Paperbark Advisory
expert strategic counsel
& government relations
About us
Paperbark Advisory provides strategic counsel at the intersection of government, parliament, and public policy.
With experience shaping national policy, guiding major reform, and supporting decision-making,
we help clients navigate complex political, parliamentary, and policy environments.
Whether you’re advocating for change, managing a transaction, or responding to challenges, we bring practical insight, strong judgement, and a deep understanding of how government and parliament works.
Our services
Government relations & stakeholder engagement
Engage with impact.
With deep experience at the highest levels of Australian politics, we know how decisions are made—and who makes them. We build tailored engagement strategies grounded in deep knowledge of government and parliament. From ministers to parliament and the public service, we help clients engage meaningfully with the decision makers and stakeholders who matter to their objectives.
Policy, parliamentary &
political strategy
Shape outcomes.
We bring unmatched insight into Australia’s public policy and parliamentary landscape. Whether engaging with the budget cycle, navigating parliamentary process, advocating for change, responding to emerging challenges, contributing to policy and legislative reviews, or preparing for parliamentary committee hearings, we equip our clients with the insight, strategy and tools to be heard—and to shape outcomes.
Market access &
transactions
Invest with confidence.
We support international and domestic clients pursuing mergers, acquisitions, or investments. Whether entering the Australian market for the first time or acquiring within it, we help assess, shape, and navigate the political and policy landscape. We identify opportunities and risks—and where required—craft strategies to address challenges.
Who we are
Ewan Kelly
Founder & Principal, Paperbark Advisory
Ewan most recently served as a Senior Adviser to Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.
With nearly two decades of experience across government, politics, media, and the law, Ewan has built a career at the heart of Australian public policy and strategy.
He began his career at the ABC, before working as a corporate lawyer at MinterEllison.
For more than a decade, Ewan was a key provider of policy, parliamentary and political advice at the highest levels of federal politics, including to three Australian Prime Ministers – Julia Gillard, Kevin Rudd and Anthony Albanese – as well as senior Labor frontbencher Tony Burke.
As a Senior Policy Adviser to Prime Minister Albanese, Ewan provided strategic advice across several Cabinet portfolios, including Housing and Homelessness, the National Disability Insurance Scheme and Industry and Science.
In this role, Ewan helped deliver three Budgets and was integral to the development of signature government policies including A Future Made in Australia, the $15 billion National Reconstruction Fund, safe and responsible AI and NDIS reform. Ewan also helped deliver the most significant housing reforms in a generation through National Cabinet, including the new $9.3 billion National Agreement on Social Housing and Homelessness.
In recognition of his leadership and experience, Ewan helped lead the government’s transition following the 2022 federal election as Deputy Director of the transition-to-government team.
Ewan is a skilled parliamentary strategist who helped shape Labor’s Question Time and legislative strategy between 2013 to 2022.