Simon Banks is one of Australia’s most highly respected government relations, campaigning and strategic communications professionals. Since 2007, Simon has advised some of Australia’s and the world’s largest companies on significant commercial transactions requiring Commonwealth Government approvals. Following the 2010 Federal election, Simon served as one of the four “wise elders” that helped the Government, Opposition and country Independent MPs agree on the historic parliamentary reforms which were central to the return of the Gillard Government. Prior to joining Hawker Britton, Simon served as Chief of Staff or Deputy Chief of Staff to three Federal Labor Leaders and has been Federal Labor’s director of policy and a senior policy and media adviser to a number of Labor ministers and shadow ministers. Over more than twenty years, Simon has worked closely with most of Federal Labor’s frontbench, Caucus and senior staff. Simon understands the corporate world, having worked in public affairs and strategic policy roles for Telstra and Toll Holdings and as a consultant. His understanding of the government relations strategy needs of business, public policy and politics in Australia is unrivalled in the Canberra lobbying market. A lawyer by training, Simon has extensive campaign experience. He managed the high-profile online Kevin07 campaign during the 2007 Federal election and ran the uniquely successful ACT campaigns for the Constitutional Convention election and the Republic Referendum. A published commentator on public policy, Simon regularly comments on policy and political developments on both the ABC and Sky News.