our team
Our people are among the best in the business. We employ only experienced consultants with a strong work ethic, a focus on results and a ready supply of fresh, innovative ideas.
Clifton consultants and associates have ‘lived in the real world’. Most held senior positions in business, media or government before joining us. Their diverse backgrounds include journalism, all levels of government, strategic marketing, financial communications and investor relations, change management, publishing, property consulting and corporate services.
Our consultants have a high degree of technical and financial literacy. Several have a science qualification or background in communicating scientific and technical concepts; others hold financial qualifications. They also have extensive contacts within their areas of expertise and are able to handle the most complex issues at the highest levels of business and government. We have excellent and probably unique connections to both major political parties.
If a particular project needs expertise we don’t already have, we will seek out an industry leader to join the team. This makes Clifton unique in its commitment to servicing clients.
John Ridley
Kerren Clark
Ken Davis
Philip Goslin
Senior advisers
Associates
Regional Network
John Ridley (BA LLB)
Company founder and principal. Law graduate with extensive experience in the public and private sectors. After an early career in law, he joined the Departments of Defence and Foreign Affairs, accepting several overseas postings. Later as senior private secretary to the foreign minister he advised on policy and media relations in Australia and overseas. As director of Public Affairs for Alcoa of Australia he oversaw sensitive negotiations for the establishment of the Portland Aluminium Smelter and introduced a can-recycling program. Then as state director of the Liberal Party, Victoria, John assumed the role of CEO for the state party, including running federal and state election campaigns, fund raising, and candidate selection and training. He has been a councillor of the Shire of Upper Yarra Valley, a member of the regional planning authority, and a board member of the Children’s Protection Society, Zoological Board of Victoria and Dandenong Ranges Gardens Trust. Specialist in issues management, strategy, government relations and advocacy. Highly-developed network of contacts at senior level.
Kerren Clark (BSc, Grad Dip Health and Medical Law, GAICD)
Has extensive experience and knowledge of the health and biotechnology sector and is a skilled and well-connected advocate. She developed the Australian Physiotherapy Association’s policy framework and built its reputation as the number one allied health organisation in Australia. She has also managed major projects at the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, including the development of its programs on medical responses to sexual and domestic violence. Most recently, Kerren has assisted clients to prepare submissions, develop campaign strategy and to liaise with government and the media. Kerren is a Director of the Medical Practitioners Board of Victoria and a member of the Consultative Council on Human Research Ethics. Kerren has previously worked in policy, external relations, politics and industrial relations fields including three years as an electorate officer. Specialist in policy development, strategy and communications.
Ken Davis
Joined the Clifton Group after an extensive career in public affairs and communications. Previously a leading journalist he worked in London, Melbourne and on the Canberra Press Gallery before moving into consultancy more than 20 years ago. He has advised chief executives, boards, federal and state government departments and ministers as well as peak body organisations on a range of communications issues and risk management. He retains close contact with all levels of the media – radio, television and newspapers - throughout Australia and is a visiting lecturer at RMIT University in communications. Specialist in media and issues management.
Philip Goslin (BA, Sports Studies)
Highly-experienced public relations practitioner having held senior roles at respected Melbourne PR firms and at Mazda Australia. Philip has also been a sports journalist, an advertising copywriter and a speechwriter.
His achievements include managing a major financial institution’s sponsorship program, organising international televised sporting events, producing corporate publications for multi-nationals in several languages and preparing major product launch materials. Specialist in writing and production, sponsorship, events management, sport and transport industries.
Louisa McPhee
Louisa has extensive experience in developing and managing local, national and international communications initiatives in the public and private sectors. She has comprehensive experience in the preparation and production of marketing communications collateral, the development of online communications and written material including annual reports, business plans, sponsorship proposals, corporate brochures, speeches and media releases. Over the last few years, Louisa has undertaken a number of challenging and exciting projects for state and local government, including: Major Projects Victoria - Property and Development Group; Department of Primary Industries (DPI) – Melbourne Wholesale Market Relocation Project and City of Melbourne – Public Affairs Department. Specialist in stakeholder management, internal and external relations, strategy development and issues management.
Brett Wright
Brett is a writer, editor and journalist with extensive experience in corporate communications as a consultant and as a senior public relations manager for a major Australian infrastructure firm. As a Clifton consultant since 1999, he has played a key role in media and public communications campaigns for a range or government and private clients. At ConnectEast, he was responsible for the coordination of community information, corporate relations and media liaison for the $3.9 billion EastLink electronic tollroad project. He has also worked as a journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, ABC Radio, the Sunday Herald and New Scientist. Specialist in science and technology writing, transport industry and media relations.
Tony Homfray
Tony has extensive experience in both in-house corporate communications (Hewlett Packard, KPMG and Hansen Information Technologies) and with Burson Marsteller - one of the world's leading consultancies. He was seconded to the United States recently by Hansen to guide it through a major brand change and the re-structure of the company's communication and marketing department. The role involved an extensive communications campaign to position Hansen as a specialist software developer and supplier to state and local governments in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom and South Africa. Specialist in information technology, media and government relations.
