Workflow before technology
We understand how the work actually happens before changing any of it. Often the biggest gain is a simpler process, not more software.
About Distilld
Senior-led software. Built through collaboration.
Distilld is a Melbourne-based software and workflow optimisation studio.I'm Tom Fisher, founder and managing director. I bring together business strategy, experience design and hands-on engineering to help organisations solve complex problems.
I lead our engagements from initial discovery through to delivery, working directly with clients and drawing on a trusted network of independent specialists when projects call for additional expertise or capacity. The result is a flexible delivery model with direct senior involvement, clear accountability and the right capabilities for the work.
The founder
A decade in strategy, data and digital, now spent building.
I spent ten years on the strategy and operations side of complex organisations: the commercial pitch team at NOVA Entertainment, content and product work in digital health media, a strategy placement with NAB in Shanghai, and six years inside Victoria's environmental regulator, the EPA, leading digital and content for data-heavy public services that thousands of people relied on.
I started Distilld to move from strategy to making. I wanted to work on problems that were genuinely creative and technically hard, and to build the things, not just advise on them, then hand a deck to someone else.
“I love working with people pursuing ambitious ideas to make the lives of others better. The harder the goal, the better.”
That mix is the whole point. I've sat on the business side of messy operations andthe delivery side of complex systems, so I can translate between the people who own the problem, the people who'll use the software, and the code that has to make it work. It's why regulatory, compliance-heavy and operationally tangled projects feel like home.
How we work
Six principles behind Distilld's work.
These standards guide how we understand a problem, shape a solution and support it in practice.
Clarity and proof over hype
If you can't understand what something does in five seconds, it isn't finished. We’d rather show you working software than talk about transformation.
AI as a tool, people in control
AI goes where it genuinely improves a workflow, with clear inputs and measurable results. Judgement-heavy decisions stay with people.
Build, don’t just advise
We deliver working systems, not recommendations for someone else to implement. Strategy and engineering stay connected throughout delivery, ensuring the original problem doesn’t get lost between discovery and implementation.
Built to last, and yours
Maintainable, cloud-ready systems on well-supported foundations. The code, the data and the decisions are yours: no lock-in, no black boxes.
Senior, end to end
Every engagement has direct senior involvement, from the first conversation through architecture, implementation and ongoing support. We assemble teams around the work while maintaining clear responsibility for its delivery.
Who we work with
Two kinds of problem, one way of working.
Whether you're starting something new or untangling something old, the job is the same: turn it into software people can actually rely on.
Rough idea to real product
You've got a concept, an early prototype or a vibe-coded MVP, and you need it to become software that's ready for customers, your team and investors.
- Product strategy and UX that shape the idea properly
- Custom development and cloud setup built to scale
- AI-assisted workflows where they earn their place
Messy process to reliable system
Critical work is running on spreadsheets, inboxes and duct tape. You need it untangled, systemised, and, where it's safe, automated.
- Workflow optimisation before anything gets automated
- Internal tools and platforms matched to the real work
- Human-in-the-loop automation with proper oversight
The team
Independent by design. Collaborative by nature.
Distilld is deliberately lean, but the work isn't limited to one person's expertise or capacity. I'm directly involved in shaping and leading our engagements, working with a trusted network of independent developers, designers and specialist collaborators.
Some projects benefit from the simplicity of working with one experienced practitioner. Others need a coordinated team with different technical skills, industry knowledge and perspectives. We bring together the right people for the problem, rather than fitting every engagement into a predetermined team structure.
For our clients, that means direct access to senior expertise, the flexibility to scale delivery when needed, and a clear point of accountability throughout the project.
The objective isn't to be the biggest team in the room. It's to be the right team for the work.
Software developersProduct & experience designersRegulatory & compliance specialistsAI consulting collaborators