Peter Stahel

Peter is an owner and the managing director of the Essential group of research and strategic communications firms. He has led public affairs, government relations and social research-informed strategy development across diverse sectors including health, education, social service, environment, legal, foreign aid and local government. Before joining Essential in 2015, Peter spent a decade as a political adviser and press secretary. He has a particular interest in crisis communications, supporting clients through system failure, organisational change and intense public scrutiny.

Peter Lewis

Peter is an owner and director of Essential, and the founder of Civility, a collaborative engagement platform for advocacy campaigns. For more than two decades he has worked with progressive organisations including unions, not-for-profits and responsible businesses to deliver social change. Peter is a regular columnist with the Guardian Australia, host of the Burning Platforms podcast, and the author of five books including Webtopia and The Public Square Project.

Alana Mew

Alana leads Essential’s team of campaign consultants and sits on the national executive. She has 20 years of experience running political, social change and advocacy campaigns, including over 15 years with Essential. Alana delivers the high-level strategic coordination required of complex multichannel campaigns, and she manages and trains the national team in Essential’s established social research campaign methodology.

Alissa Clement

Alissa leads Essential’s social and market research team and sits on the national executive. She has over a decade of experience working in both corporate and not-for-profit social research. Alissa started her career in the automotive industry in Germany, delivering large qualitative and quantitative projects for brands like BMW and Volkswagen. Since coming to Australia, Alissa has led projects for a broad range of political, civil society and advocacy campaigns across sectors like energy, charity and social inequality non-profits, health and education. Alissa works closely with Essential’s campaign experts to integrate our political and strategic communications expertise with the latest social research methodologies.

Alys Gagnon

Alys leads one of Essential’s campaign teams and has over 20 years experience spanning politics, journalism and advocacy. She has been at the centre of major shifts in early childhood policy in Australia, both through her work at Essential for Thrive by Five and in her previous role as Executive Director of The Parenthood, the nation’s largest independent voice for parents. Alys has particular expertise in earned media, government relations and community engagement strategy. Alys has also worked as an editor in women’s media, advised federal parliamentarians and served as a National Organiser with the ALP.

Kayla Foster

Kayla leads one of Essential’s campaign teams and manages some of its largest and most successful campaigns. She has over a decade of experience working across various integrated public affairs and communications projects in sectors such as disability, early learning, housing and environment. Kayla has particular expertise in digital engagement and persuasion. She has developed and executed multi-million dollar paid strategies across dozens of channels including influencer, programmatic online, traditional online, print and broadcast media.

Amelia Brock

Amelia has designed and delivered winning campaigns for organisations across the not-for-profit sector, on issues like gender equality, workplace conditions, healthcare and disability services. A pillar of the Essential team since 2016, she has built a strong reputation as a trusted advisor, in particular for issues that require a delicate or nuanced approach. Amelia is also a rigorous project manager and has driven improvements to Essential’s service offering on highly complex multichannel projects.

Iona Salter

Iona is a media and communications strategist with more than 10 years’ experience working with not-for-profits and governments. Prior to joining Essential in 2023, she worked for the international humanitarian and development agency CARE Australia, managing media during major flashpoints including the Ukrainian refugee crisis and the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan.

Prior to that, Iona worked in state and local government, telling stories and organising events with community at their heart.

Iona loves to work with fellow changemakers to craft persuasive, compelling campaigns that get results. She can help you understand the media landscape and use it to your advantage by delivering the right message, to the right people, at the right time.

Ariane Stark

Ariane is a digital campaigns expert with over a decade of political campaign experience in Australia and America. She began her career in the non-profit sector, and has since worked on varied campaigns ranging from local council races to federal elections. She has worked on two political cycles in the US on coordinated Senatorial and Presidential campaigns. Ariane wrote her thesis on the use of data in political organising and has a Masters in Strategic Public Relations. Ariane has a passion for all technology, but specialises in the digital space, helping clients improve supporter engagement and loyalty.

Harriet Henry

Harriet is a qualitative specialist with ten years’ experience in both corporate and not-for-profit sectors. Prior to joining Essential in 2022, Harriet worked in strategic consultancies based in London. She brings significant experience of delivering insights for strategic communications and policy advocacy. She has worked extensively within the energy sector both in the UK and Australia and has led multiple research projects on the energy transition. As an experienced moderator and facilitator, Harriet pairs her skills with a personal commitment to co-designing fairer, better and more sustainable outcomes with those with lived experience. At Essential Harriet has delivered projects in a range of sectors for progressive organisations such as the AEU, The Sunrise Project, Greenpeace and the University of Sydney.

John Remington

Robert Leaver

Rob is one of Essential’s quantitative research specialists and works on design, analysis, presentation, and project management for various complex research projects. This includes the production and management of the fortnightly Essential Report, one of Australia’s leading political and social issue polls. Rob was shortlisted for the Research Society’s Young Researcher of the Year award in 2023. Prior to joining Essential, Rob completed his studies at the University of Melbourne.

Bron Matherson

Bron is a media expert and political advisor with a passion for social justice campaigns, and in particular for those that address inequality and animal welfare issues. Bron has coordinated and delivered media campaigns in the union movement, disability sector, community housing and for environment groups. Prior to joining Essential, she spent a decade in broadcast media as a journalist and producer. Bron has also worked for NSW Labor and in local government as a media advisor.

Catalina Casar

Maria Kelly

Mayank Gurnani

Tamara Kotoyan

Tamara Kotoyan is a strategic communications professional working on progressive political campaigns for various unions and non-government organisations. Her previous roles include serving as an advisor and electorate officer for federal MPs, and contributing to the Armenian National Committee of Australia. Tamara holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney. She has a keen interest in using content creation and new media to help her clients improve their reach into the community.

Will Brewster

Will joined Essential Media from the Nine Network, where he worked as a social media producer in the 9News Melbourne newsroom. Prior to that, he worked as a copywriter, digital producer and freelance journalist specialising in music and the arts. He graduated from the University of Melbourne with a Bachelor of Arts in Media & Communications in 2018.  

Natalie Dubois

Natalie is Essential’s Chief Financial Officer and sits on the national executive. She is also responsible for managing the business services team and overseeing business operations. Natalie is passionate about the design and implementation of project management, human resources and accounting systems, helping to keep Essential’s public affairs and advocacy campaigns on time and budget. Before joining Essential, Natalie worked in a variety of Operational and Finance roles, most recently as General Manager with Raines Carpets and as Group Financial Controller for Ogilvy Public Relations.

Kate Vanston

Tony Douglas

Tony started Essential in 1997 to bring research-driven strategic communications to progressive Australia. Its foundation purpose remains: to work for a more equal, inclusive and environmentally sustainable society by applying an evidenced-based strategy methodology. Tony continues to consult to Essential on key campaigns.