Connell Consulting Director Mark Connell, is a public affairs and corporate strategist with more than thirty years’ experience in political, commercial, stakeholder, public affairs and communications advocacy. Mark provides clients with senior counsel to ensure regulation and legislation supports their corporate aims, be that through legislative change or raising their profile on key issues. A high-level strategist and campaign director, Mark has advised FTSE CEOs, their Boards, and delivered award-winning corporate campaigns that have helped clients achieve their commercial objectives in some of the world’s most challenging industries. These roles include heading up Corporate and Regulatory affairs for BAT plc in London, East Asia and Australasia. As a former adviser to Australian State and Federal Ministers, Opposition Leaders and Party Headquarters as well as managing more than 20 election campaigns, Mark has a comprehensive knowledge of the key networks, trends and powerbases across all political landscapes. From thought leadership and profile raising to stakeholder engagement, media and crisis communications, he has deep experience across all spectrums. This is supported by an enviable network of business, media and political contacts, secured with roles such as Senior Advisor to the Australian Finance Minister, Deputy Director and Campaign Manager for the NSW Liberal Party, Chief of Staff to the New South Wales Deputy Premier and Strategy Director to the NSW Minister for Energy and Environment.