Our Team - Pyne & Partners

BAKER DONELSON

STRATEGIC PARTNER

Pyne & Partners and American government relations firm Baker Donelson are pleased to announce a strategic alliance to capitalise on the recent AUKUS Defence Agreement, further strengthening ties between Australia and the United States.

This collaboration brings together the expertise and resources of both organisations to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape, enhance cross-border cooperation, and support the mutual interests of clients in both countries.

Clients of Pyne & Partners are able to draw upon the expertise of Baker Donelson to advance their interests in the United States.

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Kacey Lam-Evans

Partner

Kacey Lam-Evans has a background in public policy, having advised the Federal government across the defence, science and education portfolios.

Kacey has worked as a political and policy adviser – both for the Hon Christopher Pyne during his tenure as a Cabinet Minister and more recently for an Australian Senator. Prior to this, Kacey was a public servant at the Federal Education Department.

During her time as a Ministerial Adviser, Kacey played a role in driving the implementation of the Defence Export Strategy, during a period which saw an increase in defence export confidence across Australian industry.

Based in Canberra, she is a trusted and detail oriented operator, with a keen eye for political sensitivities.

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Hon Christopher Pyne

PARTNER

Christopher was elected to Parliament in 1993 and served as the Member for Sturt for 26 years. During this time, he was in the Liberal Party Leadership Group for 10 years, Leader of the House of Representatives for six years, and served in Cabinet for six years.

Christopher was a Minister in the Howard, Abbott, Turnbull and Morrison Governments, holding the portfolios of Ageing, Education, Industry Innovation and Science, Defence Industry and Defence.

He was three times named in the top ten of the Australian Financial Review Magazine’s Power List – in 2012, 2013 and 2016.

Christopher Pyne served as the 54th Australian Defence Minister. He was responsible for delivering a $200 billion build-up of Australia’s military capability, the largest in Australia’s peacetime history. He challenged the Defence bureaucracy, driving a focus on Australian industry engagement, developing and implementing Australia’s Defence Export Strategy, Defence Industrial Capability Plan, and the Naval Shipbuilding Plan.

He also pushed hard to engage internationally, helping to create the Pacific Step Up to strengthen Australia’s strategic role in the South Pacific and settling Defence Memoranda of Understanding with Israel, China, and Switzerland, whilst initiating Memoranda of Understanding with the United Arab Emirates and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Throughout this, as a member of the Government’s leadership team, he played an active role in Cabinet and in public fora advocating for causes and issues more broadly and influencing the Government’s strategy and messages of the day.

Upon leaving Government Christopher founded Pyne & Partners, combining his expertise and insights with those of his team to deliver outcomes for clients from all sectors of the economy. Now the fourth largest government relations firm in Australia by number of clients, and the only fully Australian-owned one, Christopher and his team have delivered outcomes for business as diverse as L’Oreal, the BCA, and Google. With offices in Canberra, Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and in his home of Adelaide, the Pyne & Partners team is on the ground with you.

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Andrew Joyce

Partner

Andrew Joyce has worked across Government, the Australian Public Service, and in government affairs in a variety of advisory and leadership positions over the last 20+ years, including as a senior adviser, Chief-of-Staff and a senior executive in both the public service and private industry.

Andrew brings extensive knowledge and experience in the Australian Government and working with foreign governments through his work in the Attorney-General’s, Defence, Foreign Affairs & Trade, Immigration, Industry, Prime Minister & Cabinet and Treasury portfolios.

Andrew’s private industry experience includes various administrative, operational and government relations roles in the defence, finance and insurance, hospitality, international education and ICT sectors.

Based in Canberra, Andrew’s broad experience stands him in good stead for balancing the various challenges of navigating the interfaces between business and government.

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ROSIE O’LEARY

ASSOCIATE

Rosie O’Leary combines research and client relations experience with a strong passion for politics to help businesses form long term relationships with Government.

Rosie has previously worked in the business space, and prior to joining Pyne & Partners she worked as a paralegal at a technology firm, specialising in front-end breach prevention.

Based in Canberra, Rosie is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Politics and International Relations/Bachelor of Laws at the University of Canberra. This provides Rosie with relevant, contemporary knowledge to best assist clients.

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JOHN BATHGATE

SPECIAL COUNSEL

John worked in the government and defence sectors for over two decades before shifting his focus to his true passion: storytelling.

As an Army officer he led and inspired soldiers on operations in Afghanistan and East Timor, serving as a paratrooper in both Australia and the United Kingdom.

As a senior ministerial adviser in the Defence, Defence Industry and Innovation portfolios he provided strategic policy advice and crafted Ministerial speeches for a variety of audiences, helping talk about complex problems in a way that could be understood more generally.

At McKinsey & Company he worked with clients in the defence, education, oil and gas and banking sectors to use data-driven analyses to solve some of their most complex problems.

Based in Sydney, John brings these skills to Pyne & Partners as a Special Counsel, focussing on bringing stories to life in longer written formats like speeches, blog posts and articles.

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Baker Donelson

Strategic Partner

Pyne & Partners and American government relations firm Baker Donelson are pleased to announce a strategic alliance to capitalise on the recent AUKUS Defence Agreement, further strengthening ties between Australia and the United States.

This collaboration brings together the expertise and resources of both organisations to navigate the complex geopolitical landscape, enhance cross-border cooperation, and support the mutual interests of clients in both countries.

Clients of Pyne & Partners are able to draw upon the expertise of Baker Donaldson to advance their interests in the United States.

Stuart Crosbie

Associate

Stuart Crosbie combines his experience in research and political analysis to help clients build strong partnerships between Government, business and the broader community.

Prior to joining Pyne & Partners in 2022, Stuart worked as an Associate for political consulting firm Sentio Group, where he assisted with consulting and data analytics, working with corporate clients and on political campaigns abroad. This adds to his experience in a Sydney-based law firm where he worked with a number of corporate clients.

Based in Sydney, Stuart enjoys bringing his analytical insights to bear on client challenges to deliver outcomes.

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Alexandra Longinidis

Associate

Alexandra Longinidis combines her analytical and research background to help clients build strong partnerships between their business, the Government and broader community.

Before joining Pyne & Partners in 2021, Alexandra interned at the Hunt Laboratory for Intelligence Research in Melbourne, where she assisted intelligence organisations to improve their analytical performance and productivity.

She holds a master’s degree in public policy/ management from the University of Melbourne, and a bachelor’s degree in the study of international security from the Australian National University.

Based in Adelaide, and with tertiary qualifications in public policy and international security, Alexandra is passionate about partnering with clients to achieve their desired outcomes.

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Jack De Hennin

Senior Associate

Jack de Hennin uses his political and business experience to provide strategic insights which assist clients in maximising their engagement with Government. Before joining Pyne & Partners, Jack worked for a Federal Member of Parliament and a government relations firm. Over this period, Jack developed a strong understanding of the operations of government, worked with clients on their engagement strategies and developed sharp research and analytical skills.

Based in Paris, Jack’s understanding of the nuances of politics and his keen analytical skills have earnt him a reputation as an enthusiastic and sharp operator.

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Will Clancy

Senior Associate

Will has specialised in providing high-level strategic advice to Ministers and government agencies on the implementation and management of complex political, international policy, communications and stakeholder engagement issues.

As an experienced political adviser, Will has a wealth of policy development, communications and campaign experience following a range of roles with senior cabinet Ministers during the Gillard Labor Government and in Opposition.

For the past 8 years, Will has provided strategic advice on communications, stakeholder engagement and policy matters for Defence, the Department of Finance, the Murray-Darling Basin Policy Reform Taskforce and most recently for the Department of Social Services.

Based in Melbourne, Will is passionate about achieving outcomes and advancing progressive public policy through grass-roots engagement and effective communication particularly in the defence, agriculture and social policy portfolios.

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Ali Almond

Senior Associate

Ali Almond is an experienced strategic and media advisor to high-profile parliamentarians such as the Hon Bob Katter MP in Australia, and the Rt Hon Winston Peters in New Zealand during his term as Deputy Prime Minister in the first Ardern Government.

Ali is also experienced in ministerial briefings for government departments and once designed and delivered a briefing event of behalf of a federal agency for all sitting Members of Parliament and Senators in Australian Parliament House.

Ali’s specialty is profile-raising and running media campaigns to bring about political or legislative change.

Ali also developed and delivered the Australia Digital Health Agency’s consumer case study communications strategy.

Additionally, Ali has a background in the Western Australian resources sector and journalism covering the Pacific Island region.

Based in Queensland, Ali brings a reputation for trusted and effective advocacy, with a real eye for achieving outcomes with independent members of parliament and smaller parties.

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Gemma Iafrate

Executive Assistant to the Chairman

Gemma Iafrate was appointed as the Hon Christopher Pyne’s Executive Assistant in 2021, from the office of Ms Jennifer Westacott AO at the Business Council of Australia.

Based in Canberra, Gemma previously worked with Christopher when she was Executive Assistant to Prime Minister Tony Abbott, and while working in the Howard Government for a federal Senator.

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Tony Hodges

Partner

Tony Hodges brings almost two decades of senior level government, policy and communications experience to Pyne and Partners.

He previously worked as a Media Adviser for Prime Ministers Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard, and was a Senior Adviser to Chief Minister Andrew Barr on economic development and regulatory reform.

More recently, he has been a senior adviser to several senior members of the Labor front bench, including Deputy Prime Minister Richard Marles and Minister for Indigenous Affairs Linda Burney.

Based in Canberra, Tony has an extensive and productive network of working relationships across government, and a reputation for spirited and effective advocacy.

Contact Tony

Speech and copy writing

Sharing your message with an audience is one of the most important ways to deliver impact, and often the best way to do that is through storytelling. Partnering with our Special Counsel, we offer longer-form narrative communications like speeches, ghost-written articles or opinion pieces, and blog posts. Working with you to understand your audience, desired messages and to find out the real story behind your business we will craft a narrative that delivers impact and fits within your overall plan of engagement.

Media issues management and training

Having the right message to deliver to the media is only half the challenge; how you deliver it and who you deliver it to is key to getting your message across. The Pyne & Partners team have decades of experience working with the media and crafting media messages. Our relationships with Australia’s leading journalists are second to none.

Pyne & Partners provides our clients with hands support for their media engagements including assistance with drafting media releases or opinion pieces, arranging interviews or coordinating media events, or perhaps providing a steady hand to assist in managing your communications during a crisis. The Pyne & Partners media team has done it all.

Using our decades of experience, Pyne & Partners has developed an intensive practical media training program to train executives in media performance. We’ll sharpen your performance, get you camera ready, and make sure you stay on message.

Networking and events management

At Pyne & Partners, we know that business isn’t just what’s on the public record. It happens between the meetings, on the sidelines, and in what is left unsaid. You can’t sit behind a computer and wait for the tender notice, send a cold outreach email or hope the phone rings.

With decades of experience in government, we work with you to build the networks and relationships you will need to deliver on your strategic outcomes.

We’ll develop a targeted engagement plan, identifying the decision-makers and influencers in your space, and find a way to connect with them. Where it suits, we will create bespoke events for you, crafting professional engagements that achieve your desired outcomes.

Whether it’s an exclusive client dinner, industry drinks or coffee on the sidelines of a conference with a key influencer, we take a hands-on approach to put you in the right place at the right time to make sure you can achieve your goals.

Government Engagement

The political and government landscape in Australia is complex, with different parties, independents, States, and levels of government. We know it because we’ve done it.

No one understands the Australian political landscape better than Pyne & Partners: our team brings deep expertise and experience with jurisdictions across the country.

Our team provides strategic and practical advice on attaining the best outcomes for our clients.
We help you determine what you want from government, who to ask, when in the political cycle to ask, and how best to position that ask to achieve the outcome you desire and your business needs. We’ll help you prepare your pitch and watch you shine.

Strategic Advice

Developing a long-term strategy for your business is not easy. We help shine a light through the darkness, finding a path through the key issues and barriers to your success, and developing a bespoke strategy to meet your needs.

We identify and analyse the issues, providing advice and analysis on the relevant issues.

We will identify government funding and corporate partnership opportunities, and help you put your best foot forward to achieve them.

We draw on our deep networks across industry and government to bring insights and knowledge you won’t find anywhere else to inform that strategy.

We’re then by your side as we implement together: in the room as you meet, reviewing each step, finding the way forward. Your success is our success.

Strategic Communications and campaigns

In a world becoming increasingly interconnected, the role of strategic and effective communications is vital to organisations looking to manage complex issues or distinguish themselves from their competitors.

With decades of experience in media and issues management, Pyne & Partners can deploy the most effective communications strategies and cut-through messaging.

Communications are always at the forefront of our work, and we tailor our advice to meet the unique and specific needs of each client.

Over the past two decades, our team have built strong and productive networks across the public and private sectors, in Australia and around the world and we draw on those relationships to achieve the best outcomes.

At Pyne & Partners we partner with our clients to develop and implement an engagement strategy to help them communicate their message through the appropriate channels, bringing together different forms of messaging to create a cut-through campaign for change.

Will Redmond

Senior Associate

Will Redmond is a Senior Associate at Pyne & Partners, where he provides strategic government relations and media engagement advice. Will has significant experience in government engagement in health, education, agriculture, and trade portfolios across multiple levels of Government.

Based in Canberra, Will previously served as Parliamentary, Committees and Media Adviser to a federal Senator and as a Senior Political and Policy Adviser to the then Deputy Leader of the Opposition in the Australian Capital Territory.

Will has worked as a Consultant to a campaign advisory firm in Sydney, assisting clients with crisis communications, media strategies and regulatory change government relations campaigns.

Will appreciates the importance of good communication when engaging with Government. His experiences have provided him with a strong understanding of political decision-making and how his clients can gain a leading edge.

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Adam Howard

Managing Director

Adam Howard brings deep understanding of Government, policy making and strategic communications with extensive high-level experience within the Australian Government.

His career is built on developing and guiding the implementation of complex policy objectives.

He managed a team through the creation and launch of Australia‘s National Innovation and Science Agenda across government and portfolios and served as Chief of Staff and principal adviser to the Minister directly responsible for overseeing the implementation of the $200 billion expansion of Australia’s Defence capability.

Adam is a communications specialist able to provide strategic, political and media advice to support the implementation of key policy objectives. This is evidenced by the roll out of strategic media plans to promote key policy areas across successive Coalition Governments.

In 2018 Adam left the Coalition Government and launched his public affairs company GC Advisory and has quickly gained a reputation for delivering successful outcomes for clients.

Recent successes include working on the South Australian Government’s campaign to house the National Space Agency in South Australia, helping the Adelaide Football Club secure Federal funding for their new headquarters and assisting Thoroughbred Racing South Australia in their efforts to secure long-term Government support.

GC Advisory, now co-owned by the Hon Christopher Pyne and renamed Global & Corporate Advisory continues to grow, specialising in developing and supporting overseas companies looking to build a presence in Australia.

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Tamika Dartnell-Moore

Senior Associate

Tamika Dartnell-Moore is a skilled strategist with a strong understanding of the Australian political landscape, including the NSW Government. Prior to joining Pyne & Partners, Tamika was a Senior Policy Adviser for a Cabinet Minister in the NSW Government where she developed an extensive network across local, state and federal governments.

As Senior Associate at Pyne & Partners, Tamika applies her knowledge and experience of government to deliver on her client’s strategic objectives in their engagement with government. Working within the NSW public service prior to her political roles provided Tamika with the opportunity to develop her ability to navigate complex and sensitive policy issues.

Her experience advising ministers on State Heritage and Aboriginal Cultural Heritage matters is particularly useful for clients in development and infrastructure related industries.

Contact Tamika

Public Affairs

Over the past two decades, our team have built strong and productive networks across the public and private sectors, in Australia and around the world.

Our team is well connected with decision-makers and corporate influencers and draws on those relationships to achieve the best outcomes.

At Pyne & Partners we partner with our clients to develop and implement an engagement strategy to help them communicate their message through the appropriate channels.

Partners in your business

TEAMWORK BUILDS TRUST

MEET OUR TEAM

HON CHRISTOPHER PYNE

Tony Hodges

Kacey Lam-Evans

Andrew Joyce

Gemma Iafrate

Ali Almond

Will Clancy

Jack De Hennin

Alexandra Longinidis

Stuart Crosbie

ROSIE O’LEARY

JOHN BATHGATE

BAKER DONELSON