About US

About Crystal

Beginning in 2005, when Sean started started offering project management consulting and training services, we built a global reputation for excellence and pragmatism in all aspects of portfolio, programme, and project management. We've always focused on delivering the core services and training that actually help organizations perform better. We are not trying to be the biggest player out there. 

Our mission is straightforward: to offer you the absolute best project management consulting and training, delivering tangible value to you and your organization. We've always prided ourselves on providing services and advice that deliver real, tangible value to you and your organisation.

Our commitment is simple: to ensure every piece of advice, training and service we offer directly contributes to your success. We avoid, and honestly dislike, jargon because we believe in making our advice crystal clear and practical.

Our goal is to empower you, and your organisation, to improve and thrive because your success and independence are the greatest achievements we could ask for.

Integrity and relationships are at the heart of what we do. We love working with good people and fostering positive, productive interactions. 

What We Do

In some ways, what we do is pretty simple: we help you get better at successfully delivering your portfolios, programs, and projects. No fuss, no jargon.

How do we do it? By actually listening to your needs, understanding how you measure success, and knowing what your future aspirations are. Then we mix in our experience and a solid grasp of what 'good' looks like, aligning it with internationally accepted best practices in project management to develop solutions that work for you.

We tailor our advice and training to ensure it truly meets your needs and delivers tangible value. We are driven by pride in the work we do and a genuine passion for the profession of project management. We'll go the extra mile to make sure your needs are met, your project managers are performing at a higher level, and your organization is successfully delivering its portfolios, programs, and projects.

· Meet Our Team ·

Sean Whitaker 
BA, MSc, MBA, PMP, PMI-CP, DASM

Sean is a strategic project leader and governance adviser with more than 25 years’ experience working alongside boards, executive teams and delivery leaders across government, infrastructure, technology and commercial sectors. Independent by design, Sean challenges governance, portfolio, programme and project systems against one standard: does this measurably increase the probability of success? He does not promote generic methodologies or compliance-driven maturity models. Every element is tailored to context, risk, capability and strategic intent.

He has advised more than 100 organisations, delivering executive assurance, capability assessments, governance design, delivery recovery and benefits realisation frameworks that align oversight with value creation. Sean has authored books for Microsoft Press, O’Reilly and Apress, contributed to The PMBOK Guide, and regularly publishes thought leadership on evidence-based project performance.

Since 2005, he has developed and delivered project management education globally, from foundational training to postgraduate university programmes and executive-level workshops. He is a Fellow and former President of PMI New Zealand.

His commitment is simple: define success clearly, design systems that genuinely increase the probability of achieving it, and remove anything that does not.

You can email Sean at sean@crystal.consulting

· Meet Our Team ·

Rasa Whitaker

Rasa Whitaker
GDipEM, BBc, PMP, ACC

Rasa is a seasoned project management consultant with over a decade of experience delivering complex business and technology initiatives across the public and private sectors. Her career spans roles in project leadership, change management, coaching, and governance, with particular strengths in stakeholder engagement, business transformation, and IT delivery.

Rasa has successfully led and consulted on projects for organisations including Airways Corporation, Farmlands Co-operative, CityCare, Comrad Medical Systems, and the Lyttelton Port of Christchurch.

As a project management practitioner and trainer her work is characterised by a calm, collaborative approach and a strong focus on practical outcomes and lasting impact. She brings a deep understanding of project management best practice, developed from years of experience delivering successful projects. 

Rasa holds international project management certifications including tertiary qualifications and the PMP® and combines structured delivery methods with a people-first mindset, making her a rare combination of technical skill and someone with amazing interpersonal skills.

Rasa currently leads our online training development and delivery business, and leads the development of new products and services. 

You can email Rasa at rasa@crystal.consulting

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