24 specialists across Australia, New Zealand & the United Kingdom.
About Anacta
The Anacta Group is a full-service public affairs firm operating across Australia and New Zealand.
Founded in 2019, we came together with a shared commitment to effective strategy that gives clients a competitive advantage.
We support clients to achieve their objectives with strategic and actionable advice across:
Government Relations & Lobbying
Corporate Advisory and Transactions
Strategic Communications & Stakeholder Management
Public Opinion & Market Research
Anacta’s commitment to our clients:
We provide clients with honest advice and won’t advise you to use our services if we are not adding value
We allow clients to terminate our engagement at any time
We are discreet and keep client information confidential. We will destroy confidential client information at the conclusion of our engagement
If engaged to provide lobbying services, Anacta will disclose all lobbying as required by the respective jurisdiction
We work constructively with your entire team, including consultants you have engaged.
Meet the team…
Our founders
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Evan Moorhead
Founding Director
One of the most experienced and respected political strategists in the country, Evan leads Anacta’s team of government engagement specialists. He has a diverse range of expertise across strategy, communications, and stakeholder relations. Evan is a former Member of Parliament, Director of Strategy to a Queensland Premier, and ALP State Secretary.
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David Nelson
Founding Director
David has been established in the government relations and political strategy industry for more than 15 years. During that time, David has worked on countless domestic and international political campaigns, successful large public private partnership bids and mining licence approvals, as well as enacting a wide variety of legislative and regulatory change.
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David Talbot
Founding Director
One of the best political researchers in the Asia-Pacific region, David served as pollster and strategist for New Zealand's last two Labour Prime Ministers, Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins. In Australia, he was heavily involved in Labor’s successful campaigns in the 2022 Federal election and the Victorian state election. He advises on communications and strategy at the highest levels in politics and business.
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Stephen Mills
Founding Director
Stephen has extensive experience working at the top level in politics both sides of the Tasman and involvement in many landmark issue management and political campaigns. Stephen was a senior political adviser to New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange and following his resignation in 1989 to then Deputy Prime Minister Rt Hon Helen Clark.
Anacta Strategies
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Evan Moorhead
Founding Director
One of the most experienced and respected political strategists in the country, Evan leads Anacta’s team of government engagement specialists He has a diverse range of expertise across strategy, communications, and stakeholder relations. Evan is a former Member of Parliament, Director of Strategy to a Qld Premier and ALP State Secretary
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Mark Reed
Director
Mark has over fifteen years of experience in political campaigning and strategic planning. In that time he has managed state and national campaigns for various organisations, and served as a member of the Western Australian Premier’s senior staff from 2007 - 2022. As head of Anacta’s Perth office, Mark offers clients unrivalled expertise in navigating the political and policy-making landscape.
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Victoria Newton
Director
Victoria brings more than 25 years’ experience in government relations, strategic political advice and stakeholder relationship management. She is passionate about the value of empowering clients to navigate Government processes. Over 15 years serving as a Brisbane City Councillor, Victoria established a reputation for bringing people together to achieve positive results.
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Licardo Prince
Director
Based in our Melbourne office, Licardo brings extensive experience in strategy, communications, issues and crisis management. He has served as a media adviser to two Victorian Premiers and has held senior corporate affairs and communications roles in the private and not-for-profit sectors.
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Jacqui Woods
Director
Sydney-based director Jacqui Woods has 15 years’ experience in public policy and political strategy and brings a deep understanding of political and issues-based campaigns. With strong connections across State and Federal political circles and stakeholders, Jacqui is a formidable advocate for our clients’ interests.
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John Angley
Director
John brings extensive experience in policy development and Cabinet and budget processes, as well as political and campaign strategy. As a senior Labor staffer with Hon Kim Beazley in Government and Opposition, and in the public service, including as Australia’s Senior Trade Commissioner in Washington DC, John has expertise across major policy areas, including climate change, health, and international trade.
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Amber Setchell
Director
After working for several high-profile political leaders around Australia, including Premiers Dan Andrews and Annastacia Palaszczuk and most recently Federal Minister for Aged Care and Sport Anika Wells, Amber boasts a formidable network and knowledge of government relations. She divides her time between engagement with the NSW and Federal Governments, offering Anacta clients extensive expertise in how to make an impact in a crowded political landscape.
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Christine Jackman
Director - Communication
Christine offers strategic communications expertise drawn from 25+ years working in high-pressure environments, from newsrooms to board rooms. An award-winning journalist, foreign correspondent and author, she is passionate about crafting compelling narratives that target the right audiences with the right messages to achieve our client’s goals.
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Jessame Tibbitts
Senior Associate
With a background in professional campaigns and communications Jess has developed strong connections in both the union movement and political circles. Jess has a strong skillset which includes research, policy analysis, digital communication, and copywriting. She is based in our Brisbane office.
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Phillippa Clarke
Senior Associate
Philippa brings a wide range of skills to our Perth office, drawn from her background in political and corporate research, campaigning and strategic policy development. Legally qualified and an experienced board director, Philippa has a successful track record working with industry and government to achieve positive results.
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Sarah Kerkham
Senior Associate
Sarah brings five years’ experience in political organisations, campaigning, stakeholder engagement and communications. Her relationships and networks are well established in Federal and NSW Governments, developed through her work for NSW Labor and at the electorate level. Sarah is based in Anacta’s Canberra office.
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Michelle Owen
Executive Assistant
Based in our Brisbane office, Michelle has over 25 years experience as an Executive Assistant. Her diverse experience spans industries including television, banking, and fitness, gained while supporting executive and leadership teams in London, Sydney, and Brisbane
Anacta Consulting
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David Nelson
Founding Director
David has been established in the government relations and political strategy industry for more than 15 years. During that time, David has worked on countless domestic and international political campaigns, successful large public private partnership bids and mining licence approvals, as well as enacting a wide variety of legislative and regulatory change.
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Melissa Thomas
Director - Operations
Mel brings years of experience in Ministerial offices, the public service, political offices and government owned corporations to her operations role at Anacta. Her extensive experience providing strategic advice, campaign support, governance, compliance and event coordination has proven invaluable in her oversight of the firm’s operations.
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Lucy Marshall
Associate
Based in Anacta’s Perth office, Lucy has broad experience in political campaigns and government. Her strong skillset includes community engagement, stakeholder management and research.
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Ben Taumoepeau
Associate
Based in Anacta's London office, Ben draws from practical experience as a former Senior Researcher in the Office of the Leader of the New Zealand Labour Party. Ben’s background and expertise is in providing high quality and timely research, information, communications services and strategic political advice on policy and issues.
Talbot Mills Research
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David Talbot
Founding Director
One of the best political researchers in the Asia-Pacific region, David served as pollster and strategist for New Zealand's last two Labour Prime Ministers, Jacinda Ardern and Chris Hipkins. In Australia, he was heavily involved in Labor’s successful campaigns in the 2022 Federal election and the Victorian state election. He advises on communications and strategy at the highest levels in politics and business.
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Stephen Mills
Founding Director
Stephen has extensive experience working at the top level in politics both sides of the Tasman and involvement in many landmark issue management and political campaigns. Stephen was a senior political adviser to New Zealand Prime Minister David Lange and following his resignation in 1989 to then Deputy Prime Minister Rt Hon Helen Clark.
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Thomas Butt
Data Science Director
Thomas manages the quantitative research work across Australia and New Zealand. He is a master of survey methodology, data visualisation and advanced statistical techniques, and was responsible for the closest polling results of any firm in the 2020 and 2023 New Zealand elections.
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Rosa Sottile
Research Director (Australia)
Rosa has worked in politics and campaigns for more than a decade. She is a skilled qualitative researcher, and has worked on projects across Australia and New Zealand with Talbot Mills Research, conducting and managing research projects, and providing campaigns and strategic support.
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Lachlan Poulter
Research Director (Australia)
Lachlan is an experienced political researcher, campaign strategist and communications professional. He has been a trusted senior adviser to a range of ministers and political leaders and has significant experience working on national and high-profile political campaigns, including as research director for the Australian Labor Party during the 2022 federal election. Lachlan's skills and experience include strategy communications, political research and analysis, media management and speech writing.