Our Team

A little about us

Our people are among the best in the business. We employ only experienced consultants with an outstanding background in communications, a strong work ethic, a focus on results and a ready supply of fresh, innovative ideas.

Clifton consultants and associates have diverse backgrounds: including journalism, all levels of government, strategic marketing, community engagement, financial communications and investor relations, change management and corporate services.

Our team has 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 all political parties.

Meet the team

Ken Davis

Ken began his professional career as a journalist in Melbourne with a metropolitan daily newspaper: this included stints reporting in the Canberra Press Gallery – and as a correspondent in London.

He left journalism for a career in the public relations field when he was invited to join one of Australia’s leading PR firms. Since then, Ken has enjoyed a wide-ranging and extensive career in the public affairs and communications field, advising chief executives, boards, federal and state government departments and ministers as well as peak body organisations on a diverse range of communications challenges.

Ken retains close contact with all levels of the media throughout Australia and occasionally lectures at RMIT University in the Master of Communications.

Specialist in issues/crisis management, community and stakeholder relations.

Kellie Curtain

Kellie is a former broadcast journalist with over 15 years’ experience covering news and current affairs for Australia’s major television networks. She also worked in the international news scene for six years

Kellie’s extensive knowledge of the news cycle and understanding what various outlets require, enables her to expertly identify and provide advice on media angles and platforms that best serve her clients’ objectives.

Kellie has a keen interest in strategic planning for organisations, in particular, campaigns and situations requiring risk management. Kellie is regarded as one of the industry’s leading media trainers.

Specialist in media, media training and issues management

John Wright

As a former political advisor in Canberra and Spring St, John retains valuable contacts on all sides of politics - including the crucial minor parties and the backbenchers.

He has worked successfully as a lobbyist for more than 10 years across planning, regional development and infrastructure

Specialist in political insights and activations

John Ridley AM

John founded Clifton Group and was its Principal for over 25 years. Today John continues to provide strategic counsel to Clifton Group and its clients. He is a 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.

In 2018 John became a Member of the Order of Australia for significant service to the community of Melbourne in a range of honorary and professional roles in community development and arts organisations.

Specialist in issues management, strategy, government relations and advocacy. Highly-developed network of contacts at senior level.

Sally Davis

Sally initially trained as a journalist with a major metropolitan newspaper in Melbourne. This experience led to communications roles with a major Australian airline, a leading motoring organisation and a wide range of high profile organisations.

Sally has extensive experience in federal, state and local governments – having worked for several key government departments in each sector.

In particular, she has a keen understanding of the machinations of local government, being a former councillor and mayor with the City of Stonnington. Sally was also appointed by the then Minister for Local Government to sit on a state panel to review the Local Government Electoral system.

Sally was also a senior lecturer in RMIT’s Bachelor of Communications (Public Relations) for several years.

Specialist in local government, community education, issues and stakeholder management.

Affiliates

Although we are based in Melbourne, Clifton's associations with other consultancies throughout regional Victoria, Canberra and in other states allow us to support our clients' interests nationally and on specialist issues.

Clifton Group works closely with CNC Project Management enabling us to provide comprehensive communications offering to the infrastructure industry.