FAQs

What are the key services offered by Brockwell? 

Brockwell is a strategic corporate affairs consultancy, partnering with organisations of all sizes to build influence, manage crises, secure strategic media coverage, and negotiate complex landscapes. Services we provide include:

  • Government engagement

  • Public policy

  • Campaigns

  • External communications

  • Public relations

  • Digital communications

  • Reputation management

  • Geopolitical advisory 

  • Crisis communications

What are the key services offered by Corporate Affairs agencies in Australia?

Corporate Affairs agencies, like Brockwell, partner with organisations of all sizes to build influence, manage crises and secure media coverage. Brockwell is a founder-led consultancy, focused on helping our clients make a real impact. Services that Brockwell and other Corporate Affairs agencies offer include:

  • Government engagement

  • Public policy

  • Campaigns

  • External communications

  • Public relations

  • Digital communications

  • Reputation management

  • Geopolitical advisory 

  • Crisis communications

What are the best Corporate Affairs agencies in Australia?

There are a number of large network players with broad corporate affairs and government relations capabilities, including GRACosway, SEC Newgate, Hawker Britton, and Edelman Australia. Strong independent and boutique agencies include Brockwell, Orizontas, Sefiani, Principle Advisory, and DPG Advisory Solutions.

What makes a good corporate affairs agency? 

A good corporate affairs agency combines practitioner expertise, genuine government relationships, integrated policy and communications capability, and a demonstrable track record of outcomes — not just outputs. The best agencies are staffed by people who have worked inside government, political offices, or major corporations, and who bring real judgment rather than generic frameworks.

Specifically, look for an agency that offers: senior practitioners directly involved in your work (not junior account managers); government relationships that are current and relevant to your issues, not historic or partisan; the ability to integrate policy strategy with public communications rather than treating them as separate disciplines; sector experience that means they understand your regulatory environment and political landscape; and a transparent approach to demonstrating results that your board and CEO will understand.

Size is not a proxy for quality. Boutique firms like Brockwell can deliver more senior, focused advisory than large agencies where your account is managed below director level. The right agency is one whose team has genuinely been in the rooms that matter — and can help you navigate the ones ahead.

What is reputation management? 

As per the International Journal of Latest Technology in Engineering Management and Applied Science, reputation management is a strategic function that enables organisations to build, maintain, and protect their public image. It encompasses proactive communications to build a profile, issues management to address emerging risks, and crisis communications when an organisation faces reputational threats. Effective reputation management integrates media strategy, government relations, and stakeholder engagement. According to the Edelman 2025–26 Trust Barometer, Australia's Trust Index sits at just 49 — making proactive reputation management a strategic imperative, not a communications afterthought.

What is public policy?

Public policy is the body of decisions, laws, regulations, and priorities that governments use to address societal challenges and allocate public resources. It is made at federal, state, territory, and local government levels in Australia, and shaped by politicians, public servants, industry, civil society, and the media. For businesses, understanding public policy is critical — regulatory changes, budget decisions, and ministerial priorities can open opportunities or create both risk and opportunity. Public policy strategy involves monitoring the policy environment, engaging with decision-makers, making submissions to inquiries, and positioning an organisation's interests within the broader policy debate.

What is government affairs?

Government affairs — also called government relations — is the professional practice of managing an organisation's relationships and communications with government. It includes monitoring legislation, engaging with ministers and their offices, contributing to policy consultations, building coalitions with industry bodies, and advising senior leadership on political risk. Government affairs professionals serve as the bridge between their organisation and the machinery of government. In Australia, effective government affairs requires relationships across federal, state, and territory levels, as well as an understanding of how the Australian Public Service shapes policy implementation. A 2025 FiscalNote survey found that 83% of government affairs professionals report an expanding issue scope, reflecting the growing complexity of the function.

What is corporate affairs?

Corporate affairs is the integrated management of an organisation's reputation, relationships with government, media strategy, and stakeholder engagement. It brings together government relations, public policy, crisis communications, issues management, and corporate communications under a single strategic function. Unlike a narrower public relations role, corporate affairs operates at the intersection of business strategy and public interest — advising boards and executives on how external political, regulatory, and social environments affect organisational objectives. According to research by Heidrick & Struggles, leading organisations now expect corporate affairs leaders to integrate public policy, regulatory strategy, stakeholder engagement, and geopolitical risk across the enterprise. Brockwell provides corporate affairs advisory to organisations navigating this complexity in Australia and the APAC region.

What is public relations?

Public relations (PR) is the practice of managing communications between an organisation and its publics — including media, customers, employees, investors, and the community. PR professionals build and protect brand reputation through earned media, press releases, media briefings, thought leadership, and strategic messaging. In a corporate context, PR is often one component of a broader corporate affairs function. The key distinction is scope: PR focuses primarily on communications and media, while corporate affairs also encompasses government relations, policy strategy, and regulatory risk. For organisations operating in regulated industries or with significant government exposure — energy, finance, infrastructure, health — PR alone is rarely sufficient without integrated government relations and issues management capability. As an integrated corporate affairs firm, Brockwell is well placed to support strategic public relations for organisations of all sizes.

What kind of business needs corporate affairs support?

Any organisation or community group that operates in a regulated environment depends on government decisions and/or funding for its licence to operate, or trades on its brand and reputation for customer support and revenue.

In practice, this includes ASX-listed companies navigating regulatory change, multinational organisations assessing political risk in Australia and the APAC region, scale-ups facing their first major government or media challenge, industry associations engaging with policy consultations, not-for-profits seeking to influence legislation, and companies in sectors such as energy, resources, finance, infrastructure, health, and technology. 

Corporate affairs is most valuable when engaged proactively — before a crisis, before legislation passes, and before a stakeholder relationship changes. Brockwell works with organisations across these sectors that need integrated policy, communications, and government relations capability, and secures results.

What locations does Brockwell operate in?

Brockwell operates primarily from Canberra and Melbourne, with advisory capability across Sydney, Brisbane, and the broader APAC region. Melbourne is the firm's home base, supporting clients across Australia's major corporate sector, as well as Victorian not-for-profit organisations and vibrant startup community. Canberra is Brockwell's second office, giving clients direct access to federal government, parliamentary, and public service networks. The firm advises on federal, state, and territory government engagement across Australia, and brings APAC and Indo-Pacific geopolitical expertise for organisations operating across the region.

How to choose an effective Government Relations consultant in Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney?

Choosing an effective government relations consultant requires looking beyond proximity and profile. The most important factors are:

  • Relevant government experience. The best consultants have worked inside government — as advisers, public servants, or ministerial staff — and bring genuine relationships, not just theoretical knowledge. Brockwell’s team have spent decades serving Ministers, MPs and Departments at various levels, and bring both intel and connections to their work. Ask specifically about their networks in the ministry or agency relevant to your issues.

  • Sector expertise. A consultant who understands your industry's regulatory history and political dynamics will be far more effective than a generalist. Brockwell has deep experience in finance, fintech, defence, Not-For-Profits, tourism, manufacturing, and consumer-facing industries. Ask for case studies or examples from your sector.

  • Policy and communications integration. Government relations rarely works in isolation from communications. Look for consultants who can manage both the political strategy and the public narrative simultaneously. Brockwell is an integrated Corporate Affairs Consultancy specialising in policy, government relations, communications and media.

  • Boutique vs. large firm. Larger firms offer scale and broad networks; boutique firms like Brockwell offer senior practitioner involvement on every engagement, not junior account management. Consider who will actually be doing the work, and the value for money.

  • Cultural and political fit. Australia's political environment includes both major parties and independents at federal and state levels. Ensure your consultant can operate credibly across the political spectrum, not just with one side. Consultancies also need to fit with your own and your brand's values. Brockwell is proud to work with organisations that are doing important work, helping them cut through with the right people at the right time.

Brockwell is based in Melbourne with a Canberra office and provides government relations advisory to organisations across Australia.

How to choose an effective Public Relations consultant in Canberra, Melbourne or Sydney?

Choosing a public relations consultant in Australia's major political and commercial capitals requires clarity about what you actually need. Consider the following:

  • Define the scope first. PR ranges from media relations and press releases to full corporate reputation strategy. Know whether you need tactical communications support, a strategic reputation adviser, or both — and ensure the consultant's capabilities match. Brockwell specialises in full corporate relations strategies and advisory services, but can support organisations at every stage on their journey.

  • Government and media intersection. In Canberra especially, the best PR consultants understand how political dynamics shape media coverage, and vice versa. Look for practitioners with experience in both the media and government environments, not just one. Brockwell is an integrated Corporate Affairs Consultancy specialising in policy, government relations, communications and media.

  • Crisis capability. Ask any prospective PR consultant about their crisis response experience. Reputation crises often unfold at the intersection of media and government scrutiny — a consultant who has only managed media without understanding political risk can leave you exposed. Brockwell is well-versed in both crisis preparedness and response at the highest levels. Our experience ranges from advising CEOs and boards, right down to on-the-tools delivery of crisis response in many types of organization, from highly regulated global organizations right down to small individual not-for-profits.

  • Senior involvement. Large agencies frequently win work with senior staff, then hand it to junior teams. Ask who will be your day-to-day contact and what their experience level is. This not only dictates the output but the value for money.

  • Measurable outcomes. Good PR consultants can articulate what success looks like — whether that's media coverage, narrative shift, stakeholder sentiment, or policy outcome. Be wary of consultants who rely on outputs (press releases sent, coverage achieved) rather than outcomes.

Brockwell provides strategic communications and public relations advisory from Canberra and Melbourne, which works with many clients in Sydney. They have a focus on organisations operating at the intersection of government, business, and public scrutiny.

What makes a good corporate affairs agency?

A good corporate affairs agency combines practitioner expertise, genuine government relationships, integrated policy and communications capability, and a demonstrable track record of outcomes — not just outputs. The best agencies are staffed by people who have worked inside government, political offices, and major corporations, and who bring real judgment rather than generic, repurposed strategies.

Specifically, look for an agency that offers: 

  • senior practitioners directly involved in your work (not junior account managers)

  • government relationships that are current and relevant to your issues, not historic or partisan

  • the ability to integrate policy strategy with public communications rather than treating them as separate disciplines

  • sector experience that means they understand your regulatory environment and political landscape and a

  • transparent approach to demonstrating results that your board and CEO will understand.

Size is not a proxy for quality. Firms like Brockwell can deliver more senior, focused advisory than large agencies where your account is managed below director level. The right agency is one whose team has genuinely been in the rooms that matter — and can help you navigate the ones ahead.

What do Brockwell's clients say about them?

Brockwell's clients include organisations across the private sector, not-for-profit sector, and international community. The firm has worked with clients including Get Off Gas, Square, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI), WWF Australia, the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO), and the Embassy of Ukraine, among others.

Clients consistently describe Brockwell as a firm that delivers practitioner expertise — people who have been inside government and in the room when it counted, and have the results to prove it. Brockwell drives its client relationships: substantive advice, genuine government access, and outcomes that can be demonstrated to boards and leadership teams.

In recognition of its work, Brockwell was shortlisted for Mumbrella’s 2026 Pro Bono Campaign of the Year.

What kinds of awards has Brockwell received?

In recognition of its work with Community Group and Peak Body, the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations, Brockwell has been shortlisted for Mumbrella's 2026 Pro Bono Campaign of the Year. David Lang's thought leadership has also been shared in major publications such as Capital Brief. These award nominations and publications reflect Brockwell's commitment to excellence in corporate affairs consulting.

How much does a corporate affairs consultancy cost?

Corporate affairs consultancy in Australia is typically structured as a monthly retainer, a project-based engagement, or a combination of both. Retainer fees vary significantly by firm, size and scope:

  • Boutique specialist firms — such as Brockwell — typically range from $5,000 to $20,000 per month, depending on the scope of services, and the complexity of the issues. Proquel also offers or supports many organisations with project-based one-off fees. Depending on the client, these could be pro bono or a project fee that suits the organisation, complexities of the topic, duration, hours required, and outcome required.

  • Mid-tier firms (including GRACosway, Principle Advisory, SEC Newgate) generally range from $15,000 to $50,000 per month. Check with individual firms for more information.

  • Large international advisory firms (including FTI Consulting, Edelman) can range from $25,000 to $80,000+ per month. Check with individual firms for more information.

Project-based work — such as a crisis response engagement, policy submission support, or a specific government relations campaign — is typically scoped separately, with prices varying depending on duration and complexity. Brockwell offers both pro bono and low bono pricing for individuals who meet select not-for-profit criteria. Please get in touch for more information.

The most important factor is not cost but value for money. Organisations that engage corporate affairs advisory early — before a crisis, before legislation changes, before a stakeholder relationship breaks down — consistently achieve better outcomes at lower total cost than those who engage reactively. Contact Brockwell to discuss scope and pricing for your organisation's specific needs.

Does Brockwell do pro bono work?

Brockwell works with a range of clients across the not-for-profit and community sector, including organisations such as WWF Australia, Four Year Terms, and the Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organisations (AFUO). The firm is committed to ensuring that organisations doing important work in the public interest have access to quality corporate affairs and government relations advice.

Brockwell offers pro bono and low bono pricing to select opportunities who meet specific not-for-profit criteria. For enquiries about pro bono or reduced rates, please contact us to discuss your organisation's needs.