Public Affairs & Advocacy
Making an organisation's case to policymakers and the public: evidence-led, properly registered and transparently disclosed, on issues where you have a legitimate interest.
Overview
Organisations affected by regulation have a legitimate interest in explaining how proposals would work in practice. Policymakers generally want that evidence, provided it is accurate and it is clear who is providing it. That is the whole basis on which this work is done well.
It is also an area with real rules. Lobbying registers, transparency requirements and disclosure obligations vary by jurisdiction and are increasingly enforced. We work within them and decline the parts of the market that do not: undisclosed campaigns, front organisations and anything that conceals who is speaking.
Who this is for
- Organisations facing regulation that would materially affect them
- Industry bodies representing a sector's position
- Companies whose evidence is relevant to a policy consultation
How we approach public affairs & advocacy
The specific pieces of work a typical engagement covers. Scope is agreed up front — nothing here is a surprise line item later.
Policy monitoring
Tracking consultations, committee work and regulatory developments early enough that a response is still useful.
Position development
A case built on evidence, including where the counter-argument has merit. Positions that ignore it are dismissed by anyone who knows the area.
Consultation responses
Formal submissions written to the question asked, with data rather than assertion.
Stakeholder engagement
Meetings and briefings with policymakers, officials and relevant bodies, properly registered and recorded.
Coalition building
Working with others who share the position, with each participant identified rather than hidden behind a neutral-sounding name.
Compliance and disclosure
Register entries, transparency filings and disclosure handled correctly for each jurisdiction involved.
From first call to measured result
The same sequence every time, so you always know what happens next.
Assess
What is being proposed, how it would affect you specifically, and whether you have evidence worth contributing.
Build the case
Develop an evidence-based position, tested against the strongest opposing argument.
Engage
Formal submissions and direct engagement, disclosed and registered as required.
Sustain
Policy moves slowly. Maintain the relationships and update the evidence through the whole process.
Outcomes, not deliverables
A pile of artefacts isn't progress. These are the changes the work is meant to produce — and what we report against.
A case that gets read
Evidence-led submissions that engage with the counter-argument carry weight that assertion does not.
Early warning on regulation
Monitoring means you can respond during consultation rather than adapt after enactment.
Compliance handled
Registration and disclosure done correctly removes a real and growing legal risk.
Credibility that persists
An organisation known for accurate evidence is consulted again. One caught misrepresenting is not.
Common questions about Public Affairs & Advocacy
The things people ask before they get in touch. If yours is not here, ask us directly.
Is this lobbying?
Where it involves engaging policymakers on legislation, yes, and it is regulated as such in most jurisdictions. That means registration and disclosure, which we handle as part of the work rather than treating as an obstacle.
Will you run campaigns without our name on them?
No. Undisclosed campaigns and front organisations are the practice that has damaged this industry's standing, they breach transparency rules in many jurisdictions, and the exposure is always worse than the policy outcome was worth.
Do you work with political parties or candidates?
This service is organisational advocacy on policy that affects our clients' operations. Electoral campaigning is a different discipline with different rules, and we do not offer it.
How long does policy engagement take?
Longer than commercial work, usually measured in parliamentary or regulatory cycles rather than quarters. Engaging early in a consultation is far more effective than responding once a proposal is settled.
Thinking about Public Affairs & Advocacy?
Tell us what you are trying to change. If we are not the right fit we will say so, and point you somewhere better.
Looking at the wider picture?
Public Affairs & Advocacy usually sits alongside other work in Public Relations & Communications. Browse the full area to see what it connects to.