Principal
Corporate lawyer, company director, and commercial adviser with over 30 years advising public and private companies across Australia and internationally.
1994 — Early 2000s
Cary Stynes was admitted to practice in Victoria in the early 1989, graduating with an LLB from the University of Melbourne. His practice focusses on the intersection of law and commerce advising early-stage companies on capital structure, shareholder agreements, and the legal frameworks necessary for growth.
In 1995, Cary co-founded and served as Managing Director of Media and Entertainment Group Limited, which he took to an ASX listing, a formative experience that gave him a practitioner's understanding of the listing process from the inside. The company expanded internationally before being acquired by CPH Limited (Kerry Packer) in 1999, providing an early lesson in M&A transaction execution at a high level.
The best legal advice comes from someone who has experienced the commercial consequences themselves.
Through the late 1990s and early 2000s, Cary established Stynes Consulting as a specialist firm advising founders, boards, and investors on the legal and commercial dimensions of growing businesses with a particular emphasis on capital markets and ASX listings.
2000s — 2010s
Over the following two decades, Cary led and advised on numerous capital raisings, IPOs, and reverse takeover transactions across a diverse range of industries: digital media, technology, infrastructure, mining and resources, retail, and agriculture. He developed deep expertise in ASX Listing Rules compliance, prospectus preparation, and the management of complex multi-party capital transactions.
During this period, Cary served as director, consultant or senior executive of a number of listed and unlisted companies. These various roles gave him firsthand actual experience of the management, governance and strategic pressures faced by boards of ASX listed and private companies.
2015 — Present
In more recent years, Cary has focussed increasingly on board leadership roles alongside his legal and advisory practice. He served as Non-Executive Chairman of Traffic Technologies Limited (ASX: TTI) from February 2024, until April 2025. As Executive Chairman of Botanic Wellness Limited and Chief Executive Officer of Botanic Bioplastics Pty Ltd, Cary is actively engaged in guiding the strategy and governance of emerging companies in the infrastructure, medtech, medical cannabis and bioplastics sectors — areas where he combines legal expertise with genuine commercial leadership.
Stynes Consulting continues to act for clients across corporate law, M&A, capital raising, and governance advisory, drawing on Cary's unique experience as both a practising lawyer and a company director who has sat in the boardroom, not just advised it.
I have sat on the boards of listed and private companies for over three decades — as legal adviser, as managing director, and as independent chairman. That breadth of experience shapes every piece of advice I give.
Qualifications & Memberships
Legal Qualifications
Corporate & Board Memberships
Board Philosophy
"Good governance is not a compliance exercise. It is what separates companies that endure from those that do not."
Cary brings to every board and advisory engagement a belief that strong governance, clear accountability, independent oversight, and rigorous process is the foundation of sustainable commercial success. His experience on both sides of the table means he understands what boards actually need, not just what the rulebooks require.
Our Team
Business Manager
Customer-focused business professional with over 20 years of experience in consultative sales, client relationship management, advertising and marketing, and e-commerce operations across retail, real estate, and travel.
2000 – 2015
Leanne Kuss began her professional career with an Associate Diploma in Marketing from the Adelaide Institute, building an early foundation in strategic marketing and brand communications. She went on to hold key roles in the travel, real estate, and advertising industries, developing deep expertise in consultative sales, client relationship management, and team leadership.
As Store Manager and Travel Consultant at Flight Centre Group, Leanne managed complex worldwide travel itineraries, consistently exceeded sales targets, and trained and developed staff to outperform budgets.
At Toop & Toop Real Estate, Leanne served as Advertising Studio Manager leading a strong design team to create media, property and agent advertising — online and offline — while managing high-pressure logistics adhering to strict deadlines. Cross-functional collaboration was key, working closely with high profile sales teams, management and external partners. During this period, she received multiple industry awards, including the Real Estate Institute of Australia National Marketing and Communications Award (2013) and the REIA Innovation Award (2009).
2015 – 2024
For seven years as Marketing and E-Commerce Manager at Living by Design, Leanne took full ownership of the company's marketing, e-commerce, and retail operations. She planned and executed local and national advertising and marketing campaigns, designed, built, and maintained a multi-million dollar e-commerce website over four years, and created marketing flows and customer engagement systems that directly drove sales growth.
On the retail floor, Leanne managed escalated customer environments and dispute resolution with empathy and professionalism, implemented and maintained cohesive brand presentation across both retail spaces and the online presence, and guided the team through multiple technology installations across online, warehousing, and retail POS systems.
In 2022, Leanne secured a business grant to study entrepreneurship, completing a Certificate IV in Entrepreneurship and New Business. This period sharpened her expertise in budgeting, financial planning, and strategic business development.
2024 – Present
Leanne joined Stynes Consulting as Business Manager, bringing her extensive experience in client relationship management, business systems and technology, marketing, and operational efficiency to the firm. Her background across consultative sales, e-commerce, marketing and customer service provides a strong commercial complement to the firm's legal and advisory practice.
Leanne is responsible for business operations notably the debt recovery portfolio, client engagement, and the systems and processes that support the delivery of the firm's services. Her focus on creating exceptional client experiences and building efficient business systems ensures that Stynes Consulting operates with the same professionalism and attention to detail that its clients expect in their own boardrooms.
Qualifications
Industry Awards
Stynes Consulting accepts corporate, M&A, capital markets, and governance instructions. Initial consultations available for qualifying matters.