Our Team

AptStart was founded by our Managing Director Isaac Jeffrey.

Isaac has provided government and public relations services to a range of small and medium sized businesses, as well as large multinationals. As National Director and CEO of the Australian Republic Movement, and previously CEO of the National Irrigators’ Council, he understands what is required to advocate and communicate on a national level.

He has had a successful career in both the public and private sector, giving him a unique perspective on business and the ways they can strive or fail. He has led organisations through major changes, including new strategic, governance, communications and government relations planning and implementation. He has been Company Secretary of organisations steering their interactions with ASIC, ATO and other regulators. He has managed overhauls of organisations’ financing and risk systems, and developed new markets for companies to reach new clients.

Isaac was Chief of Staff to the Minister for Small Business and Consumer Affairs which means he is across government support for small businesses and family enterprises, and understands the system. With over a decade’s experience in government, Isaac has helped businesses navigate government regulations and has advocated and lobbied for changes to public policy. As a staffer he held roles including Chief of Staff, Principal Private Secretary, Senior Adviser and Media Adviser, and worked in the treasury, finance, small business, consumer affairs, infrastructure, transport, regional development, employment, defence and veterans’ affairs portfolios.

Throughout his career, Isaac has designed and delivered multimillion dollar advertising campaigns, handled numerous PR crises and managed the day-to-day media for senior government ministers. He has also managed communications and public relations for major multinationals across Australia and New Zealand, and he has run nationwide campaigns. Isaac also ran multimillion dollar recruitment, retention, change management and redundancy programs for the Department of Defence.

He studied business at the University of Newcastle and graduated with Honours. He has a Master of Politics and Policy from Deakin University and has recently paused his Juris Doctor to consider a PhD in political communications. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Isaac currently lives in Canberra. He is a passionate writer (published under a pseudonym - Xavier Wallace) and in his spare time is re-learning the piano, baking and trying to get fit (to reverse the effects of baking).

Isaac has a network of business, public affairs, marketing, government, communications, research, political, media and industry professionals who can help your business find its spark.

Get in touch to see how AptStart can support you with our advocacy, consulting and communications services.

Clients

We’ve been able to work with a number of great clients, including World Vision Australia, Eagle Australasia, MTS Training, isnik productions and The Hoje Group.

Isaac also has experience with the Australian Republic Movement, National Irrigators’ Council, Australian Government, Defence Force Recruiting, The NSW Nationals and Coalition, and Ola Australia and New Zealand.

We’re always looking to help more great Aussie businesses with their government relations, public relations and business operations, and as a bespoke firm we can tailor a package to suit your needs, so please get in touch today.