Our Team members
Scotty Allen
FOUNDER / CEO
Scotty combines his experience as a Product Manager in a number of successful software startups with his education and client learning background to help clients refine product value propositions, develop road maps and MVP plans, and develop Go To Market strategies for Software as a Service (SaaS) offerings and web-based learning products.
Scotty founded Swivol Media, a podcast agency focusing on business and original content podcast series including “Starting Line: The New Founders Podcast“, focusing on telling founder stories from the beginning of the startup journey, and “The Bootstrap: Startups from Scratch”, a show all about the bootstrapped startup experience.
STEVE FORBES
ADVISOR
Steve has worked across digital for a couple of decades, bringing his experiences in innovation and digital product management to The Product Bus.
From large organisations like NAB and ANZ to early-stage startups, Steve hold significant expertise in innovation management, product development, software engineering, and creating unforgettable customer experiences.
MICHAEL ZARIF
SENIOR CONSULTANT
Michael is an experienced product leader with a strong background in financial services, insurance, and fintech. He helps startups and established companies improve their product capabilities, processes, and adopt product-led frameworks. With over a decade of experience, Michael has successfully built and led high-performing product teams, delivering exceptional user experiences across industries.
He excels in launching and scaling products, from early-stage startups to large organisations, and building teams that thrive both locally and globally. Known for clear communication and a collaborative approach, Michael balances short-term goals with long-term strategy, consistently identifying market trends to drive success.
Michael is passionate about understanding customer needs and creating innovative products that exceed expectations. His data-driven approach ensures informed decision-making and measurable outcomes. A skilled collaborator and stakeholder manager, Michael aligns teams and executives around shared goals, fostering a culture of continuous improvement and innovation.
NATALIE ELLIS
PRODUCT MENTOR - RESEARCH AND INSIGHTS
Natalie brings a rich background in market research and insights to the digital product space. As a Strategic Product Lead for a major Federal Government health service website, she combines her knowledge of healthcare and public policy to drive meaningful projects. She is passionate about working with early stage start-up Founders to help them find their footing and unleash their ideas and products into the world. She loves seeing and hearing what novel ideas and technologies The Product Bus partners are looking to launch!Her varied experience covers key sectors including healthcare, public policy, finance, FMCG, and SaaS.
Her key skill lies in her ability to intertwine her experience in global consultancy and start-ups with a practical approach to digital product strategy and development. This combination of experiences, coupled with her big-picture perspective, makes her a valued member of The Product Bus team.
PORTIA MCEWAN
OPERATIONS MANAGER
Portia brings a wealth of experience in managing operations and supporting diverse business needs, from corporate environments to small local businesses. As Operations Manager at The Product Bus, she draws on her expertise in project management and executive support to deliver seamless project execution. Portia’s background includes successfully managing teams, overseeing project portfolios, and tailoring support for client-specific needs.
ROBBIE CARTER
BRAND DESIGNER AND CONSULTANT
Robbie is a multi-disciplinary designer with a decade of experience across print and digital design. His dedication lies in building connections and inspiring others to unlock their best creative potential. For him, every project is a collaborative journey. When crafting brand narratives, Robbie actively engages with his clients to co-create compelling solutions for sharing their stories with the world.
Robbie has a rich background collaborating with diverse brands, such as Afterpay, Absolut, Kraken Rum, Black Dog Institute of Australia, Jacob’s Creek, Curtin University, TAL Life Insurance, and News Corp Australia.
SAMMY PERRYMAN
DIGITAL PRODUCER
Sammy is a media maker passionate about connecting communities.
Experience includes SYN Media (Loud & Queer, SoulFood, Unpack Parliament Podcast), Melbourne’s Living Museum of The West (Sounds & Sites Audio Tour), SIGNAL Screen x Sound