COUNSEL HOUSE - Key Persons
Andrew is a highly experienced and respected government relations professional with a strong background in national politics. He has advised some of the most senior figures in Australian business and government, including three Labor leaders: Prime Ministers, Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, and Cabinet Minister and later Opposition Leader Bill Shorten.
Andrew has extensive campaign and public advocacy skills and is widely regarded as a strong opinion shaper. He strengthens Counsel House's deep networks into some of the most influential decision making corridors in Australia. He has an intimate understanding of both Spring Street and Canberra.
Andrew has held senior roles in the private sector and understands the impact of government decision making on business. During his business career Andrew has been a trusted adviser on major investments by national brands in the mining, energy, ports, transport and logistics sectors, most recently as a General Manager within Linfox. Andrew has also served as a key adviser to Defence Minister Stephen Smith and has strong insights on security and geopolitical policy matters.
He has consistently been called to lead teams responsible for the successful public positioning of large investments both in government and the private sector. Andrew also has hands on experience advising a number of innovative start-up businesses in their early years of establishment, and supports a number of community organisations with their strategic planning. He leads Counsel House's Victorian branch.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Government Relations and Communications Strategist
Brad Nowland is a highly experienced government relations and communications strategist, following his decade-long career as a respected political advisor in Tasmania.
Brad is Hobart-based and has served as Deputy Chief of staff to former Tasmanian Premier, Peter Gutwein, and press secretary to former Premier Will Hodgman.
Brad has earned a reputation as being highly sought after by the private sector to provide government relations and communications counsel across a range of industries including infrastructure, tourism, sport and technology. He has developed and implemented high-profile and successful campaigns for high profile organisations in the tech industry including Airbnb, as well as peak business and community-sector groups.
He is a deeply experienced political campaigner having worked on state election campaigns across the country, including three Tasmanian state election campaigns and four federal election campaigns.
Brad is Counsel House's lead advisor in Tasmania.
Claire March is one of Australia's most respected government relations strategists and political advisors. Claire is regularly called on to advise senior Labor figures on strategy and has worked for three Labor leaders including Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, NSW Premier Nathan Rees, and NT Chief Minister Paul Henderson. During the last Federal Labor Government she also served as Deputy Chief of Staff to Stephen Conroy in his capacity as Minister for Communications and Leader in the Senate, and for Kate Ellis as Minister for Employment Participation.
Today Claire is a highly sought after advisor on government relations and communications, providing strategic counsel to major national and international companies on how best to work with government and refine their public affairs. She has held senior corporate government relations roles in the private sector and has first-hand knowledge of the business impacts of government decision making.
A regular television contributor and panelist, Claire is a proven communications professional and was Labor's Deputy Director of Communications in the 2013 Federal election campaign. Prior to her time as a political staffer, Claire worked in a variety of public sector communications and media management roles.
Job Titles:
- Data and Business Analyst
Gaby is Counsel House's resident Data and Business Analyst. She holds a Master of Data Science from Monash University and a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting and Finance) from the University of Melbourne.
Gaby oversees Counsel House's data and analytics capabilities and supports the firm's commercial performance. She has previously held roles as an Intern at Ernst and Young, a Business Analyst (internship) at Navanti Pty Ltd, and a Finance Officer at TMG College.
During her time a Melbourne University, Gaby was an elected International Student Ambassador. She has previously been a volunteer for Habitat for Humanity Indonesia, helping build schools and teach school children English.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff to Labor
Jamie Gallacher is one of the most respected political strategists in the Northern Territory.
He has a decades' long career as a journalist, senior advisor, policy developer and advocate. Jamie has served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff to Labor leaders Chief Minister Clare Martin, Chief Minister Paul Henderson, and as a senior policy and strategic adviser to Chief Minister and Treasurer Michael Gunner. He has also been Chief of Staff to a number of Cabinet Ministers.
Jamie has been instrumental in Labor's election successes over the past 30 years and has been pivotal in getting many of the current sitting Labor members elected.
He maintains deep relationships with the Fyles Government and works with Ministers, staff, and the public service on a regular basis.
During his career, Jamie has held roles as a high-level consultant on government relations and has also advised Federal Labor Ministers and MPs.
He was previously a senior reporter at the NT News, Senior Policy Adviser at the Northern Land Council and Executive Officer of the Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of the Northern Territory.
Jamie leads Counsel Houses Northern Territory practice.
Job Titles:
- Advisor
- Architect
- Counsel
- Specialist
Kerry-Anne Walsh is one of Australia's most respected independent political communications strategist, and leads Counsel House's crossbench advisory practice. Kerry-Anne is a well-known figure on the Hill having gained than 30 years' experience at the highest levels of Australian political media. She maintains strong relationships with many political independents, who have become an increasingly prominent and influential feature of the contemporary Federal Parliament.
Kerry-Anne is recognised as an astute architect of grassroots and multi-stakeholder media and political campaigns. She is highly regarded as a cultural awareness coach and a source of political counsel free from the constraints of major party orthodoxies. She has deep contacts in the Australian political and media worlds, and extensive networks in corporate Australia.
During her twenty-five years at the highest levels in Australia's national media Kerry-Anne was a senior political correspondent and bureau chief for News Limited and Fairfax newspapers; an ABC radio presenter and producer; Kerry O'Brien's editorial producer on Channel Ten's Face to Face program; political editor of the highly respected The Bulletin magazine; and panellist for six years on the ABC's influential Sunday morning TV program, Insiders. She has developed a distinct brand as a genuine independent thinker in the commentariat.
Kerry-Anne is a best-selling and award-winning political author and is widely published in international publications including The South China Morning Post, the Singapore Straits Times and the Irish Times. She remains a regular political commentator on Sky News Australia, Radio New Zealand, ABC News Radio, the BBC and ABC's respected nightly talk program, The Drum.
Kerry-Anne advises Counsel House's clients on how to best navigate the non-major party landscape and ensure engagement with crossbench parliamentarians is as effective as parallel measures to inform Government and Opposition decision makers.
Kerry-Anne's specialist areas include:
Government relations
Multi-stakeholder communication strategies
Executive media coach
Issues management and crisis media intervention
Targeted, accurate and persuasive messaging and corporate writing
Kirby Anderson is a one of the country's leading government, public and media affairs specialists with almost 30 years experience working in government and private sector.
Kirby is Brisbane-based and previously served as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's Deputy Chief of Staff, and communications manager for the successful 2017 State election. He is a highly respected and trusted advisor on the political and policy landscape in Queensland.
Kirby has held senior roles in the private sector, and understands the business impact of government decision making. He was previously Director of Government Affairs and Policy for General Electric in Australia, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea, supporting GE's Power and Water, Oil and Gas, Transportation and Healthcare businesses. He was later Director for Strategy for the Queensland Resources Council.
From 1998 to 2008, Kirby was a senior adviser in the Queensland Government serving in portfolios as diverse as Natural Resources, Mines, Water, Primary Industries, Rural Communities, Justice and Attorney-General, and Emergency Services. Kirby served as adviser to then Premier Peter Beattie in 2006 and during the election that year.
Kirby is Counsel House's lead advisor in the Brisbane office.
Louise leads Counsel House's practice in Canberra and brings with her more than a decade of experience working at the highest levels of political office.
During her lengthy political career she served as Chief of Staff to now cabinet Minister Ed Husic, and Senior Advisor to Julie Collins as Minister for Community Services, Indigenous Employment and Economic Development, and the Status of Women, during the Gillard Government.
Louise has a deep understanding of the political and policy landscape at both the federal and state levels, and has held senior positions in the Andrew Barr Government as Senior Advisor to Minister for Planning and Land Management Mick Gentleman.
During her extensive career Louise was responsible for delivering a number of major national reforms that required the agreement and consensus of all states and territories.
Louise brings with her a sophisticated understanding of the workings of government, having held senior roles in Federal agencies the Department of Education, Employment and Workplace Relations and the National Housing Finance and Investment Corporation.
She was the first elected President of the ACT branch of the Labor Party, and has a knowledge of the industrial wing of the party. She is regularly called on for her campaigning experience and has been central to a number of state, territory and federal elections.
She has a Masters of Employment Relations, a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts. She currently serves on the board of Hockey ACT.
Meghan Thomas joins Counsel House on Monday as our new Associate in the Canberra branch. Meghan brings a sharp understanding of the political world both in NSW and Canberra and first-rate research skills.
Meghan strengthens Counsel House's bid to be a firm of contemporary advisors who understand the modern political and policy landscape. Meghan has worked in Electorate Office of a NSW MP and more recently in the Office of Federal Member in the ACT. She is just to about to a complete a Master's in Public Policy.
Mick Veitch has an unrivalled understanding of the NSW political landscape and the Minns Labor Government. During his 16-year, high level political career (2007 to 2023) he served in host of key roles including Parliamentary Secretary and Shadow Minister. From 2011 to 2023 he was on NSW Labor's front bench holding responsibilities across a range of vital economic policy areas including Industry, Trade & Investment, Regional Development, Water and Primary Industries.
Based in Counsel House's Melbourne office, Patrick is an Associate who provides research, writing and analytical support to a wide range of clients.
He has a strong grounding in both the private and public sectors, having previously worked in communications at Metricon Homes and the National Disability Insurance Agency, and in policy at the Department of Social Services.
Additionally, Patrick has worked and volunteered in the Electorate Office of Bill Shorten and volunteered for the Australian Labor Party.
Having graduated from RMIT with a Communications degree, Patrick is currently in the final stages of completing a Master of Public Policy degree from Monash University.
Ross has extensive experience in Victoria's political scene, having worked in ministerial teams and as a campaign advisor in marginal electorates. He understands in the importance of strong relationships between government and business.
With a background in private and non-profit sectors, he has a solid base to foster a deeper understanding of business in government decision making. His expertise in research and policy development enables him to assist clients in a diverse range of industries.
He completed a Bachelor of Arts (Philosophy and Linguistics) and a Master of Arts (Linguistics), analysing the way in which parliamentary rhetoric from politicians can and has impacted energy policymaking at a federal level.
Simon Collins began his career at JWT London as a copywriter working on global brands like Kelloggs, Nestle, and Unilver. In the late 1980's he was brought to Australia by Saatchi & Saatchi Sydney, where he developed the iconic ‘Which bank?' campaign for CBA. He was subsequently creative director of creative powerhouse The Campaign Palace and in 1997 opened his own agency, Collins Thomas Cullen, which launched AAPT as a consumer brand and was an agency of record for the Bob Carr NSW Labor Government.
Between 2006 and 2009 he worked for Y&R New York as creative director of new business, and in 2009 moved to Havas in London to work on the first David Cameron election campaign. He set up his own consultancy with international clients including Australian Wool (AWI) before returning to Australia in 2016.
Since then Simon has been the creative brains behind campaigns generating public support for the 2017 Australian Olympic team, Recognise, and the ‘Vote Yes' Equality campaign for the 2017 national survey on marriage equality. As well as being a strategist, a hands-on copywriter and an award-winning creative director, Simon also directs all his own film projects. Simon jointly founded Collins Gartrell a leading creative agency, and is Counsel House's creative service partner.
Job Titles:
- Practice Lead
- Strategist in Federal Labor
Tom Cameron is a highly respected strategist in Federal Labor having spent nearly two decades working in senior roles on Capital Hill.
He has been regularly called upon by Federal Labor frontbenchers to help shape their policies, communications and political brands. He has also advised some of Australia's most respected leaders in the public and private sectors, including party leaders both in Australia and the UK, banking CEOs and captains of industry.
Most recently he was the chief of staff to rising star Federal Labor frontbencher Clare O'Neil and a played a key role in Labor's ascendency to government.
He has worked closely with many businesses, organisations and industry bodies who want to develop strong public advocacy and issue campaign credentials.