Federico Moreno

federico@sparrowly.com +61 451 202 232 LinkedIn

Consultant and Mentor

Portrait of Federico Moreno smiling confidently, wearing a light blazer and white shirt against a soft blue background.

“I help organisations understand complex problems and use evidence to make better decisions about investment, strategy and community outcomes.”

Federico Moreno is a consultant at Sparrowly Group, leading economic development, workforce development, tourism and community outcome projects.

Federico Moreno brings a systems-thinking approach to work across economic development, workforce development and the visitor economy. Drawing on a background in physics, innovation and complex systems analysis, he helps clients understand complexity, test solutions and prioritise investment in place-based contexts.

He leads evaluation projects across Sparrowly Group’s workforce development portfolio, applying rigorous qualitative and quantitative methods to assess outcomes, inform program design and strengthen future delivery. His work spans economic modelling, policy and program design, and evaluation frameworks that support funding decisions and resilient outcomes. He is skilled in GIS and spatial analysis, integrating geographic, economic and demographic data to reveal patterns, inform planning and support evidence-based decision-making.

Federico supports strategy development, business cases and capability building initiatives that strengthen regional outcomes. He applies strategic analysis, evaluation and economic insight to guide investment decisions, build organisational capability and support implementation. He also mentors small businesses to strengthen resilience, helping operators adapt to change and build sustainable pathways for growth.

He is an Australian Certified Economic Developer (ACEcD), co-author of research on workforce transitions and serves on the Parramatta City Economy Advisory Council, contributing his expertise to local economic initiatives. Based in Sydney, he works regionally, nationally and globally to turn evidence into actionable strategies that deliver funding success and measurable impact.

Back to our team

Recent projects delivered by Fed

Case Studies

NSW Trade Pathways Program Evaluation

A practical roadmap for Nambucca Valley’s economic and tourism future

Unlocking $1.3 Billion for Regional NSW communities

Breaking down transport barriers to workforce participation across NSW

Transforming futures for students

Making music with a Regional Conservatoriums review

Strengthening pathways for young people into construction careers

Regional tourism evaluation to maximise impact in Western Australia

Evaluating NSW’s industry skills and training advisory system

Supporting the resilience of regional businesses in Western Downs

Community engagement for a state-significant tourism development

Small business strategy becomes local government benchmark

Designing the future of the vocational education and training sector in NSW

Revitalising Gundagai’s Old Mill for Sustainable Community Activation

Insights from Fed

Blog

Social impact - not everything that counts can be counted.

Social impact assessment is gaining momentum across tourism, economic development and business, reflecting a welcome shift toward valuing community wellbeing alongside financial outcomes. But measuring social value requires more than a quick calculation. Sparrowly Group’s Federico Moreno explores how social impact analysis complements narratives, stakeholder voices and theories of change, helping funders and decision-makers allocate resources more wisely while recognising the complexity of human and community change.

Workforce and education trends we can’t ignore in 2026!

Workforce and education trends in Australia for 2026 are already reshaping productivity, skills supply, and regional opportunity. Drawing on five years of evaluation and national research, the Sparrowly Group team examines critical shifts - from AI-disrupted entry roles to trades shortages and transport barriers - and outlines practical strategies to strengthen workforce systems and economic resilience.

AI and jobs - creator, destroyer, or just another tool?

Artificial intelligence and the future of work are reshaping industries and challenging traditional roles. Sparrowly Group’s Federico Moreno examines how AI is transforming the knowledge economy, exploring three key hypotheses on whether it will create, displace or redefine jobs - and what these shifts mean for Australia’s workforce and productivity.

Why Australia’s productivity depends on tradies, not just tech.

Australia’s productivity and workforce growth rely as much on skilled trades as on technology. Sparrowly Group’s Federico Moreno unpacks why boosting apprenticeships in construction and vocational pathways is essential for a balanced, future-ready economy - and why parents, educators and policymakers all have a role to play in supporting this shift.

The missing piece - how designers can transform economic development.

Design thinking in economic development is the missing link between strategy and real impact. Sparrowly Group’s Federico Moreno explains how audience-centred program design helps initiatives launch effectively, solve the right problems and deliver lasting value. Offering a practical, stepped approach to integrating creativity and innovation into every stage of economic development.

If you’re using AI, use a trained eye

Artificial intelligence in the workplace is transforming how we work, think, and create - but human oversight remains essential. Sparrowly Group’s Federico Moreno explores how to harness AI’s potential responsibly, ensuring innovation and efficiency never come at the cost of critical thinking, ethical judgement, or the uniquely human touch.

The Federal Budget 2024-25 - A values-based, market shaping approach

Australia’s 2024–25 Federal Budget has sparked debate over the Future Made in Australia Act and its market-shaping ambitions. Sparrowly Group’s Federico Moreno explores how this values-driven economic strategy positions Australia in the global race to net zero - balancing competitiveness, sustainability and long-term investment in the nation’s future industries.

Navigating the Kaleidoscope of Career Pathways

Career exploration and workforce development are vital to helping young people make confident, informed choices about their futures. Sparrowly Group’s Federico Moreno shares personal and professional insights on empowering the next generation to pursue pathways that align with their passions, creating a more resilient, skilled and future-ready Australian workforce.

Empowering Australia's Future Economy: The Vital Role of Vocational Education and Training (VET)

Vocational education and training (VET) is central to shaping Australia’s future workforce and economy. In reflection of National Skills Week, Sparrowly Group’s Federico Moreno explores how the VET sector drives skills development, industry collaboration and long-term prosperity, and why strengthening this system is key to ensuring Australia’s continued economic resilience and growth.

An economist walks into a school

Program evaluation is a crucial component of many government interventions, initially designed as pilot programs. Evaluating the successes and failures of a pilot enables highly informed decisions to be made about the program, whether it continues and scales up or not. What do you need to consider to ensure program evaluation is truly objective? Sparrowly Group’s Federico Moreno explains.

Navigating the Transition - University to Work Life

Sparrowly Group’s Federico Moreno writes about navigating the university to work transition and joining the workforce in a lockdown. He shares advice for people who are starting a new job or getting their first job.