Aaron Parnell
Canberra,Australia
Summary
Aaron specialises in providing government relations strategy for heavy industry, particularly in defence, mining, and infrastructure, with over 15 years of experience. He excels in navigating tender phases and grant processes, leveraging extensive political and government networks crucial for success in these competitive sectors.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Government Relations
Atturra
Canberra
08.2024 - Current
- Atturra is a $400M ASX-listed end-to-end IT and Advisory provider.
- I provide strategic federal, state and local government advice.
- Work directly with Minister and Advisors and Department Executives
- Provide Strategic government relations that supports business opportunities.
Senior Government Relations Advisor
Northrop Grumman Australia (NGA)
Canberra, ACT
08.2023 - 07.2024
- AUKUS Pilar 1 & Undersea Warfare Campaign: Following the release of the Australian Defence Integrated Investment Plan (DIIP) and National Defence Strategy (NDS) in 2024, NGA shifted focus to highlight its involvement in the US Virginia and UK Astute Nuclear Submarine Programs. Over the past six months, my role has been pivotal in connecting NGA with political, government, and industry stakeholders to present our nuclear submarine sustainment capabilities. I've strategically supported NGA's global supply chain teams by introducing Australian SMEs into its Global Supply Chain and Global Submarine Industrial Base program
- Australian MQ-4C Triton Program: In the 2024 Federal Budget, the Australian Government pledged to acquire four MQ-4C Tritons. Last year, a strategy was devised to collaborate with the US Navy and CASG on establishing a Triton Deep Maintenance Facility to service both US and Australian platforms in Australia and the US. Our team engaged closely with key US and Australian political, government, and industry stakeholders to secure funding for this $500m project. Australia received its first Triton for RAAF service in 2024
- Sustainment of the RAAF Light, Medium & Heavy SPA Programs: NGA’s successful RAAF sustainment programs prompted a strategy shift towards maintaining light-touch government relations. Instead, the focus shifted to addressing community concerns and keeping key government stakeholders informed. This approach has bolstered customer satisfaction, community relations, and secured contract extensions with RAAF
Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs
Tellus Holdings
Sydney, NSW
09.2022 - 09.2023
- Australia's first Low Level Radiological Waste Site Approval: Tellus Holdings struggled for 20 years to secure approval for a category 5 radiological waste remediation site in Western Australia
- In just nine months, my team and I successfully turned the project around with government, working closely with key stakeholders
- Internally, I facilitated a shift in mindset among engineers, project managers, and scientists to better align with government expectations
- Approved in 2022, this privately-owned facility is now Australia's sole facility of its kind and one of only two globally
- Executive Leadership Team Member: I reported quarterly to the board and investors about the progress of current and future business and the Government Relations activities and budget required to maintain momentum
Non-Executive Director of the Board
Fincantieri Australia
Sydney, NSW
03.2018 - 03.2023
- I provided strategic guidance to the international business about Australian opportunities identified by the global business
- I met with Australian political, government and industry advisors when required, and fed intelligence and potential opportunities from these meetings into the global strategy
Managing Partner
Castlereagh Advisory
Sydney, NSW
07.2016 - 11.2022
- Company Overview: consultancy/lobbyist firm
- I provided Government Relations advice to Tier 1 companies, as-well-as SMEs, working within the Australian defence, infrastructure, telecommunications and clean energy sectors
- My projects included:
- Defence project JP9102: UGL initially aimed to be the Prime Contractor for the JP9102 project
- My strategic advice guided the executive to position UGL as a Tier 2 Supplier, collaborating with Boeing, Lockheed-Martin, and Airbus, the project's technology integrators
- UGL leveraged its large pool of Australian telecommunications and infrastructure engineers transitioning from NBN contracts, a compelling Australian Industry Content (AIC) component that resonated with Defence
- This approach equipped the company with a clear strategy and value proposition to effectively join the program
- Fincantieri: Initially hired on a project basis to support Fincantieri's bid for the Government's Sea 5000 decision, I conducted an initial assessment and provided strategic recommendations that significantly influenced the bid
- Progress was promising until the Italian Government entered caretaker mode, pausing discussions on EU-Australia Free Trade Agreement benefits and support for Fincantieri's bid
- Meanwhile, BAE leveraged Brexit-related discussions in addition to their Sea 5000 bid
- Despite the bid failing, my efforts to reposition it were acknowledged, resulting in a promotion to the Australian board as a non-executive member for five years
- PremierState + PremierNational: Castlereagh Advisory offered strategic federal government advice to PS + PN, a Liberal-aligned Tier 1 lobbyist firm
- They supported various top-tier clients such as Telstra, AGL, EML, Acciona, and numerous national industry associations
- Consultancy/lobbyist firm
Chief-of-Staff
AUSTRAC
Sydney, NSW
06.2015 - 03.2016
- I supported the government agency in my role as Chief-of-Staff to the CEO of AUSTRAC
- AUSTRAC performs a dual role as Australia’s anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing (AML/CTF) regulator and financial intelligence unit
- I was overseeing the organisation’s functions when investigations were underway into Westpac, the Commonwealth Bank and Crown Casino
- All organisations were found in breach of legislation and were each fined hundreds of millions of Australian dollars
Department of Defence
Canberra, ACT
03.2010 - 06.2015
- Company Overview: Defence Australia
- I successfully provided strategic political, media, stakeholder engagement, industry and policy advice to the former Chief-of-Navy, the former CASG GM of Ships, CEO of CASG and other military executive regarding the $89 billion continuous fleet shipbuilding program (2015)
- I helped the executive understand the federal and state political agenda and the main influencers, which helped them anticipate the likelihood of their shipbuilding and industry plans being accepted by Cabinet
- I have held positions within the Capability and Sustainment Group (CASG) and Chief-of-Navy's office
- Defence Australia
Ministerial Policy & Media Advisor
Assistant Minister for Industry, & then Environment
Canberra, ACT
10.2013 - 03.2015
- I was seconded from the Department of Defence to the office of the Federal Assistant Minister for Industry, and then Environment, over a 2.5-year period
- I provided policy and media advice, working closely with departments and ministerial offices to develop and negotiate complex legislative, regulatory and policy reforms through the House, Senate, Parliamentary Committee Chairs and the Cross Bench
- Reforms I worked on included policy and legislation surrounding water use in the Murray Darling Basin and changes to Anti-Dumping Laws to create a fairer and level domestic trading environment for all manufacturers
- This experience gave me a good understanding of the interaction that occurs between politicians, the department, lobbyists and industry
- It also helped me understand the best way to engage with those key stakeholders and position future private sector clients with government
Junior roles
Sydney, NSW
01.2000 - 01.2010
- Media and Communications Manager, National Measurement Institute
- Safety Internal Communications Specialist, Tenix
- Media and Communications Manager, Diabetes Australia-NSW
- Contractor, Flagship Communications
- Press Secretary to the NSW Opposition Health Minister
- Journalist at the Newcastle Herald
- Journalist at Fairfax Newspapers
Education
Australian Industry Certification in Stakeholder Engagement -
International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)
07.2018
Media law for journalists -
Communication Law Centre
Sydney, Australia12.2003
Bachelor of Communication & Journalism -
CQ University
12.1999
Skills
- Strategic Thinking
- Government relations
- Stakeholder engagement
- Regulatory compliance
- Strategic planning
- Strategic Communications
- Business Strategy
References
- The Hon. Arthur Sinodinos, Partner and Chair of the Australian arm of The Asia Group, Former Australian Senator, Former Australian Ambassador to the United States
- Paddy Fitzpatrick, Former GM of Maritime Systems, Capability and Sustainment Group (CASG)
- James Lawless, Head of Maritime and Undersea Warfare Campaign, Northrop Grumman Australia
Personal Information
Title: Government Relations Executive
Timeline
Head of Government Relations
Atturra
08.2024 - Current
Senior Government Relations Advisor
Northrop Grumman Australia (NGA)
08.2023 - 07.2024
Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs
Tellus Holdings
09.2022 - 09.2023
Non-Executive Director of the Board
Fincantieri Australia
03.2018 - 03.2023
Managing Partner
Castlereagh Advisory
07.2016 - 11.2022
Chief-of-Staff
AUSTRAC
06.2015 - 03.2016
Ministerial Policy & Media Advisor
Assistant Minister for Industry, & then Environment
10.2013 - 03.2015
Department of Defence
03.2010 - 06.2015
Junior roles
01.2000 - 01.2010
Australian Industry Certification in Stakeholder Engagement -
International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)
Media law for journalists -
Communication Law Centre
Bachelor of Communication & Journalism -
CQ University