Our Team
The Agenda Group team are experienced professionals.
James McGarvey, Grad Dip (Pub Rel), MA (Prof Comms), MPRIA
DIRECTOR
James is the founding Director of The Agenda Group.
An extensive background in public policy and communications provides James with an acute understanding of the factors in play in forming, delivering and communicating public policy and government decision-making.
He provides clients from the private, public and not for profit sectors with a number of services, including:
- policy development
- political analysis
- risk assessment
- government relations
- strategic counsel
- stakeholder and issues management
- communications planning
James has significant experience in infrastructure projects, health, utilities and government services.
Respected for his acumen, professionalism and judgement, James works to CEO’s, Boards and senior management on major projects requiring sensitive handling in challenging environments.
Damian Mannix, BEd, MBA, MAICD
DIRECTOR
With over 13 years experience Damian understands what connects media, government, stakeholders and what that means for organisations.
He has provided a wide range of strategic consulting services to a number of blue chip organisations. His services have included:
- Reputation management
- Change management counsel and communications
- Issues management
- Corporate plan development
- Government relations
An experienced facilitator, Damian is able to provide support from project commencement to conclusion.
Damian is a member of the Program Advisory Committee for the Public Relations degree at RMIT University where he is an occasional lecturer.
Brent Hooley, BA (Management Communication)
SENIOR CONSULTANT
Brent has an extensive background in government, media and communications.
With almost ten years experience as a media adviser to United Kingdom, Victorian and Federal Government ministers, Brent has the background and skills to deliver a successful media and government relations agenda.
As a media adviser to the Victorian Government, Brent advised a number of ministers in portfolios including Energy, Local Government, Ports, Small Business, Housing and Information and Communication Technology.
Most notably, he served as media adviser and spokesman for the Minister for Sport and the Commonwealth Games, Justin Madden for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.
More recently he was the media and senior adviser to the Federal Minister for Youth and Sport, Kate Ellis MP.
Brent has also served as a national media spokesperson for one of Australia’s largest corporations, Telstra.
He has also worked in communications and media roles with Deakin University, Barwon Region Water Authority and the UK Environment Agency.
Brent provides The Agenda Group’s clients with media, communications and government relations services.
Lance Northey
SENIOR CONSULTANT
Lance Northey has a rich blend of journalistic, political and public relations skills.
After working in radio in Sydney, Perth and Melbourne he accepted a job at 2UE.
During his time there he covered nearly every kind of story, including traveling to Nauru for the re-settlement of refugees.
He also won the Law Society Award for outstanding reporting for his coverage of the Backpacker Murder trial.
After 11 years at 2UE Lance became Media Director to former NSW Opposition Leader John Brogden where he oversaw the Opposition’s media strategy.
After leaving politics Lance worked as a senior consultant at a large Australian public affairs company, working with a diverse range of corporate and institutional clients.
He has strong working relationships with existing Coalition Shadow Ministers and MPs.
Gabriella Haynes, BA (Hons), DML
COMMUNICATIONS CONSULTANT
Gabriella provides various communications services to our clients including:
- Material development, writing and editing
- Media production strategy and management
- Website functionality and online presence
She has worked for media organisations in Asia and Australia in the private and not-for-profit sectors. Her experience includes email and online marketing campaigns and website content production and management. She also has an interest in new media technologies including social media for networking and marketing.
Gabriella has extensive experience in writing and editing for print and online materials.
She is currently undertaking a Graduate Diploma in Media and Communications.
Mark Sutton, BA (Communication) Grad Dip (Business)
DIRECTOR (NSW)
Mark Sutton owns and operates The Agenda Group (NSW) Pty Ltd.
Mark has more than 20 years experience in communications – working at senior levels in the media, government and corporate communications.
Specifically, he worked in both print and television – his last role Supervising Producer (Early Editions) at National Nine News in Sydney. He then accepted a role as media adviser and then chief of staff to a NSW Minister who went on to become Premier.
Following a four year stint he became general manager of a large public affairs company and executive director of a communications consultancy which specialized in advising the finance and business sector on regulatory risk.
Mark managed a team of more than 10 consultants working for blue-chip clients in the areas of:
- Media relations
- Crisis management
- Government relations
- Corporate communication campaigns
- Public affairs strategy
- Public sector procurement
Mark has worked on large Government communication campaigns and tenders like the $5.9 billion rail project (Reliance Rail Consortium – Babcock and Brown, Hitachi and Downer Edi). This project included Government, Media and Investor communication streams.
His unique breadth of experience means he is capable of helping client’s manage complex and sensitive projects.
He has a BA in Communications and Grad Dip in Business.
marksutton@theagendagroup.com.au
Paul Cunningham
SENIOR ASSOCIATE
Paul Cunningham is a professional journalist specialising in business communication services, including:
- Project management
- Research/interviews
- Speech writing
- Articles/case studies/media releases
- Editing/proof reading
- Annual reports
- Online copy
Paul uses plain English communication skills to deliver key messages to a variety of audiences. With more than 10 years’ freelance experience, Paul has provided specialist communication services for clients in range of industries including mining, telecommunications, water supply, agriculture, transport, and workplace training. Before turning freelance, Paul worked as a journalist for the Melbourne Herald Sun.
John O’Callaghan
ASSOCIATE
John O’Callaghan is a Canberra-based government relations practitioner with over 30 years experience.
His long government career began in the Department of Defence culminating in his appointment as senior political adviser to Kim Beazley, the Minister for Defence.
He also was part of a key leadership group which ran parliamentary tactics for the Keating Government. Colleagues included the current Treasurer Wayne Swan and Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith.
While he has worked for many years in Canberra, John also served as chief of staff to Morris Iemma who later became Premier of NSW and was corporate affairs manager at Bonlac Foods (now Fronterra) before establishing his own consultancy in 2002. He has worked for a cross-section of clients in Canberra, including Virgin Blue.
John currently holds the position of the Executive Officer to the Australian Industry Group Defence Council, with a membership which includes Australia’s leading defence industry firms. John’s experience makes him an invaluable counsel to clients trying to engage with the complex environment of federal politics.
Amy Hubbard, BSoSc (SEAP), PAppSci (Planning), MSoSc, IAP2
ASSOCIATE
Amy Hubbard is a Director and co-founder of Capire Consulting Group.
She has extensive experience in community engagement, social planning and community development. Amy has worked with public and private sector organisations in Australia and overseas enabling her to develop a versatile approach to specific project objectives.
Amy has particular experience in the development and management of engagement processes and has an excellent appreciation of integrating consultation outcomes with the delivery of technical solutions.
Amy’s key areas of expertise include:
- Design and Implementation of Stakeholder Engagement Strategies
- Community Profiling and Needs Assessments
- Social Impact Assessments and Social Planning
The results of Amy’s work have formed the basis of a range of planning, environmental and infrastructure projects including local structure plans, land use strategies, statutory approvals and the construction and commissioning of major infrastructure projects.
Chris Robinson, (Planning), MSc, MPlanDes, MIMC, MAICD
ASSOCIATE
Chris is the Managing Director and co-founder of the Capire Consulting Group.
He has over 15 years technical and strategic management experience in developing business and development strategies that creatively re-position businesses and projects to incorporate cultural, social, economic, governance and environmental aspects for maximum performance.
Chris provides business, sustainability and place making stakeholder facilitation services and advice for capital projects, place management and for organisational improvements.
Chris’s key areas of expertise include:
- Community and stakeholder engagement, strategy design and execution
- Strategic planning business management and reviews
- Small and large group facilitation
- Scenario planning and event design and management
- Project team development, management and communication
- Sustainability based project review, improvement and strategy
Chris brings energy and creativity when approaching problem solving and his community and corporate facilitation techniques have a solid base in technical knowledge.