An experienced political and policy consultant, Sarah has more than a dozen years' experience in leading complex communications campaigns on behalf of government, business and the community. Since joining Parker & Partners in 2002 she has led a number of the company's flagship (and award winning) client accounts including the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, WMC Resources and Unisys.
Sarah is particularly experienced in the public policy issues and challenges facing Australian industry, as well as the inextricable link between business operations and the increasing social and environmental considerations driven by community and government. Advocacy and issues management programs of hers include working alongside EDS, BlueScope Steel, the Ricegrowers’ Association of Australia, AMGEN, Cochlear, Virgin Money, Microsoft, Republic Gold, Newcrest Mining and Boral. Her experience in effective stakeholder and community engagement, research and evaluation, and whole-of-program issues management has been keen to these client successes.
A former political adviser to Federal Government, Sarah also spent three years in a senior advocacy role at the State Chamber of Commerce of NSW.
Greg is a specialist in public health policy and administration having worked as a senior executive in the public, private and non-Government health and social policy sectors.
He also has significant experience in international health and development having worked for the World Health Organisation, the Asian Development Bank and World Bank in Central Asia, South East Asia and Western Pacific countries in public health program research, development and evaluation. Greg has qualifications in Public Health, Public Administration and Applied Science.
Greg is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and currently holds a number of corporate director roles in the health sector, including the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Council, Palliative Care Australia, The Asthma Foundation of the ACT and L2S Communications New Zealand. He also lectures in Health Administration and Health Sciences.
Sam North, former Managing Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and Sun Herald, joins Ogilvy PR in the newly created role of Media Director. He brings more than 30 years of experience across the fields of media and management to the role.
As Media Director, Sam will provide senior counsel on media engagement, crisis and issues management, and lead media training programs.
Sam’s career spanning 30 years and engaging, either as a writer, interviewer or manager, with every Prime Minister from Gough Whitlam to the present will bring a wealth of experience to Ogilvy PR. Prior to his role as Managing Editor of the Sydney Morning Herald and Sun Herald, he worked as Chief of Staff during the 2000 Sydney Olympics, and represented Fairfax on the Australian Press Council. Before joining Fairfax, he worked as an on-camera reporter for television news.
An industry expert, Ross Clarke is a specialist in bargaining, employee communication and stakeholder relations. He spent two years at the Queensland Bar before moving out of law in 1996 to specialise in delivering strategic employment solutions to employers. Ross established and headed up the Australian Retailers’ Association Enterprise Bargaining Unit and has worked in a number of industrial sectors including retail, wholesale, telecommunications, finance and hospitality for companies such as Telstra, Qantas, Caltex, Cochlear, Franklins Supermarkets, Best & Less, Hilton Hotels and Rydges. In early 2006 Ross was appointed as National Director of Industrial Relations for the Australian Hotels Association, a position he undertakes on a part time basis. Through his role with the AHA Ross sits on the Deputy Prime Minister’s Business Advisory Group.
Michelle Hindson is an experienced senior corporate affairs executive with a successful track record in stakeholder engagement, reputation enhancement, issues management and transactions across a wide range of industry sectors. Based in Melbourne, Michelle has worked for clients such as GSK, Kraft, BlueScope Steel, IVF Australia and Epworth Hospital. She has worked in-house as General Manager Corporate Affairs for WMC Resources as well as Vodafone Pacific. She has also worked for Australian Consolidated Press.
Sandra is a veteran of 19 years in the NSW Parliament, including 4 years a Parliamentary Secretary and 8 years Minister (1999-2007). Her responsibilities ranged from trade and investment attraction, small business, regional development, tourism, sport and recreation, major venues and major events, gender and diversity issues.
Sandra has extensive industry knowledge, stakeholder management , community engagement, government relations and issues management experience.
Mathew Jones has 14 years experience in media and politics. He worked for five years at the highest levels of state politics as a media advisor and chief of staff to a senior minister in portfolio areas such as transport and roads, infrastructure, and treasury and finance. He has extensive knowledge of working in and with government and the media, and has managed a number of successful campaigns, launches and policy initiatives, including State Budgets and major infrastructure statements. He also has considerable experience in the areas of privatisations, tax policy, state-federal relations, and energy and utilities. Prior to working in politics, Mathew worked as a journalist and public relations specialist in the community sector, providing him with substantial involvement in grass roots campaigns. Mathew’s experience across media, policy and politics allows him to carry forward clients’ objectives through both sound communications strategies and meaningful political engagement.
Based in Canberra, Sharon is an award winning public affairs practitioner and specialist adviser in strategic communications and government relations. With over 12 years experience in the Australian Government and 3 years consulting, she understands the importance of finding common ground and a solutions-based approach to a policy, regulatory or public awareness challenge.
An experienced Project Director, Sharon has a proven track record in achieving results for clients including Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations, AstraZeneca, Nestle, ActewAGL, CSL, Merck, Green Building Council of Australia and the Grain Research and Development Corporation.
Sharon is a trusted adviser to her clients and provides strategic and tactical advice on campaign strategy, stakeholder engagement including government, industry and the wider community. Her core skills in issues and crisis management and insights into public perceptions and policy have been essential across a number of key programs.
Sharon’s expertise is core to our 360 service to clients - writing white papers and submissions, media outreach and creative PR, as well as the ability to convert technical concepts, data and facts into reader friendly information for the general public and policy makers.
Community consultation experience adds another dimension to her skills and expertise. She has the ability and capability to work across many portfolios, as well as having specialist knowledge in the health and social policy field.
Sharon also leads the Parker & Partners ‘Raising Voices’ program, a Canberra-based community services sector support program. Working closely with the ACT Council of Social Services, Sharon and the P&P team provide support and advice to the non-government sector that might otherwise be unavailable to them.
Prior to joining Parker & Partners, Sharon managed key government programs and contributed to policy development in the areas of immunisation, organ donation and transplantation, acute care, environmental health and research ethics.
Sharon holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the Australian National University and a Postgraduate Diploma in Public Health from the La Trobe University.
David has had a diverse career in communications, politics, public policy and strategic issues management focused on the ICT sector. He has a thorough understanding of the operations of the media, industry and community stakeholders and government - at both the political and policy levels. Starting his career as a journalist on telecommunications and IT, he has been an adviser on a range of policy issues to three Australian Government Ministers in the Communications, Information Technology and the Arts portfolio. Before joining P&P he was a Director in the Department of Finance and Administration working on whole of government ICT policy.
Simon is a strategic communications specialist with over 8 years working in advertising, social marketing and research and as a policy advisor in the Federal Government, the Federal Parliament and an international think-tank.
With particular experience/knowledge in politics and public policy development and communications Simon provides strategic counsel to our clients.
In addition to expertise in government relations and sustainability, Simon leads the Parker & Partners research practice and provides Parker & Partners and our clients with advice on understanding community values and attitudes and using these to advantage.
Current and recent clients include:
· Origin Energy;
· Telstra;
· Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade;
· Ricegrowers Association of Australia; and
· Citrix
Prior to joining Parker & Partners Simon was Business Director at strategic social marketing agency Shannon’s Way. He has also been a Senior Researcher at strategic research agency Auspoll and the Political Director of the Morgan Poll at Roy Morgan Research. Simon has developed and implemented campaigns for clients in State Government, the not-for-profit sector, the financial sector, the union movement and the Australian Labor Party. Simon has been an advisor to the Shadow Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and the Shadow Minister for the Environment as well as Senior Policy Advisor in Aboriginal Affairs agencies within the Federal Government.
Simon holds an Honours degree in Politics, Philosophy and Economics from Oxford University. Simon is a member of the Australian Market and Social Research Society.
Josh Levin is a specialist in government relations, community & stakeholder relations and advocacy with over 5 years experience working in this space.
In addition to his expertise in the waste management and environmental services arena, Josh works intimately in Parker & Partners Environmental Affairs & Sustainability practice.
Current and recent clients include: Veolia Environmental Services, The Waste Management Association of Australia, US-based hedge fund Magnetar Capital, and Emirates Airline.
Prior to joining Parker & Partners Josh was special projects manager and public affairs officer at a major community-based NGO where he provided the CEO, President and Executive with tactical advice pertaining to both domestic and international affairs.
Josh studied political science at the University of New South Wales and is completing a master’s degree in strategic public relations at the University of Sydney.
Catherine is a specialist in policy making and issues management. With eight years experience in the government and corporate sectors, Catherine has a strong insight into the machinery of government and corporate practice and is well placed to provide policy, research, communications and strategic issues management advice to a range of clients.
While at Parker & Partners Catherine has worked with Origin Energy, Commercial Hospital Operators Australia, Nippon Paper, Cochlear and the NSW Department of State and Regional Development.
Prior to joining Parker & Partners, Catherine spent three years as an adviser in the Howard Government, where she regularly researched policy issues, managed community consultation and communications strategies for high-profile policy changes. Catherine previously held roles in human resources and financial markets within the corporate and institutional division of a major Australian bank.
Catherine holds degrees in Business and Arts as well as a Master of Arts (Global Media Communication) from The University of Melbourne
Peta specialises in government public affairs with over three years experience in the Government sector.
She has worked on major communication campaigns providing strategic communication advice to clients, working with them to develop media relations strategies and in successfully managing events and launches. She focuses beyond on more than just communication, but on building relationships with the people her clients are trying to communicate with.
Event management is one of Peta’s strengths, bringing attention to detail to the process. Throughout her experiences, she has developed strong relationships with a range of contacts and suppliers within the ACT assisting her in achieving results.
Peta has also specialised in the development and communication of key messages including the developing of web and media content. This includes an awareness of current best practice around accessible technology and social media.
Prior to joining Parker and Partners, Peta worked in the Australian Public Service (APS) where she provided a Department with specialised corporate communications advice on positioning itself and its brand within the APS. She is a solid team player who is dedicated to working towards the achievement of results.
Peta has a Bachelor of Communications specialising in Public Relations and Politics and Government at the University of Canberra and is currently working towards a Masters in Organisational Communication at Charles Sturt University.
Prior to joining Parker and Partners, Naomi worked at Media Monitors where she serviced Federal Government clients and Ministerial media teams and participated in media analysis projects. Most recently, she completed a 3 month internship program at the Lowy Institute for International Policy in Sydney. As an intern, she assisted with events, policy and project research for the East Asian Program Director and the media strategy of the annual 2008 Lowy Institute Poll. Naomi brings two years of experience and knowledge in media and political research and analysis.
Naomi graduated from the Australian National University in 2006 with Bachelor degrees in Arts (International Relations) and Asian Studies (Korean). As part of her undergraduate degree, Naomi spent a year in Seoul, South Korea, where she undertook an intensive language program and taught English to school children.
Hamish joins Parker & Partners having successfully completed an internship with the team whilst concluding his studies. Prior to joining Parker & Partners his experience was primarily centred around consumer market research and media analysis. He has already been involved in projects in a variety of portfolios. His current and recent clients include the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Nippon Paper and Ford.
Hamish studied a Bachelor of Agricultural Economics at the University of Sydney, focusing on international trade and marketing. Hamish also participated in an exchange program to Norway and is fluent in Norwegian. He is also continuing his studies in Mandarin.