Leadership and Diversity
Diverse Expertise, Unified Vision
At Access Grants, our foundation is strengthened by the seasoned expertise of Rod Campbell and Dave Sammut, alongside the dynamic leadership of our female-led R&D and Grant writing teams. This combination of deep-rooted industry knowledge, entrepreneurial insight, and a diverse skill set across various sectors ensures a profound understanding of the R&D Tax Incentive’s intricacies. Our team’s multidisciplinary background enables us to deliver customised, innovative solutions across a spectrum of industries, reflecting our commitment to diversity and excellence in innovation funding.
R&D Consultancy Revolutionised & Grant Writing Mastery
Our consultancy and grant writing efforts are distinguished by the innovative direction of women at the forefront, leveraging their unique expertise to navigate complex funding landscapes successfully. This approach ensures that our clients’ projects are both compellingly presented and strategically positioned for success.
Dave Sammut
Director
Dave Sammut
Rod Campbell
Director
Rod Campbell
our experienced Advisors
Our team of experienced advisors have a deep understanding of R&D Tax Incentive and its eligibility criteria. We work closely with you to identify all eligible R&D activities and expenses, and provide you with the guidance and support you need to maximise your benefits.
stay ahead of the game
At Access Grants, we stay up-to-date with the latest changes in R&D TI legislation and regulations. This allows us to provide you with timely advice on how to optimise your R&D tax benefits and stay ahead of the competition.
our knowledge, your advantage
We have a deep understanding of R&D activities across a wide range of industries, and are well-equipped to serve your unique needs. Our knowledge and expertise can help you maximise your R&D tax benefits and achieve your business objectives.
Our partners
Our Founders
Dave Sammut
Director
BSc (Hons, Ind. Chem), MBT, MRACI
Dave Sammut is a scientist and entrepreneur with over 30 years of experience in startups, consulting and specific applications of metallurgy. .
Dave specialises in facilitating the effective communications between different technical and non technical disciplines, with a track record in creating value through innovation. Dave is experienced in starting and growing businesses, raising capital, recruiting key teams and developing solid business fundamentals.
Coming from an industrial R&D background, he has 13 years of experience with R&D Tax Incentive claims as a partner / co-owner at Access Grants
Rod Campbell
DIRECTOR
Rod Campbell has over 40 years of specialist consulting experience working on the R&D Tax programs since their first introduction in mid 1980’s and also the Export Development programs since their inception.
He is joint founder and inaugural National Chairman of the R&D Tax Advisors Association (RDTAA) retiring in 2025.
He was also joint founder of the Export Consultants Association Inc. ( ECAI ) and retired as National Chairman in 2024. He also served a term as a Director of the Export Council of Australia ( ECA ).
Rod built his consulting practice as an R&D tax agent and consultant on the EMDG scheme on his earlier background as a Government Policy Advisor on Government assistance to industry in Canberra.
The culmination of his knowledge and experience in these specialised fields over such an extended period has profiled Rod as the longest serving advisor in the country assisting industry with Government funding under these programs.
Rod has focussed his entire career on Government Industry Assistance support programs at both Federal and State levels based on an initial career in Canberra involving trade policy development and implementation with the Dept. of Overseas Trade and the Export Market Development Grants Board – as Policy Officer and Secretary to the Board.
He took up a lead role with Duesburys Chartered Accountants as head of Govt Assistance Programs and after 10 years, he established his own practice Access Grants which continues to operate today with partners and staff.
Rod’s commitment to the implementation and delivery of Govt Assistance Policy is demonstrated by his initiative to establish the Export Consultants Association Inc, ( ECAI ) where until June 2024 he presided as Chair of that organisation working closely with Austrade on implementation of legislative amendments and operating guidelines. In this capacity, Rod has been involved over many years in submissions and consultations with Trade Ministers, Government agencies and other industry bodies on policies to provide incentives that encourage SME focus and growth on export opportunities.
Both during his era in Government roles and subsequently as a practising specialist on Govt Assistance programs, he has developed operating guidelines and negotiated with Austrade along with other industry bodies on specific areas to bring clarity to operating rules.
Rod has also focussed his consultancy Access Grants on R&D tax incentives and was one the first to focus in this field from the initial implementation of this significant Govt support program. Given the necessity for practitioners to be registered as Tax Agents which has mandatory Continuing Professional Development compliance requirements, Rod is a co-founder of the R&D Tax Advisors Association ( RDTAA ) and is the inaugural Chairman of that organisation which is the only provider of R&D specific professional development programs to tax agents. That role involves close liaison with both the ATO and AusIndustry ( DISR ).
Rod has served on the Boards of several other industry bodies over the years including the Export Council of Australia ( ECA ).
In addition to a Bachelor of Business, he is a graduate of the Governance Institute of Australia and has served on Boards of both unlisted public companies and private enterprises as both Director and Company Secretary. As a contributor to community activity, Access Grants is the lead sponsor of UTS-Nth Sydney District Cricket Club which involves some 16 premiership teams for men’s, women’s and children’s cricket.
Our team
Lauren Niesen
R&D TI manager
Lauren manages the R&D Tax Incentive unit and, as a registered tax agent for the RDTI, works on both describing R&D activities and calculating clients’ claims. She enjoys helping businesses navigate the legislation underpinning the program and demystifying the eligibility and recordkeeping requirements. With a degree in nanoscience and experience working as an analytical chemist, Lauren’s multidisciplinary knowledge enables her to understand and accurately summarise clients’ work from complex technical discussions and documentation.
Heidi Doak
Grants Manager
Heidi is a scientist and technical writer, adept at translating technical information into rigorous and persuasive funding applications. Using her experience in product development and consulting, she identifies how our clients’ R&D and projects align with funding opportunities. Heidi helps companies in the medtech, environmental, scientific and manufacturing sectors to access government incentives and understand the associated eligibility and compliance requirements.
Lakshmi Singh
grants manager
Lakshmi is a software engineer and technical writer who is well versed in nuances of the R&D tax incentive, joining our team in 2016. Lakshmi’s extensive experience has helped to make her an expert in articulating the claimant’s novelty in technical terms, a key requirement of the R&D Tax Incentive. Lakshmi’s clients range from start-ups to large multinational companies in IT, Science and Manufacturing.
Adrian Smith
consultant
Adrian is a Fellow of CPA Australia, and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors with significant financial, management, strategic and board experience. He is also a member of Mensa International.
With a Bachelor of Business and many accreditations Adrian brings to the team his recent experience in the renewable energy sector along with past applications for the R&D Tax Incentive, solid business and technical perception necessary to translate your R&D evidence into the structure for a claim.
Suraksha Guragain
consultant
Suraksha is an R&D Tax Incentive Consultant at Access Grants, where she helps innovative Australian businesses identify eligible research and development activities and maximise their R&D tax claims. She works closely with clients to translate complex technical work into compliant documentation aligned with government requirements. With a background in technology, software development and digital analytics, Suraksha brings strong analytical and problem-solving skills to the R&D advisory space. Her multidisciplinary experience across technology and business enables her to effectively understand technical projects and communicate their value. Suraksha is passionate about supporting innovation and helping companies access funding that drives research, development and growth.
Your success is our success
The ‘art’ of a robust R&D claim is centred on the technical aspects of your projects. Our value add is to: