
that lasts.

A 45-minute discovery call to understand your business, your challenges, and whether Zira & Co. is the right partner.

Book a Discovery Call →
Our Services

Six ways to
transform
your business.

Every service is designed to deliver measurable outcomes. We work with you until the transformation is complete — not until the invoice is paid.

ZC_SVC_001

Operational Diagnostic & Transformation

From $8,500 · Project Based

A forensic audit of how your organisation actually operates — surfacing the hidden inefficiencies, broken workflows, and structural friction quietly costing you time, money, and your best people. We don't just identify the problems; we build the roadmap to fix them permanently.

Full operational audit & report
Process mapping & gap analysis
Prioritised improvement roadmap
30-day quick-win plan
Custom playbooks & SOPs
Board-ready executive summary
ZC_SVC_002

Strategy Design & Execution Planning

From $6,500 · Project Based

Translating ambition into architecture. You have the vision — Zira & Co. builds the precision framework to execute it with clarity and accountability at every level. Strategy without execution is just a wish list.

Strategic framework development
OKR & goal architecture
Execution roadmap with owners
Decision-making frameworks
90-day sprint planning
Progress & governance design
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AI Integration & Intelligent Operations

From $9,500 · Project Based

Practical, no-hype AI implementation. We identify exactly where AI creates real leverage in your business — in communications, operations, reporting, and decision support — and we build it with your team. The result: tools your people actually use.

AI readiness assessment
Tool selection & integration
Workflow automation design
Team training & adoption plan
AI governance & risk protocols
ROI measurement framework
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Leadership Performance & Executive Support

From $3,500/mo · Retainer

Partnering with executives to elevate how they operate, communicate, and lead — freeing capacity for high-leverage work and measurably strengthening team performance. The operating system behind great leadership.

Executive operating rhythm design
Stakeholder strategy & comms
Leadership playbooks
Meeting & governance frameworks
Fractional Chief of Staff support
Team performance sessions
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Playbook & Governance Buildout

From $5,500 · Project Based

Creating the operational DNA of your organisation — documented, scalable, and owned by your people permanently. From incident management to onboarding to board-ready governance frameworks.

Process playbook development
House rules & standards docs
Compliance & governance templates
RACI & role clarity frameworks
Onboarding & training collateral
Incident & breach management
ZC_SVC_006

Fractional COO / Business Partner

From $8,000/mo · Retainer

Senior operational leadership without the full-time cost. Embedded 1–3 days per week as Fractional COO or Business Partner — delivering the strategic oversight, team leadership, and transformation capacity of a full-time executive.

1–3 days/week embedded presence
Team & vendor leadership
Board & committee representation
Transformation delivery ownership
Executive team development
Bespoke reporting infrastructure
Who We Work With

Zira & Co. is the right
fit if…

Your Industry

You're in superannuation, financial services, property, or a regulated industry — or a high-growth business that needs enterprise-grade operational rigour without the bureaucracy.

Your Situation

You're scaling fast and operations haven't kept pace. You're in transformation and need senior embedded leadership. Or you know something is broken but can't see exactly what — or how to fix it.

Your Expectation

You want results, not reports. You want someone who works alongside your team, is honest when things aren't working, and delivers something that outlasts the engagement.

Not sure which
service is right?

Book a discovery call and we'll recommend the best starting point for your situation, goals, and budget. No obligation.

Book a Discovery Call →
Z
Get in Touch

Let's have an
honest
conversation.

A 45-minute discovery call. No pitch, no pressure — just an honest conversation about where you are, where you want to be, and whether Zira & Co. is the right fit.

📍

Location

Melbourne, Victoria — available nationally & internationally

Email

hello@ziraco.com.au

💼

LinkedIn

linkedin.com/in/vanessagiordano

Completely free, no obligation. The discovery call is our investment in understanding your business.

You'll leave with clarity. Even if we're not the right fit, you'll know your next step.

Response within 24 hours. Every enquiry is handled personally by Vanessa.

Book a Discovery Call

Tell us about
your business.

We respond within 24 business hours. All information is treated with complete confidentiality.