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.