Advocacy.
Communications.
Creative Writing.

Delivered by Experts Who’ve Been in the Room Where it Happens.

AptStart is a Canberra-based bespoke consulting practice with nearly two decades of experience at the heart of government, politics and communications. Whether you’ve looking to influence public policy, manage your reputation or bring a story to life, we can help. We offer tailored advocacy and public affairs advice to bolster your in-house team or deliver projects on your behalf if you haven’t got a team on your payroll. If it’s a one-off project or ongoing support you need, we can find a GR or PR solution to meet your needs.

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Isaac Jeffrey AptStart Managing Director

Hi, I’m Isaac Jeffrey. Welcome to AptStart.

I’ve worked for the public service, federal cabinet ministers and in private sector advocacy for almost two decades.

I’m an award winning writer with six published novels and four screenplays.

I started AptStart to bring together my skills and experience under one umbrella to offer products and services to those looking for advocacy, communications and/or creative writing services.

So if you need support engaging and influencing government, reaching and appealing to your audiences or you’re looking for screenplays, novels or content, you’ve come to the right place.

Get in touch

AptStart Services

Advocacy and Government Relations

As a former public service director, Chief of Staff to federal ministers and Chief Executive Officer of national advocacy groups, I have a 360 degree view of the public policy space.

I understand how to influence public policy, engage political and public service stakeholders, apply for grants and tenders, build and maintain alliances, increase awareness and foresight, and implement a sound government relations strategy.

If you need help navigating politics and government at a federal, state or local level, I offer a range of advocacy services and will happily tailor a bespoke package to meet your advocacy needs.

Communications and Public Affairs Consulting Canberra Australia

Communications, Media and Public Affairs

I fell in love with communications at Defence Force Recruiting where I designed national advertising and engagement campaigns to recruit members to the Australian Defence Force. I went onto deliver multimillion dollar national advertising campaigns for the government, for political parties and for major advocacy bodies.

As a former media adviser, CoS, CEO and external affairs executive, I have built and implemented communications strategies, engaged and monitored media, drafted and released thousands of media releases and speeches, and I have been national spokesperson for two organisations.

If you need help monitoring media and getting stories up, managing media, communicating with your internal or external audiences, responding to PR crises or need someone to take the wheel of your advertising campaign, I offer a range of communications services, which I can tailor to meet your needs.

Creative Writing

I’ve published six novels under the pseudonym Xavier Wallace and I’ve written three screenplays, including the award winning screenplay The Meditation Room. Check them out on the Projects page.

I’ve written public policies, reports, speeches, media releases, social media posts, scripts, advertising campaigns and copy, and I’ve edited thousands of documents from novels and screenplays to media and comms materials.

If you need help with your novel or screenplay, are looking to purchase the rights to my novels or screenplays, or if you’re looking for someone to help create engaging and powerful content, I offer a range of creative writing services, which I can tailor to meet your needs.