Mark Ridgway - Director | Geoffrey Leach - Director | John Hewitt - Communications Director
Wide public sector experience as an economist in
industry policy. Commenced public sector employment in the Industries Commission
as a research economist in 1985. Industry policy experience in the 
Departments of Defence, Housing
and Construction, Industry Science and Technology and the Joint House Department.
Extensive experience in drafting industry policy, including New Policy Proposals, Cabinet submissions, Ministerial briefings, Departmental briefings, speeches and press material.
Represented the Department of Industry Science and Technology in the GATT Uruguay negotiations on Trade In Services and was seconded to the "Bevis" Committee (The House of Representatives Standing Committee on Industry Science and Technology) to draft the policy framework for the "Bevis" Report on Federal Government purchasing.
Extensive experience in making and receiving representations to Government, including close liaison with numerous industry associations (ranging from the MTIA to the Franchisees Association of Australia). Good knowledge of manufacturing industry policy and small to medium enterprise industry policy.
Mark has been largely responsible for the strategic and tactical approach of major I.T. clients in the Federal sphere. Other relevant private sector experience includes a year (1989) as the Canberra Manager for Arvin Pty Ltd, the lobbyist for the successful tenderer for the $6 billion ANZ Frigate Project; AMECON/Transfield.
Mr Ridgway has a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) from Adelaide University majoring in the economics of regulation and public administration.
In 1993 Geoffrey Leach established and headed the
Government's Special (Trade and Investment) Representatives Office which included
the Special Trade Representative and former Industry Minister, 
John Button and the Special Investment
Representative and former Treasurer, John Dawkins. In that role he organised and
participated in 15 trade and investment missions around the world. Missions covered
numerous industry sectors involving close liaison with business, industry associations,
Austrade and a range of government departments.
From 1991 to 1993 he was a Special Advisor to John Button the then Minister for Industry, Technology and Commerce. His responsibilities included trade the information and communications industries and trade finance, international business, investment promotion, shipbuilding and aerospace as well as broader industry and tariff policy issues.
Prior to 1991 he worked for several years in a number of Senior Executive Service positions in the Department of Industry and was responsible for major policy and program changes including the Regional Centres (or RHQ) initiative, the McKinsey Review of Austrade and the establishing of collaborative science and technology arrangements and exchanges with several countries in Asia. He chaired the government Review of Australia's Export Finance and Insurance facilities.
Between 1986 and 1989, Mr Leach was responsible for Australia's Aid program in the Indo-China region and South East Asia. Between 1974 and 1986 he was a member of the Australian Foreign Service with overseas postings in India, Pakistan and Singapore.
He is a Graduate in Arts from the University of Newcastle and Law from the University of Sydney. He is admitted to practice as a solicitor in N.S.W.
John Hewitt is a former national affairs journalist specialising in strategic business advice, government relations, issues management and media/PR activities.
John joined AusAccess in March 1998 following 2 years with
the Federal Government as media adviser to Federal Government Ministers Warwick Smith
and Senator Jocelyn Newman, where his tasks included coordinating public relations
and awareness campaigns, media management and strategic advice.
John had previously been a bureau chief in the Canberra Press Gallery, covering political events including elections, major announcements and federal budgets. Prior to Canberra John had worked in Sydney for The Daily Telegraph, Radio 2UE and MMM-FM.
Johnís 20 years as a working journalist, and his intimate knowledge of the Canberra Press Gallery has given him a strong understanding of "what makes the media tick" and his thorough understanding of Government policies and operations allows for strategic advice based on very solid foundations.
John also has extensive experience in working with government departments, with projects including the launch of Centrelink, coordination of media activities and launch of the Active Australia/International Year of Older Persons project by Prime Minister Howard, management of the Federal Government's Y2K community information campaign and the development of a communications/marketing strategy for the $400 million Greenhouse Gas Abatement Program.