Since its establishment in 2019, National Advisory has significantly advanced client engagement with government through strategic political and policy advisory services across: health, technology, digital business, cyber security, finance, property valuation, government procurement, market access, trade and Royal Commissions.
It has achieved these outcomes through a team of highly dedicated professionals with deep experience at the highest level in both Government and the private sector, combined with a strong commitment to personal service and a focus on outcomes.
“I’m now on my fourth career as a company director and business executive, having previously been a barrister, a long serving Cabinet Minister and High Commissioner (Ambassador) to the UK.
One of the great things about the National Advisory team is that we have not only worked together over many years and have a unique understanding of the workings of government, but we also each have deep seated and diverse private sector experiences.”
Richard was a successful common law and commercial barrister for many years before entering the federal parliament where he was Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts for nearly eight years. He then served as Australian High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and later as Federal president of the Liberal Party. He has chaired three listed public companies and has been active in a diverse range of businesses, both in Australia and abroad.
richard@nationaladvisory.com.au
"In my career, I’ve worked in senior government advisory roles as well as a corporate executive and national industry association leader.
I really enjoy how National Advisory is seen as a trusted adviser to our loyal clients, helping them to take forward their strategic objectives while building their broader government-related expertise.
It is tremendous working with the National Advisory team who are highly respected public policy professionals with extensive networks and deep subject matter knowledge. We’ve worked together over many years and thrive on the challenge of tackling complex issues.”
David worked in various senior political advisory roles in the Howard Government, including for the Prime Minister and as chief of staff to a Senior Cabinet Minister. He then worked for Telstra heading up government relations and public policy and communications, and as Executive Director of the Pharmacy Guild of Australia. He co-founded National Advisory in 2019.
"Having worked extensively in the government and private sectors including in regional and global roles I was pleased to be part of the founding team at National Advisory in 2019. As well as working directly with clients, I’m National Advisory’s Chief Operating Officer.
I enjoy helping our clients navigate the dynamic intersection of public policy, politics and commercial imperatives. We’ve assembled a highly experienced and committed team with a remarkable depth of experience and complementary skills that provide real value-add and pragmatic solutions for our clients.”
Andrew spent ten years in executive roles in IBM including A/NZ State and Federal Government Relations and on a Global Trade Compliance team with responsibilities for Asia Pacific and Growth Markets. Andrew also worked as an adviser to an Australian Cabinet Minister in the communications portfolio and in the Federal Departments of Finance, Communications and Home Affairs. Andrew served as Chair of the US-ASEAN Business Council’s Customs Working Group from 2008-2013.
andrew@nationaladvisory.com.au
“With my experience in corporate government relations, as a ministerial advisor, developing public policy and leading industry bodies, I really enjoy using my skills to deliver outcomes for clients.
National Advisory brings together a team of highly experienced practitioners with the expertise, insights and connections in government, the business sector and industry associations. Working together, we deliver the best advice and advocacy to support our clients manage challenging issues with government.”
Judy has more than thirty years experience representing public, private and not for profit organisations at the highest levels of government and industry. In her leadership roles at Optus and IBM, she led strategies across the global landscape as well as in Australia. She has first-hand experience in government as a senior advisor to a cabinet minister and in the Communications Department designing competition and consumer policies and regulations. She has held executive and board roles in a range of industry associations focussed on digital technologies, innovation and cyber security.
“After working for many years at the most senior levels of the Federal Government I moved to the private sector in 2001. I’ve enjoyed bringing my skills and experience to tackling the challenges faced by groups outside Government.
National Advisory’s greatest strength is bringing the experience, expertise and dedication of its leadership team to address the issues facing its clients.”
Neville spent thirty years working in the Federal Government including as Secretary of two Federal departments. Since leaving the Government, Neville has worked extensively with private sector companies and chaired several organisations, particularly in research and related fields. He has continued to advise both State and Federal Governments on a diverse range of issues.
“National Advisory enables me to apply my skills, experience and networks across government and business to support our clients in a variety of sectors with their policy and regulatory issues. Having worked extensively with other members of National Advisory during my career, we know each other’s strengths and how they can be best utilised.
Our Special Consultants have broadened our subject knowledge and portfolio coverage while maintaining our collegiate, results driven approach to clients.”
James has worked at executive levels in the private and public sectors for over thirty years. He led the government relations function for Telstra for nearly ten years during which he built enduring relationships across parliament and the public service based on transparency, consistency and trust. As a senior executive in the Commonwealth Government, James led several functions in the communications portfolio. He was Senior Advisor to the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts providing advice on telecommunications and radiocommunications issues. He also has extensive policy and regulatory experience in the transport portfolio. James has served as a diplomat, as the Counsellor for Communications in the Australian Embassy in Washington.
“I enjoy working with the broader National Advisory team where our complementary skills allow us to provide valuable advice on all aspects of government relations and a wide range of procurement, political and policy issues.”
Andrew has worked in the mining industry; Local Government managing and transitioning water, sewer and livestock saleyards to stand alone business entities; commissioned and then managing Parliament House building and grounds, including the art collection and ICT operations; and then rounded his career managing the Australian Government’s domestic property portfolio and property legislation in the Department of Finance.
The central themes of Andrew’s career have been environment, procurement, property, project management and government relations. He brings these skills to his National Advisory clients.
smith.andrew@nationaladvisory.com.au
Our unique combination of high-level expertise and experience enables us to provide trusted advice and personalised support to deliver strategic outcomes for companies, industry groups and not-for-profit organisations across all levels of government.
The National Advisory team has extensive whole-of-government, corporate, industry, regulatory and professional association experience and expertise across a wide range of portfolios:
National Advisory team members are proven at the highest levels of government and business for their record of strategic thinking, delivery, leadership, professionalism and integrity.
In a wide variety of capacities, we have worked together and with others driving innovation and policy reform, finding solutions to highly complex problems, leading successful campaigns and negotiating major transactions.
Individually and in combination, we maintain highly trusted and enduring relationships with government decision makers and their advisers as well as the public service, regulators, the broader business sector and stakeholder and member organisations.
National Advisory works personally with each client, based on an agreed understanding of the outcomes to be delivered, the strategy and actions to be undertaken, measurement and reporting of progress, and the resources and individual capabilities to be brought to the task.
We have the skills, experience and ready access to broader expertise to meet the requirements of each of our clients. We work at the Board, CEO, corporate affairs and operational levels with a strong focus on building our clients’ capabilities and reputation as well as delivering outcomes.
Our suite of services includes comprehensive advice and support on specific projects, policy issues or transactions; advice on future strategy and delivery; regulatory change; strategic reviews and recommendations; relationship and influence building; political insights and market intelligence; public sector business opportunities.
