Where Howard staffers finished up


September 6, 2011

Crikey decided to track the career paths of former Howard government staffers to see if there is any sort of pattern. The project lapsed for six years but we're firing it up again so send all your contributions and corrections to stephen@maynereport.com. Check out the lists of the former Labor Hawke-Keating staffers and former Rudd staffers.



A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

A

Matthew Abbott:
former press secretary for Joe Hockey when he had Financial Services, went to Westfield and Lend Lease. Was also chief-of-staff to NSW opposition leader Peter Debnam and later went to ASIC.

Julie Abramson: former Costello adviser, stints at various places including NAB and the became National Director of Policy for Civil Contractors Federation (engineers).

Richard Allsop: former press secretary for Rod Kemp who went to Melbourne PR and lobbying firm Globe Communications.

Alan Anderson: after working as Philip Ruddock's policy adviser on courts and tribunals, then as Peter Costello's senior adviser on tax and prudential regulation, he lost his job after the 2007 election and joined McKinsey where he now works in the London office.

Peter Anderson: former senior advisor to Peter Reith on workplace relations became director of Workplace Relations at ACCI so was still working for Peter Hendy, which is what he did while in Reith's office.

Chris Argent: former Chris Gallus advisor who went to Philip Morris as spokesperson and director of corporate affairs.

Kareena Arthy: former David Kemp staffer who landed a senior role with DPI in Queensland, her home state.

Genevieve Atkinson: former spinner for Bronwyn Bishop, then to CPR as an operative in Brisbane but has since moved on.

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B

Robyn Bain: former senior advisor to John Anderson, then chief-of-staff to Mark Vaile and was appointed CEO of the Cement Industry Federation in 2003. Starting her career as a lobbyist for the logging industry she has had quite a politically incorrect career and was defending the big polluters on Four Corners in February 2006.

James Baker: former press secretary to Downer/Anderson/Vaile/Queensland Opposition - was senate candidate in Queensland for National party in 2004 but lost and then ran as an independent for the senate at the 2007 federal election.

Mark Baker:
the PM's former speech writer who went to be the group head of government relations and regulatory affairs for Westpac. In 2006 he joined Endeavour Consulting Group as partner.

Chris Barnes: former press secretary to John Fahey then government relations at the Commonwealth Bank. He was also National President of the Australia Indonesia Business Council.

Greg Barns:
former John Fahey chief-of-staff who has been everywhere including the Republic Campaign, a stint as CEO of The Australian Gold Council and seats on a couple of small cap mining boards seats. Was also a director of lobbyist firm Parker & Partners but these days is back at the bar pursuing a legal career whilst keeping his hand in as a commentator.

Jim Barron: former David Kemp and ministers Chris Ellison and Judy Moylan chief-of-staff, and in 2001 joined Group Training Australia as CEO.

Mairi Barton: former Chris Ellison press secretary, then general manager of public relations at the National Farmers Federation. She was head of communications Asia Pacific, Europe and America for ANZ.

Meriana Baxter: former advisor to Joe Hockey who then went on to John Connelly spindoctors.

Sarah Baxter: former media advisor to Phil Ruddock and then Helen Coonan, then to Gavin Anderson before heading to Asia.

Anthony Benscher: former Howard press secretary, went to PBL, then left to do an MBA.

Gladys Berejeklean: former Coonan staffer who went to CBA managing government relations, and who has represented Willoughby for the Liberals in the NSW Parliament since 2003.



Nick Berman: former advisor to Jackie Kelly who became Mayor of Hornsby in the north of Sydney and continues to climb within the Liberal party.

Yvonne Best: former staffer for ministers John Fahey and Warren Truss who became national marketing manager for AusIndustry in the department of industry, tourism and resources.

Leon Beswick: another former staffer to health minister Michael Wooldridge, who is a director of The Australian Institute of Policy and Science. He was also managing director of Ogilvy PR Health. He also unsuccessfully contested a casual Tasmanian senate vacancy for the Liberal Party in 1994.

Brendan Blomeley: he first worked for Eric Abetz in 1998/99 and then worked for Paul Calvert. Following these stints he served the Clarence City Council for seven years as an alderman and also joined The Federal Group as Corporate Affairs Manager in 2000.

Duncan Bremner: former press secretary to John Anderson, then worked in PR in London,and then as an account manager at Parker & Partners' Canberra office. He has moved on to become chief executive at the Australian Road Train Association.

Aldo Borgu: former advisor for four coalition defence ministers, then with Australian Strategic Policy Institute, then as a senior advisor to former defence minister Brendan Nelson.

Dr Peter Boxall: former key Costello staffer, then secretary of the department of finance and administration under John Fahey MP, and then the secretary of the department of employment and workplace relations. He was appointed as a commissioner at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) in 2009 for a five year term by the Rudd government.

Michael Brealey:
the former Richard Alston liaison officer went on to be a policy analyst for Vodafone before heading up strategy and governance at ABC TV.

Hamish Browne: former Joe Hockey staffer who then joined the NSW division of the Liberal party as an information specialist. He then went on to be the product specialist for Hands-On Systems.

Rod Bruem: former Robert Hill press secretary and staffer to independent MP Peter Andren who then headed Telstra's spin and lobbying campaign before and during the Trujillo years.

Trevor Burns: former Warwick Smith staffer, then ABC point man in Canberra, then a public affairs lobbyist with Australian Automobile Association and then an associate director with Macquarie Bank.

Simon Bush: former Jocelyn Newman advisor, then joined Accenture Consulting as a spinner. In 2003 was appointed ceo of the Australian Visual Software Distributors Association and was also managing director of Bush Consulting.

David Bushby:
worked as an adviser to Jocelyn Newman. When she retired from Cabinet, he went to work as Chief of Staff to Sue Napier (then Tasmanian Leader of the Opposition). After that he took over Guy Barnett's PR firm when Barnett went to the Senate. He ran that until going to the Senate himself in 2007.

Julie Butler:
former Geoff Prosser media advisor who moved overseas, ended up back in WA and then went to Spain.


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C

Fiona Cameron: was broadcasting adviser to Richard Alston, left to work for Cameron O'Reilly's radio outfit, now Executive Director, Strategy & Operations at Screen Australia.

Nick Campbell: a former Bill Heffernan staffer who became executive director of corporate & government affairs at Johnson & Johnson.

Russell Campbell:
former Helen Coonan advisor then worked at Access Economics. He moved on to become the assistant secretary of the household and industry assistance branch of the department of climate change.

Kathy Casey: formerly of Richard Alston's office, then had a stint with Beyond Blue, the anti-depression initiative headed by Jeff Kennett in Melbourne.

Peter Cassuben: former media advisor to Jackie Kelly and television producer who became managing director of Maxicom Communications.

Claire Chadwick: former assistant media advisor to Costello gate keeper Niki Savva, then worked in PR in London, then the Health Insurance Commission's Pharamecutical Benefit Scheme review and then to Gavin Anderson.

Creina Chapman:
former Phillip Ruddock staffer who was advising Richard Alston on IT when she landed the gig of manager, regulatory & corporate affairs at Kerry Packer's PBL.

Jeremy Chitty: former indigenous advisor to Philip Ruddock who went back to the commonwealth health department.

Patrick Coleman:
former advisor to both minister Peter McGauran and prime minister John Howard, then went to department of prime minister & cabinet before joining the Business Council of Australia.

Mark Connell: former Andrew Thomson press secretary, went to work with Nick Greiner at British American Tobacco Australasia.

Adam Connolly:
former John Sharp and John Howard press secretary, had a brief stint at Macquarie Bank before moving to the NSW Farmers' Federation and then the rural PR specialist Cox Innall in Sydney, which looked after the regional spinning for T3.

Michael Cooke: former Tony Abbott advisor and pre-selection candidate for NSW seat of Manly who then went to the Migration Review Tribunal (MRT).

Jacquie Corbett: former Liberal party staffer who went to Crosby Textor.










Mathias Cormann: former Chris Ellison senior advisor who became WA Liberal party vice president and then a WA Liberal senator.

Rowena Cowan: from Richard Alston's staff to consulting and then back to senator Nick Minchin for another stint. Went on to work at Sanofi Aventis as government relations manager.

Peta Credlin: former Richard Alston advisor who also worked for Robert Hill and Nick Minchin. Left for a stint with the Victoria Racing Commission and married to federal Liberal director Brian Loughnane.

Sarah Cruickshank:
former staffer with Brendan Nelson and Helen Coonan, who became a managing director with Parker & Partners following a stint with the NSW State Chamber of Commerce.

Paul Cross: from Michael Wooldridge's office to drug giant Merck Sharpe & Dohme and then to Parker & Partners as head of the Canberra office.

Mark Croxford: former press secretary to Bruce Scott and Mark Vaile, then a freelance Canberra spinner and lobbyist and roving staffer for various National party members.

Peter Cullen: the late advisor to finance minister John Fahey and financial services minister Joe Hockey, passed away in 2009.

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D

Alistair Davey: former advisor to Peter Costello and mate of Tony Smith, who returned to the public service as a senior consultant at ACIL Tasman.

Rachel David: from Michael Wooldridge's office, briefly at Pfizer, then director of public affairs with CSL before leaving to be a full time mum.

Gary Dawson: formerly with the PM's office, then with the Law Society of NSW and has done some political punditry on Sky News and the ABC.

Charlotte Dickie: former assistant press secretary to health minister Kay Patterson who went on to PR manager for Racing Victoria and then ceo of the Tasmanian Thoroughbred Racing Council.

Mark Domitrak: former Liberal party staffer who then founded and is the managing director of Crosby Textor.

Alexander Drake:
former staffer to industry minister Ian McDonald to government relations with Suncorp Metway.


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E

Jennifer Eddy: former press secretary to Nick Minchin who joined lobbyist Gavin Anderson and helped it win the T3 gig.

Colin Edwardes: former Ian Campbell chief-of-staff, ran in WA state seat of Kingsley.

Paul Edwards: former press secretary to John Fahey, then AAMI PR in Sydney before returning to Brisbane.

Simon Edwards: former Warwick Smith staffer who did stint with AMP before heading government affairs for Microsoft Australia.

Jeff Egan: former Helen Coonan advisor who started his own public affairs consultancy called Flagship Communications.

Stephen Elder: former David Kemp staffer who joined the Catholic Education Office.

Mark Elliott: former Philip Ruddock advisor who joined Pfizer as corporate communications manager.

Greg Evans: former McGauran chief-of-staff who became director of industry policy at ACCI.

Paul "Evro" Everingham: former John Fahey and Nick Minchin staffer who became WA Liberal state director and then joined US oil giant Chevron.




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F

Chris Falvey: from John Sharp and Mark Vaile to Sydney Airport and then James Hardie Industries.

Chris Faris: former Richard Alston IT advisor who took an unusual path to be with the UNDP based in Bhutan.

Ian Farrow: former advisor to senator Nick Minchin who went to KPMG.

Nicole Feeley: former PM John Howard's first chief-of-staff who went on to head St Vincent's Hospital in Melbourne and then chief executive, South Metropolitan Area Health Service, Royal Perth Hospital.

Mitch Fifield
:
former long-time Costello advisor took Richard Alston's spot in the senate.

Marcin Firek: former staffer to Helen Coonan who became a solicitor for Minter Ellison in Sydney. In 2010 was appointed company secretary of James Hardie Industries.

Margaret Fitzherbert:
left David Kemp's office to go to NEMMCO and continues to campaign for Liberal women. Has written two books about politics, the Liberal Party and women.

Paul Fletcher: formerly Richard Alston's chief-of-staff who was head of corporate and regulatory affairs for Optus before taking Brendan Nelson's seat of Bradfield.

James Florent:
formerly Ian Macdonald's forestry advisor now at the NFF as environment advisor.

Lincoln Folo:
the Eric Abetz media heavy who left to work for his dad's family construction business before turning to the Government Members Secretariat. He then went to general manager at Action Sheetmetal & Roofing.

Clayton Ford: former David Kemp staffer who went to Diageo, the Distilled Spirits Industry Council and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Joey Francis: former advisor to Tony Abbott, then to corporate communications at Harvey Norman head office, now an officer in the RAN.

Ben Franklin: former Brendan Nelson staffer, then worked for NSW upper house MLC Greg Pearce, and ran Liberal party's 2004 campaign in Greenway for Hillsong candidate Louise Markus and then worked for Peter Debnam. He has been State Director of the NSW National Party since July 2008.

Todd Frew: another chief-of-staff to health minister Kay Patterson, who returned to be a branch head in the department of immigration and multicultural and indigenous affairs.


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G

Stephen Galilee
:
former Howard electorate officer, then Abbott advisor, then Macfarlane chief-of-staff, then account director at Shac Communications.

John Galligan: former Bronwyn Bishop staffer, then head of corporate affairs at British American Tobacco.

Lisa Gates: former advisor to Tim Fischer who then married Labor spinner Adam Kilgour and exited the political scene.

David Gazard: former press secretary for John Howard, who went to Westpac in government relations and then to chief-of-staff to John Brogden, then to Kay Patterson, then Tony Abbott, then Peter Costello. He crossed over to journalism as a regular contributor to The Punch and is now the Liberal candidate in Eden Monaro.

Andrew Gibbs: former Helen Coonan advisor who became a freelance public affairs consultant.

Amanda Goodban: former Helen Coonan advisor who went to Trowbridge Deloitte.

Martin Gordon: former advisor to former Social Security minister Jocelyn Newman who returned to the federal department of health & ageing in Canberra.

Melanie Granger:
former advisor to Daryl Williams when Attorney-General, returned to Perth with Liberal-turned-Independent Alan Rocher and then joined Perth-based lobbyist Riley Mathewson.

Sasha Grebe: former Alston staffer, had stints with Tourism Australia, AWB & Yarra Trams, has returned to home town of Sydney to work for the Royal Australasian College of Physicians.

Geoffrey Greene: former long-time advisor to SA senator Alan Ferguson who became state director of the Queensland Liberal party.

Rohan Greenland: former media advisor to Michael Wooldridge who went to the Australian Local Government Association (ALGA) in Canberra doing their public affairs.

Jeremy Griffith: former policy advisor to Industry minister John Moore who joined Foster's and then St George Bank.




Nick Grono:
former advisor to AG Daryl Williams, won a scholarship to Princeton and then went to work for Gareth Evans at the International Crisis Group.

Jennifer Grove: former Daryl Williams advisor who joined Perth recruitment agencies Gerard Daniels as a managing consultant.

James Groves: former speechwriter for various ministers including Warwick Parer, Michael Wooldridge, Kay Patterson and Kevin Andrews, then became a speech writer in the department of industry, science and training.

Jason Groves:
former advisor to Sports and Tourism Minister Andrew Thompson who went to London as an insurance journalist and then left in 2006 to be Head of External Affairs for Europe, the Middle East and Africa at the insurance broker Marsh.

Peter Gutwein
:
staffer for senator Jocelyn Newman during the late 90s who became a Liberal member for Bass in Tasmanian parliament.

Matthew Guy: former Rod Kemp staffer who went to the VFF and is now an upper house Liberal member in Victoria.


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H

Martine Haley: media advisor to Judi Moylan when minister, then to Jackson Wells Morris in Sydney before becoming news editor at News Ltd.

Andrew Hall: long-time staffer of Warren Truss, became federal director of the National party.

Emma Hanleyside: former Michael Wooldridge staffer, now in private enterprise.

Lisa Hansen:
former advisor to Mark Vaile who ran a public affairs company in Canberra called Capital Policy and Trade.

Nick Harford: former Daryl Williams media advisor who went to corporate affairs at Visy. He then went on to become managing director at Equilibrium.

Ben Harris: former Wooldridge advisor on HIV, immunisation, rural health and workforce issues, who became executive director of the Optometrists Association Australia Victorian Division. Later became Director, Policy and Public Affairs at AMA Victoria for a few years.

Kate Harvey: staffer for David Kemp and Nick Minchin, went to ASIC in a PR role then returned to Adelaide in mid-2010 to commence in a senior role at the Grape and Wine Research and Development Corporation.

Alex Hawke: former advisor to Helen Coonan, then NSW young Liberal president and staffer to controversial NSW upper house member David Clarke, the hard right faction boss. Then went on to become the federal member for Mitchell in North Western Sydney..

Malcolm Hazell:
former advisor to John Howard who became secretary to two successive Governor Generals of Peter Hollingworth and his successor Major-General Michael Jeffery. Was made redundant when Quentin Bryce took over.

Peter Hendy:
formerly Peter Reith's chief-of-staff from his time in Workplace Relations who then headed up ACCI and did a benchmarking study on tax for Peter Costello. He launched Peter Hendy Consulting in 2008

Nigel Henham:
was the moderate's moderate when on Robert Hill's staff, then PR man for The Age and then off to a medical lobby group.





Jane Henschke: formerly press secretary to Jocelyn Newman & Judi Moylan then went back to Ten in Brisbane and then married Terry McCarthy, former protection officer to John Howard.

Annabelle Herd: former senior advisor for Richard Alston who became went to Ten in Sydney as network manager, broadcasting policy and regulatory affairs boss.

Samantha Herron: sister to John Howard's media advisor and daughter of former senator John Herron. Went to Optus Sydney and then later joined Microsoft.

John Hewitt: former Jocelyn Newman staffer then to a PR firm in Canberra and then to AusAccess, a Canberra lobbying firm.

Jenny Higgs: formerly of John Howard's office who then moved to Singapore.

Darryl Hockey: former John Anderson advisor and chief-of-staff to SA Deputy Premier Rob Kerin, then worked for Ausaid in Iraq.

Katrina Hodgkinson:
former Nick Minchin advisor now National party member for Burrinjuck in NSW Parliament.

Brett Hogan:
former Peter Reith staffer who has been ACCI's Director of Communications since May 2003.

Simone Holzapfel:
former Tony Abbott spinner and young Liberal type who went to Leighton and then became the founding partner of shac Communications.

Chris Hood: former advisor to Vaile/Truss who became a senior member of the white shoe brigade in SE Queensland.

Nick Hossack: former advisor to John Howard, left in 1998 to go to Australian Bankers Association.

Nick Howarth: the former David Kemp staffer ran the 1500 in the Sydney Olympics and then joined the NFF as economics advisor .

Damon Hunt:
former press secretary for Amanda Vanstone, left to go travelling in Europe.

Greg Hunt: former Alexander Downer advisor and son of Victorian Liberal Alan Hunt is now warming Peter Reith's old seat of Flinders.

Greg Hunting: former long-time chief-of-staff to John Herron who then joined the Australian Automobile Association.


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J

Carolyn Jack: former Jocelyn Newman staffer who went to London with Phil Williams of the ABC.

Andrew Jackson: former IT advisor to Richard Alston, who became a government relations executive with IBM Australia.

Frank Jackson: former long time staffer of Queensland National party premier Rob Borbidge also spent some time with David Kemp before joining the National Competition Council.

Julianne Jaques: former Rod Kemp advisor who became a barrister in Victoria.

Peter Jennings:
formerly worked for Ian MacLachlan in defence, went to work in John Howard's office and then for the security think-tank Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI) before re-joining Defence.

Nicole Johnston:
former press secretary for Chris Ellison who went to Leighton Holdings.

Tim Johnston:
former forestry advisor to Ian Macdonald who left to do government relations for Carter Holt Harvey and then returned to Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry with McGuaran.

Owen Johnstone-Donnet
:
former chief-of-staff to Mark Vaille who became deputy ceo of the Tourism & Transport Forum Australia and then a director of ARTC.

Miles Jordana:
formerly international advisor to the John Howard who returned to the public service, as a deputy secretary in the attorney general's department.

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K

Harvey Kalman: former advisor to Ian McLachlan who became general manager of funds management at Equity Trustees in Melbourne.

Michael Keenan: former Amanda Vanstone advisor, then successfully ran for Liberals in Stirling in 2004 after Paul Afkos was disendorsed.

David Kennedy: former communications advisor to Richard Alston who then joined the National Office for Information Economy.




Joshua Kennedy-White: former Geoff Prosser staffer, then to Accenture and the Queensland bureaucracy in between reality TV gigs.He then moved on to work for Bush Consulting.

Peter Kerestes: formerly with Amanda Vanstone in the first term, became general manager with Australian Unity and then ceo of PHIIA.

Christian Kerr:
the former press secretary for Amanda Vanstone became Crikey's political editor and the man behind the Hillary Bray gossip column before joining The Australian in 2008.

Richard King:
former Rod Kemp, then to NAB and lobbyist firm Government Relations Australia.

Al Kinloch: the former Warwick Smith chief-of-staff left from AMP.


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L

Janine Lacy: former staffer to Liberal Ricky Johnston who became a lawyer and Mrs Mark Latham.

Andrew Laming:
the former Kay Patterson staffer is now the federal Liberal member for Bowman in Queensland.

Michael L'Estrange:
secretary to cabinet, then high commissioner in the UK and then secretary of DFAT.

Brooke Lord: former David Kemp, went to Victorian Environmental Protection Authority and then spinning for Melbourne Airport.

David Losberg: former Grant Tambling, then government relations advisor at Medibank Private.

Brian Loughnane: former staffer to Howard and chief-of-staff to Queensland minister John Moore MP in government after 1996, then state director of the Victorian Liberal party, and now the federal director of the Liberal party of Australia.

Andrew Lumsden:
went from Corrs to be Joe Hockey's chief-of-staff and is now back at Corrs as a partner.


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M

Angela Magarry:
briefly with Kay Patterson but shaken out by Tony Abbott taking over the health portfolio, then worked for ACT health department. She went on to become the director, policy & analysis ANU.

Suresh Manickam: former Marise Payne staffer, who then joined NSW Minerals Council doing Economics and Industry Affairs. Then went to become the manager government and regulatory affairs at ING Australia.

Randal Markey: former flak for Kay Patterson who became manager of communications at the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association.

Ian Matheson: spent time with Alexander Downer, then went to become ceo at Australasian Investor Relations Association.

Margaret May: former staffer to former Queensland Liberal MP John Bradford, now herself the current federal member for McPherson.

Bill McKinley: former adviser to Warwick Parer (1996-1998), John Anderson (1998-2005) and Mark Vaile (2005-07), now handling government relations and communications for the Australian Trucking Association.

Terry McCarthy: formerly of AFP protection, attached to PM Howard, resigned from the AFP in 2001, running his own security consultancy in Queensland. Married to Jane Henschke, formerly press secretary to Jocelyn Newman & Judi Moylan.

Paul McClintock:
head of Cabinet Policy Unit 2000-2003, then joined boards such as Perpetual, Macquarie Infrastructure Group, ADI Limited and Thales International Pacific Holdings.

Catherine McGovern:
former Nick Minchin staffer who joined Glaxo Smith Klein then went to group manager, government and industry affairs at Medibank Private.



David McLachlan: the first press secretary for John Fahey became a spindoctor with Leighton in Brisbane after an earlier stint in government affairs for the Commonwealth Bank.

Peter McMahon:
from Michael Wooldridge's office to managing the introduction of the HIC's electronic claims and billing system for doctors known as ECLIPSE and then to senator Patterson's staff until her resignation from the ministry.

Anna McPhee:
former staffer to Nick Minchin and then director of equal opportunity for women in the Workplace Agency.

Fiona Menzies: formerly with arts ministers Richard Alston and McGauren, then went on to development manager at The Wheeler Centre.

Doug Miell: former chief-of-staff to Judy Moylan, after a stint with the NFF, left to set-up a telecommunications company called Heartland Communications. A regular visitor to the Lindsay electorate office and a campaign supporter of the vanquished Jackie Kelly.

David Miles
:
former Nick Minchin staffer who has continued spinning for Pfizer.

Bruce Mills: former press secretary to Mark Vaile who then joined Lawrence Springborg in Queensland.

Jeremy Mitchell: former Bronwyn Bishop staffer who joined media unit at Australian High Commission in London. He then went to director of corporate & public affairs, Huawei.

Scott Mitchell:
former advisor to Mark Vaile, challenged Julian McGauran in preselection for his senate spot, then went to NFF.

Danielle Moore: former press secretary for Bruce Scott and senator Eric Abetz, then to Gavin Anderson.

Grahame Morris: the original chief-of-staff for John Howard, went to News Ltd for a couple of years, then was a partner at Jackson Wells Morris and then partner at PwC.

Trent Mumford: former Bruce Baird advisor who became an account manager with Parker & Partners in Sydney.

Ben Myers: formerly of Pete Slipper's office, then went to Retailers Association and then Brisbane City Council where he spun for lord mayor Campbell Newman.

Daniel Myles: former staffer for Kerry Bartlett, chief government Whip for a period, whilst serving on Blue Mountains Council.


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N

Kate Nevett: former John Fahey staffer, then to CPR in Brisbane, before joining a local competitor.

Rod Nockles: long-time Jocelyn Newman chief-of-staff to Hill and Knowlton in Melbourne, then started his own public affairs consultancy and contested to run in Corangamite for Libs.

Andrew Norton: the former David Kemp staffer went to work for Melbourne University.


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O

Robert Oakeshott: former advisor to Mark Vaile, who became a state and then federal independent MP for Lyne.


Michael O'Brien: formerly with Costello's office, then the bar back in Melbourne and member for Malvern in Victorian parliament.

Terry O'Connor: first press secretary for Richard Alston when he became minister then joined the British High Commission.

Megan O'Connor: former conservation advisor to senator Ian Macdonald, who became Australian government liaison for the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne.

Paddy O'Sullivan: did an early stint with Peter McGauran, moved to Victorian Nationals with McNamara and then joined the Australian Hotels Association in Victoria.

David Oldfield: former Tony Abbott right hand man (and ex-Lib candidate for the state seat of Manly) did a stint in the NSW upper house courtesy of One Nation and was kicked off 2UE as a fill-in presenter.

Nerida O'Loughlin: seconded from Comms Dept to be Chief of Staff to Peter McGauran when Arts Minister, now General Manger, Digital Economy, at ACMA.

Justin Owen: former Bronwyn Bishop staffer who joined the Australian Hotels Association.

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P

Guy Pearce: former speech writer for Robert Hill went consulting and dumped a bucket on the polluting lobby on Four Corners whilst also writing some books.

Andrew Power: long term Bill Taylor advisor went on to become a self employed inventor and land developer.

Christopher Pearson: a speechwriter for former PM John Howard who enjoyed patronage through gigs on the Australian Museum and Australia Council as a director.

Sasha Pendal:
former chief-of-staff to Mal Brough, then deputy director at Lions Eye Institute, a WA based medical research institute.

Emily Perry: former Gallus advisor who joined Holden as a spinner.

Stan Piperoglou:
once chief-of-staff to Bronwyn Bishop when she was minister for Ageing, he returned to the department of health when she got the flick, until someone had a brainwave about how to save on stationery and made him chief-of-staff to Julie Bishop, minister for Ageing, and he then followed her to Education. He then went to run some national health priority initiatives.

Fiona Poletti: arts, then broadcasting adviser to Richard Alston, has done various things, including organising the first Earth Hour in Melbourne, now Director of Special Projects at Circus Oz.

James Pirie: senior advisor to Jocelyn Newman and then manager trading services at Hydro Tasmania.

Simon Price: former Kemp advisor who joined the VFF.

Michael Priebe: former advisor to Nationals MP De-Anne Kelly, then trade minister Mark Vaile, worked as the state director of the NSW Nationals, then for PR firm Third Person before launching his own government affairs business Statecraft.

Elke Purnell
:
diary secretary for Phil Ruddock, then to Medicines Australia and then did government relations for pharmaceutical company Amgen.


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R

Robert Reid:
former Kevin Andrews advisor who went to become CEO of Australian Nursing Homes and Extended Care Association.

Craig Regan: formerly worked in Philip Ruddock's office, then to media affairs manager at Pfizer, followed by senior account director at Reed Weir Communications .

Linda Reynolds:
former chief-of-staff to Chris Ellison, then with Raytheon and back as a deputy federal director of the Liberal party.

Peter Richards:
first chief-of-staff for Peter Reith, then spent time at the Business Council of Australia, then headed up the Industrial Registry and became a commissioner on the Australian Industrial Relations Commission.

Anthony "digger" Roberts
:
the former Howard electorate officer went from being in charge of relations with Alan Jones to being the MP for Lane Cove in the NSW Parliament.

Malcolm Roberts:
former Macfarlane advisor who did government affairs for the Housing Industry Association and then CEO of the National Generators Forum in Canberra.

Sarah Robertson: former consumer affairs advisor to financial services minister Joe Hockey, then a solicitor at Cutler Hughes Harris in Sydney.

Steve Ronson:
former Southcott and Calvert staffer, then union bashing as SA state manager of the office of the employment advocate.

John Roskam: former David Kemp, now head of the Institute of Public Affairs after a failed senate preselection tilt.










Bill Royce: from Michael Wooldridge's office to PR firm Hill & Knowlton in Melbourne and then off to London.

Sarah Ryan: former personal assistant to Richard Alston then executive assistant to the managing director of Microsoft Australia.

Terry Ryan: former senior advisor to Tim Fishcher/ Mark Vaile to senior spinner with Electricity Supply Association of Australia in Canberra.


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S

Kieran Schneeman: former McGauran chief-of-staff became chief executive of Medicines Australia.

Adam Schofield: former advisor to Warwick Parer who became a self employed public affairs consultant and secretary of the Point Piper branch.

Georgia-Kate Schubert: former Ian Campbell press secretary became manager of government affairs at Vodafone Australia.

Kate Schulze: former Nick Minchin spinner, married to Sky's original political reporter Nigel Blunden then left for the NFF and went to Parker and Partners, then moved to Crosby Textor.

Mike Scrafton: former Peter Reith senior advisor, went back to defence as the first assistant secretary of infrastructure division, then joined the Victorian department of infrastructure after tipping a bucket on his former boss.

Craig Simonetto: former Wooldridge press secretary and Andrews advisor went to HIC on special projects.

Peta Slack Smith: used to be with senator Judith Troeth, when parliamentary secretary for the minister of agriculture, before joining the ill-fated AWB. Then on to stakeholder relations & communications manager at Australian Wool Innovation.

Dean Smith: former Bronwyn Bishop chief-of-staff and advisor, then corporate affairs at Insurance Australia Group and government relations with Optus.

Karen Smith: former policy advisor to ill fated senator Robert Wood, parliamentary secretary to the minister for health and family affairs, then became a policy advisor with Australian Credit Union Network, formally known as CUSCAL.

Michael Smith:
from David Kemp to Splash Media then began Gillies Smith Public Affairs in 2000.

Tony Smith:
the longest serving advisor to Peter Costello went on to become a federal member for Casey.

Brendan Smyth:
small business advisor to Reith, who became leader of the opposition in the ACT Assembly.

Victoria Somlyay:
former advisor to Nick Minchin who joined Westpac in Sydney.



Juliana Stackpool: former Amanda Vanstone, Robert Hill and Brendon Nelson staffer who joined the peak body for private education and training in Melbourne.

Andre Stein: former advisor to Richard Alston went to become an advisor to Clayton Utz.

David Stevens: former Cabinet Policy Unit staffer to partner with KPMG in Melbourne.

Craig Symon: former senior advisor to Tim Fisher, who went to the public service in DEWR.


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T

David Taylor: former Geoff Prosser advisor who joined Max "the axe" Moore-Wilton at Sydney Airport.

Donna Taylor: former Chris Ellison advisor, then a member of the WA upper house.

Michael Thawley: international advisor to John Howard, went to Washington as Australian ambassador and now providing strategic advice to a global funds management firm.

Matt Trewin: former Anderson staffer who joined the hapless AWB in Melbourne and the collapsed Timbercorp.

Angus Trigg: former Baird staffer who joined Gavin Anderson then became senior manager, group corporate affairs at IAG.

Darcy Tronson:
barrister and former senior advisor to Erica Betz who became a consultant with a "strategic analysis" outfit called Trinitas, then a board member of the Australian Maritime College.

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V

David van den Berg: former advisor to Allan Rocher who became national employee relations manager with Sigma in Melbourne, and then wen on to head of workplace relations at Suncorp.

Peter van Onsolen: former Abbott staffer, who became an author and academic at Edith Cowan University who is now a respected media pundit.

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W

Jane Wagner: former long-term staffer to senator Eric Abetz in both opposition and government who joined the budget group in department of finance.

Virginia Wallace: former Amanda Vanstone and Chris Ellison staffer who did corporate relations with NAB.


Peter Walsh:
former advisor to Anderson/Vaile who has become the deputy leader of the National party.

Susan Warren: former advisor to Robert Hill and Richard Alston who does government relations at Raytheon.

Chris Wenden: former ABC journalist and media advisor for John Cobb who joined the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia.

Simon Westaway: former staffer to backbencher Liberal MP Bob Baldwin, now managing media affairs for Jetstar.

Gerry Wheeler: former staffer for the PM who then joined Raytheon.

Serena Williams: former press secretary for Michael Wooldridge went to Mayne as a spinner-lobbyist.

Kate Winter: former advisor to Peter Slipper who became press secretary to Brisbane lord mayor Campbell Newman.

Caroline Wilkie: former Coonan advisor, then to the Financial Planning Association and then Tourism Task Force.

Richard Wilson: former Newman press secretary to chief spinner for two Tasmanian opposition leaders and then federal public servant.

Richard Wise: formerly with John Fahey and Rod Kemp, with Business Council for Sustainable Energy, then director government relations at BP.

Mary Wooldridge: a former staffer for senator Nick Minchin and sister of Michael Wooldridge went on to become the state Liberal MP for Doncaster in Victoria and is tipped as a future leader.

Russ Wood: former Richard Alston advisor who went to Melbourne City Council.

Christopher Wordsworth: former John Moore staffer who became an unpopular Queensland manager of the ABC amongst all the lefties.

Olivia Worth: was formerly an adviser to former tourism minister Joe Hockey and worked for the industry lobby group Tourism Council Australia. In 2009 she was appointed haed of corporate relations at Qantas.


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This is a great list but keep the corrections and additions coming to stephen@maynereport.com.