227 PARTNERS

Navigate government with confidence

About Us

227 Partners is a public affairs advisory, insights and advocacy consultancy focused on helping our clients to navigate government with confidence.

At a time of heightened geopolitical risk, when government is increasingly interventionist in the marketplace, we ensure our clients' priorities are integrated with those of Australia’s parliaments, government agencies, and the key external stakeholders critical to business success.

Our team, led by senior advisers in government, investment and regulatory risk, work collaboratively with clients to design and execute effective strategies, anchored by proprietary intelligence, as partners, counsel and advocates across the political, public and private sector interface

“Rising inflation, constraints in supply chains, and associated cost-of-living pressures, a global energy transition, and geopolitical and security concerns - all of these factors have resulted in a new era of deeper government intervention. Investors must consider the new state of play, and plan accordingly.”

How We Work

Our senior advisers work closely with clients as partners, counsel and advocates, bringing together bespoke teams to ensure the most effective response to business needs. Each of our team has gained extensive expertise and experience from senior roles in public service, government and the private sector. Their range of networks are deep and cross sector, throughout Australian local, state and federal governments, party organisations, industry associations and major private and listed corporations.

Deep Expertise and Experience

The 227 Partners team brings together the knowledge and experience on how to get things done in complex political, regulatory and social environments. The speed of changing global and domestic markets makes this understanding and experience ever more valuable for our clients in achieving outcomes.

Close Client Collaboration

A boutique firm focused on applying senior level resources to our client’s needs, 227 Partners play a hands-on approach, in collaboration with our client’s internal executive and management teams. Our focus is on supporting and building internal capability, as if we were a member of the team.

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Our Services

Across critical industries, we calibrate our advice to what will succeed commercially, financially, as well as politically. This perspective shapes strategies that are compelling and deliverable.

Advisory

With decades of experience guiding the development of political and policy strategy within government, we consider the various factors, timelines and actions to build networks, influence and secure policy outcomes. This includes planning for market entry and transaction support, particularly when it involves political and regulatory considerations.
We work with clients to engage political and public sector agencies across all across all levels of government, from originating new business opportunities, to securing regulatory approvals and connecting you to the key decision makers where it counts. Our approach is to build internal capability and client external relationships, so that engagement is both effective and sustainable.
All politics is local, and each community is unique. Our team has extensive experience in community and stakeholder engagement on complex projects, particularly in regional Australia. We work on the ground in communities, and not from a city office, to engage on projects and initiatives, guiding local feedback and support.

Insights

We develop economic and business case analysis for new investment proposals, briefings on political factors that influence market tends and commercial value in potential transactions, and analysis of issues impacting key political and public sector stakeholders, anchored in proprietary intelligence.
We deep dive on specific government policies in critical industries to provide a comprehensive understanding of the landscape, opportunities for investment and regulatory risk factors that determine success.
Our team has extensive experience working with parliamentary committees, from influencing terms of reference, to working with policy teams to draft persuasive submissions, and prepare executives for appearances before parliamentary inquiries. We understand the unique dynamics of parliamentary committees, and the role of committee reports in shaping government policy.

Advocacy

In today’s changing domestic media landscape, we deliver effective strategies to support our clients’ objectives, from investor, regulator and external stakeholder communications to managing reputation and promoting new initiatives.
Bringing together multiple disciplines and advisers from media to data and political experts, we devise and deploy effective integrated campaigns spanning government, media and community to advocate for issues that support business success.
Our in-house team has extensive experience delivering bespoke events catering to diverse stakeholders, from roadshows to Parliamentary Friends events, at parliaments across Australia.

“Today, businesses, investors, industry and community groups must be equipped to navigate opportunities and challenges at the private-public interface.”

Meet the Team

Susanna Montrone

Executive Director
Susanna is a trusted adviser working with global and ASX listed companies to navigate complex policy and regulatory environments. With deep networks across government, and an understanding of how to build collaborative partnerships between the private and public sectors to deliver reform and manage issues, she ensures effective engagement for clients with government policy makers, regulators and investors as a core part of business success.
Susanna has served in senior roles in government across her career including as Cabinet Director to the New South Wales Deputy Premier during the Covid pandemic, Director of Legislative Affairs for the then Government in NSW’s Upper House, and Chief of Staff at the Powerhouse Museum during its $1.2 billion renewal. More recently she has worked to pioneer precinct partnerships at a local level, and with major philanthropic institutions on policy reform and political leadership. She volunteers her time on the board of Muscular Dystrophy NSW.
Jason de Sousa

Senior Advisor
Jason’s strength lies in his deep understanding of the intersection between business, markets and public policy. Prior to leading Ideia Partners, Jason was an Executive Director at Lendlease Corporation focused on strategy, origination and investment in major infrastructure and real estate projects across the Company’s Australian and international portfolio. Prior to this he served in senior policy and leadership roles at both the State and Commonwealth levels of government in Australia.
Jason has acted for public and private sector clients in Asia and Australasia advising on public private partnerships, infrastructure investment strategy, and regulation. He has a particular interest in how to unlock the potential of cities, focusing on how infrastructure and urban renewal projects can make cities more affordable, efficient and accessible, and create value for public and private investors.
Jason holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Australian Graduate School of Management, a Master of International Relations and a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University.
Andrew Huckel

Senior Advisor
Andrew has operated at a senior level in corporate, financial and government/public affairs for more than 20 years, including as the former Director of Corporate Affairs for Australia’s largest private rail freight company. At Pacific National, he was involved in the delivery of inland regional Australia’s largest intermodal terminal at Parkes (Central West , New South Wales) and St Marys Freight Hub in Western Sydney.
Major infrastructure projects overseen by Andrew included Sydney’s WestConnex and NorthConnex motorways, upgrades to the Pacific, Princes, Great Western and Newell highways, Bridges for the Bush, and Fixing Country Roads and Rail. He was also involved in the development of the state’s first Freight and Ports Strategy.
Andrew has a deep knowledge and understanding of how to navigate large and complex government agencies and engage with the executive of government. Andrew is a three-time graduate of The University of Sydney, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and 2004 recipient of a Churchill Fellowship.