F.Y.I.

Matt Hingerty to head up Barton Deakin

Matt Hingerty has been appointed to the role of CEO and MD for government relations agency Barton Deakin, as founder Peter Collins moves to executive chairman.

The announcement:

Sydney, July 30, 2012: Leading government relations firm, Barton Deakin has announced the appointment of Matt Hingerty as Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director.

As part of this appointment, Barton Deakin’s founder, Peter Collins, moves to the position of Executive Chairman.

Matt Hingerty joins Barton Deakin having recently concluded his role as Chief of Staff to New South Wales Government Minister George Souris and a 25 year history in federal and state politics and industry. He has been a significant figure in the tourism and hospitality industry for many years including leading roles with the Australian Tourism Export Council and TTF Australia. He also held a senior role at the NSW Minerals Council.

“I am particularly excited to be joining Barton Deakin at a time when the Coalition is dominating the policy agenda at state and, increasingly, the national level. There are many entities in the private sector looking for guidance on dealing with the resurgence of the Coalition and I believe my background recommends me as someone who can provide sound and timely advice”,” Mr Hingerty said.

Hingerty is a highly skilled and experienced political advocate and has also been an adviser to businesses in government-exposed industries. He has the rare combination of experience as a ministerial Chief of Staff at both state and federal government levels. His professional political experience dates back to 1987 as an adviser in the Greiner Opposition. He served throughout the Greiner and Fahey Governments and for a period with then Opposition Leader Peter Collins. He also served as Chief of Staff to Joe Hockey, then Minister for Tourism and Small Business in the Howard Government.

Hingerty will lead the national team at Barton Deakin and work with the company’s clients on a wide variety of government business, regulatory, legislative and approvals matters.“Barton Deakin prides itself on hiring only the best and most experienced Liberal and National Party former advisers and politicians and Matt fits the bill,” Peter Collins said. “He is a talent of rare quality and I’m delighted to have him leading our team.”

Hingerty joins a high-profile national team at Barton Deakin including Collins (a former Treasurer of NSW and Leader of the NSW Opposition) in Sydney, Grahame Morris (a former Chief of Staff to Prime Minister John Howard) in Canberra, John Griffin (a former Chief of Staff to Premier Jeff Kennett) in Melbourne and Sallyanne Atkinson (former Lord Mayor of Brisbane) in Brisbane.

Hingerty has a Bachelor of Arts from Macquarie University. He is married with four children and lives on the NSW Central Coast. He is a member of the McMasters Beach SLSC, the Central Coast Bears and the Central Coast Cycling Club. The appointment is effective immediately.

While the NSW Government Lobbyist Code of Conduct places no restrictions on the lobbying activities of former Government staff, Barton Deakin’s policy is to internally implement a 12 month “cooling off” period on lobbying activity in the portfolio area for which new staff joining had responsibility when in government. Mr Hingerty will not conduct lobbying activities in his former area of responsibility for 12 months from the time he left government. Barton Deakin is part of the STW Group, Australia’s leading marketing content and communications services group. Barton Deakin was the second fastest growing company in the AFR Fast 100 listings for 2012.

Source: STW press release

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