senior advisers
John Tidey (BA, MA Communications)
A respected journalist and writer who spent his working life in the newspaper industry. During a long career at THE AGE he was a foundation member of the INSIGHT reporting team, London bureau manager, editorial manager and ultimately the senior executive responsible for employee relations. He was publisher for the launch of Business Review (now BRW), a director of the Pacific Area Newspaper Publishers Association for nine years and has worked in East Africa and China.
Rob Barfus
Rob has served in local government administration for 40 years, for both country and metropolitan councils in Victoria. He joined the peak body for Victorian councils — the Municipal Association of Victoria — in 1972 and was a major figure in local government for two decades, assuming the role of CEO during his last seven years there. In 1994, he left to pursue work as a consultant specialising in local government issues and strategy. His clients have included business advocacy groups, insurance brokers, local and state government departments and regional water authorities.
