Experience

Hawker Britton Group Pty Ltd

• Australia
• Government Relations Services
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Managing Director

  • Jan 2014 - Present

  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 and parliamentary 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 Labor 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.For more than 20 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 Kevin07 online 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.

• Director

  • Nov 2007 - Dec 2013



Australian Labor Party

• Australia
• Political Organizations
• 1 - 100 Employee

• Adviser

  • 1995 - 2007

  Simon was Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff to three Federal Labor Leaders. He also served as Director of Policy and as a Senior Adviser or Adviser to a number of Shadow Ministers. In 1995-96, he was an Adviser to the Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Hon. Michael Lavarch MP Simon was Chief of Staff and Deputy Chief of Staff to three Federal Labor Leaders. He also served as Director of Policy and as a Senior Adviser or Adviser to a number of Shadow Ministers. In 1995-96, he was an Adviser to the Commonwealth Attorney-General, the Hon. Michael Lavarch MP



Telstra

• Australia
• Telecommunications
• 700 & Above Employee

• Manager, Public Policy

  • 1999 - 2000



Australian Republican Movement

• ACT Campaign Director

  • 1998 - 1999



Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department

• Solicitor and Senior Solicitor

  • 1991 - 1995