Christian Taubenschlag is the founder and President of CMAX Advisory.
Christian has been advising and assisting both private and public sector clients with their corporate and public affairs communication needs for more than 20 years.
Christian has worked across a range of industries and represented clients involved in areas as diverse as defence, national security, mining and resources, agriculture, infrastructure, health and media.
Christian has a wealth of government experience derived from roles heading several departmental communication units. Christian has also established himself as a trusted advisor to the federal government, having worked as Deputy Chief of Staff to the Minister for Defence and National Security Adviser and Director of Communications to the Minister for Home Affairs.
Christian is fluent in Spanish, has a Bachelor of Communications and prior to establishing CMAX Advisory he worked as a journalist.
Tara Taubenschlag has worked in government relations, communications and journalism for more than 15 years.
Prior to her career with CMAX Advisory, Tara worked as a print and television journalist both nationally and internationally, producing and presenting news and current affairs programs for Sky News and Channel Ten. During her time at CMAX Advisory, Tara has counselled clients from a range of sectors including digital, cyber, defence, agriculture and education in government relations, reputation management, corporate communications, issue management and corporate social responsibility.
Tara’s professional experiences also includes work for a variety of consultancy firms, where she supported clients in the development and execution of strategic communications campaigns, government relations strategies, stakeholder engagement plans, ASX company listings, the development and launch of company prospectuses, and campaign and media management of events.
Tara assists a number of non-profit and community organisations with their PR and communication needs on a pro bono basis. She sits on the Board of Fortem Australia and is a passionate maternal health advocate and works with charities including Every Mother Counts, and The Hands of Rescue to raise funds and awareness for maternal health programs in developing countries. Tara was a founding board member of Women in Media – Canberra Group, was named the 2013 Government Relations Practitioner of the Year and was a finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards 2015. Tara helped establish the East Timor Free Press Foundation following the independence referendum in 2000, receiving an Australian Government Award in recognition for her volunteer work there.
Tara holds a Bachelor of Journalism from the University of Queensland.
Tyson Sara has more than 25 years’ experience in defence, international relations and government.
Tyson has served in a number of senior executive positions in the Department of Defence, managing strategic policy, capability and personnel. Tyson has also managed Defence’s international relationships, with particular expertise on the United States, South Pacific and Southeast Asia.
Tyson served in Parliament House as the Senior Adviser for Intelligence, Operations and International Affairs to the Minister for Defence and was lead adviser to the minister for the development of the 2009 Defence White Paper.
Overseas, Tyson served as the Policy Adviser to the Australian Commander in Afghanistan in Kabul. On a second tour he was seconded to the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division as Senior Adviser to the Commander of NATO Forces in Southern Afghanistan based in Kandahar, but travelling widely in Afghanistan and Pakistan.
At CMAX Advisory, Tyson is responsible for strategy development, political analysis, political engagement and geopolitical forecasting and analysis. Tyson assists our clients to understand and navigate the political and international landscape and develop ambitious but feasible strategies to help clients achieve their objectives.
Tyson grew up in rural South Australia and attended Flinders University, where he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts with Honours in International Relations. He has a Master’s in International Security and Strategy from King’s College London and is a graduate of the Royal College of Defence Studies. Tyson has also completed the Senior Executives in National and International Security Program at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.
The Hon Joel Fitzgibbon is on CMAX Advisory’s panel of Special Counsels.
Joel brings over 25 years of experience as a former federal Member of Parliament for the New South Wales seat of Hunter. Throughout his extensive career in politics, Joel served in Cabinet and held the ministerial portfolios of Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Minister for Defence, and Chief Government Whip.
He also held several shadow portfolios throughout his time in Opposition, including Shadow Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, Shadow Minister for Resources, Shadow Minister for Rural and Regional Australia, Shadow Minister for Small Business and Tourism, and Shadow Assistant Treasurer.
Joel has served on a number of parliamentary committees, covering diverse issues including regional affairs; agriculture and resources; economics and finance; employment and workplace relations; foreign affairs, defence and trade; and public administration.
Prior to his time in federal parliament, Joel was a local Councillor and Deputy Mayor of the Cessnock City Council, and a small business owner.
Joel provides CMAX Advisory’s clients with corporate strategy and policy advice, assisting international and Australian businesses navigate the unique Australian business landscape. He also provides advice for Australian companies looking to expand their business overseas.
Rachel Noble is the former Director General of the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD), Australia’s signals intelligence and cyber security agency. Rachel held this role for five years prior to which she was the head of ASD’s Australian Cyber Security Centre. During this time Rachel led a $10bn transformation of ASD which has successfully delivered its capability outcomes on time and within budget.
Rachel now serves as the chair of the iLAuNCH Trailblazer for space and is a volunteer on the board for the National Spy Museum of Australia.
Rachel is actively engaged in providing advice and assistance to the private sector on national security and cyber security.
Rachel also speaks publicly about national security and cyber security matters as well as speaking on women in leadership especially in traditionally male-dominated fields.
Prior to ASD, Rachel held a range of senior roles in the Australian Public Service including as the Deputy Secretary Executive Group in the Department of Home Affairs responsible for enterprise strategy, risk, assurance, security and ministerial, media and intelligence services. Rachel led the Portfolio’s Home Affairs Implementation Team to stand up the Home Affairs Portfolio in 2017.
Rachel also held senior roles in the Department of Immigration and Border Protection which included responsibility for trade, customs, immigration and international policy; the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service as the National Director Intelligence and Chief Information Officer; the Department of Defence; and Prime Minister and Cabinet as the National Security Chief Information Officer and Cyber Policy Coordinator.
Rachel has also worked for the Bureau of Meteorology on international policies to address global climate change and started her career in private industry working for Optus.
Rachel has a Masters of Business Administration in Technology Management and a Bachelor of Science with Honours.
Neil Hart AM is on CMAX Advisory’s panel of Special Counsels.
Neil also serves as a Strategic Defence Advisor to the Minister and Department of State Development, Manufacturing, Industry and Planning in Queensland, with a focus on the Aviation and Space industry. He was also recently appointed as a Professor at Deakin University and Chair in Defence Technologies for the Institute for Intelligent Systems Research and Innovation.
Neil remains active in the Australian Defence Force though the Air Force Reserves, principally through work in ADF Airworthiness Boards. His previous senior command appointments and positions with the ADF include Deputy Chief of Air Force, Head One Defence Implementation, Head Force Structure Review, Head Joint Capability Coordination Division, Commander Air Combat Group, Director of the US Central Command Combined Air and Space Operations Centre, and Director-General Capability Planning in Air Force.
Neil is a fighter pilot and flying instructor with more than 3,000 fast-jet hours, including time on the F/A-18 Hornet, the Mirage IIIO and the Macchi MB326H. He graduated with distinction from the Royal Australian Air Force Academy and was awarded a Bachelor of Science from the University of Melbourne. He is also a graduate of both the USAF Command and Staff College Course (Alabama) and the Royal College of Defence Studies (London).
Neil has served on flying squadrons operating throughout Australia and Southeast Asia, culminating as Commanding Officer of Number 3 Fighter Squadron, including leading the squadron on an operational deployment. Other key previous appointments include Director Special Operations Development in Special Operations Command, Director of the ADF Airworthiness Coordination and Policy Agency, and Deputy Director in the New Air Combat Capability project team.
Sarah is an advocacy and government relations professional with more than 15 years of experience advising senior leaders, managing diverse stakeholder groups, and delivering campaigns. She is known for distilling complex analysis into clear, actionable advice and bridging the gap between technical expertise and policy communication.
Since joining CMAX in 2023, Sarah has supported clients to navigate government approval processes, secure access to grant and investment programs, manage sensitive issues, and strengthen governance for complex, multi-partner initiatives. She brings expertise across policy, strategic communications, and industry-wide advocacy, and is valued for her ability to quickly master new subject areas.
Before joining CMAX, Sarah spent six years in New York as senior adviser and political strategist to Nobel Peace Prize laureate Leymah Gbowee, while serving as Executive Director of Ms Gbowee’s US foundation. She led operations, partnerships, fundraising, and public engagement, including securing media placements in outlets such as The New York Times, CNN International and The Guardian.
Earlier in her career, Sarah held leadership roles in Australian peak bodies and worked in the Australian Public Service, developing strong links between the for-purpose sector, government, and industry.
Sarah holds a Master of Philosophy from Trinity College Dublin, a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts from the Australian National University, and a Diploma of Project Management.
Alyssa is Director of Strategy at CMAX Advisory, where she advises our Australian and international partners on corporate and government strategy, market positioning, stakeholder engagement, and complex policy and regulatory environments across Australia and the Indo-Pacific.
She works with organisations operating in challenging and highly regulated sectors, helping them navigate sensitive government, policy and stakeholder environments while pursuing long-term commercial and strategic objectives. Her experience spans defence, national security, technology, manufacturing, health, energy and resources, international development, transport and infrastructure, and professional services.
At CMAX Advisory, Alyssa has advised multinational companies, Australian businesses and non-profits on market growth strategies, major investment, restructuring and commercial initiatives, stakeholder and reputational risks, industry partnerships, multi-billion dollar government procurements, export strategies and stakeholder engagement programs. She has also worked with organisations to position credibly with government and institutional stakeholders in dynamic and contested policy, regulatory and procurement environments.
Alyssa is particularly experienced in advising organisations and senior executives operating in politically sensitive and strategically significant sectors, where commercial success is closely connected to government priorities, public trust and long-term institutional relationships.
Prior to joining CMAX Advisory, Alyssa worked across a number of Commonwealth and state government agencies, including the Australian Department of Defence, the Attorney-General’s Department, the Federal Court of Australia and several New South Wales government agencies.
Alyssa holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Arts (Public Policy and French) from the University of Newcastle and grew up on the beaches of Newcastle.
Heather brings a breadth of experience spanning both Federal and State Parliaments where she honed her skills as a strategic thinker.
As Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Opposition, Heather managed the Parliamentary Agenda in line with media and policy objectives, while building and delivering a disciplined political campaign to increase representation amid challenging electoral reforms. This campaign, underpinned by significant community and industry engagement, delivered an historic return – doubling the existing representation.
Heather served as an Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister; Minister for Infrastructure; Transport and Regional Development, overseeing the delivery of regional infrastructure programs across Australia. The successful delivery of these programs required intricate negotiations between stakeholders, engagement with industry leaders and clear articulation of Government policy and priorities.
From campaign strategy and delivery to executing meaningful engagement plans, Heather has a skillset which can be applied across industries to advance the interests of CMAX Advisory’s client partners.
Patrick is a specialist in government policy and engagement, with expertise across health, maritime, national security, energy, infrastructure, and government sectors.
As a Manager at CMAX Advisory, Patrick supports industry partners with the development and execution of government engagement strategies and market analysis across various sectors that interface with state and federal governments. His client-focussed work has included support to strategy development, policy analysis, government submissions and reports, stakeholder relations, and media and event management. In addition to his support to private-sector clients, Patrick has also developed public-facing strategies for state government partners.
Patrick has a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of International Relations from the University of Melbourne. Before joining CMAX Advisory, he engaged in government relations and administrative activities in the non-profit sector.
Will is a corporate strategy specialist who enjoys helping organisations succeed.
Will has worked in professional IT and advisor roles across state and local government, as well as in the private sector, helping drive results and providing data-based advice and analysis to help support decision-makers.
During his time at an ASX listed Australian Bank, Will led the data analytics team and was a function lead for a business wide IT transformation project to implement a new core banking system, a project which entailed managing catastrophic risk and delivery of core functionality.
Outside of work, Will is intellectually curious about how the world works, is a voracious reader, and loves to travel with an autobiography or book never too far away.
Will graduated from the University of Tasmania majoring in Information Systems, he also holds a diploma of financial services and has served as vice president of Volleyball Tasmania. Will is currently chair of the Hobart City Council place and wellbeing committee focused on public health.
Travis brings enthusiasm, a professional attitude, and a strong academic foundation to his role as an Advisor with CMAX Advisory.
He recently graduated from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Political Science, a joint venture that has given him a solid grounding in political and financial analysis, research methods, and communication skills.
In his role as an Advisor, Travis provides strategy development, strategic communications, and stakeholder engagement support to clients. He is motivated by the opportunity to apply his academic training to real-world problems and deliver clear insights that contribute to solutions to help clients achieve their objectives.
Travis is particularly interested in the links between policy, markets, and the geostrategic environment. He is committed to keeping clients well informed of emerging issues across government and industry, and ensuring they are well-prepared to respond to an ever-changing political landscape.
Passionate about politics and public policy, Travis is excited to support CMAX Advisory’s clients.
Lilly is a graduate from the Australian National University with a Bachelor of Political Science, where her studies spanned political theory, behavioural science, and research methods, building a strong understanding of people, politics, and institutions. During university, she undertook international study at the University of Waterloo in Ontario, Canada, deepening her interest in political strategy.
Lilly takes a keen interest in health policy and has served as College Representative for the College of Health and Medicine on the ANU Students’ Association, gaining hands-on experience in advocacy and constituency engagement. Her keen interest in geopolitics and diplomacy draws her to understanding how international developments shape the landscape in which her clients operate.
Since joining CMAX Advisory in 2025, Lilly has supported clients through an intimate familiarity with the Canberra political landscape and a communication style honed through diverse experiences, including voluntary English language tutoring, that allows her to translate stakeholder and party dynamics into clear, actionable strategy.
Carli is CMAX’s Executive Support Officer with more than seven years of experience providing high-level office management and executive support, predominantly within the legal sector.
Originally hailing from the South Coast, Carli made the move to Canberra in 2018 and completed a Bachelor of Business majoring in Legal Studies at the University of Canberra. Carli combines a strong academic foundation with hands-on experience in professional services.
Carli has a clear understanding of the demands of high-performing workplaces, where attention to detail, confidentiality, and adaptability are essential. Her expertise spans a wide range of administrative functions, including executive assistance, office coordination, business development support, and process improvement.
Carli is passionate about optimising office operations and delivering seamless support that adds tangible value to businesses. She approaches each role with a professional mindset, a warm and approachable attitude, and a creative problem-solving style. Whether managing day-to-day workflows or contributing to strategic initiatives, Carli is committed to supporting clients with efficiency, integrity, and a genuine focus on outcomes.
Jennifer Doggett has more than 20 years’ experience in government, working with professional, industry and consumer groups and specialising in the health sector.
Jennifer is a Fellow of the Centre for Policy Development and Chair of the Australian Health Care Reform Alliance. She is a contributing editor to online health publication Croakey and has worked for a broad range of consumer, industry and professional groups in the health sector.
Jennifer’s previous roles include policy officer in the Department of Health, Communications Manager for a national medical organisation and political adviser to a federal senator on health and social policy issues.
Jennifer is the author of a number of publications on health issues including: “A New Approach to Primary Care in Australia” and “Out-of-pocket: re-thinking co-payments in the health system”. She is a contributing author to books More than Luck, Pushing our Luck and Creating and Implementing Public Policy.
Jason Staines has worked as a journalist and editor in Australia, the UK and India. He has also worked in economic diplomacy and policy analysis for the Australian Treasury.
Prior to joining CMAX Advisory, Jason worked for the Commonwealth Treasury as an analyst in Canberra and before that in New Delhi, where he was the senior research officer for Treasury’s post at the Australian High Commission. This economic diplomacy role combined his journalistic experience in reporting on the Indian economy with establishing and maintaining relationships with the Indian government.
Jason has a strong background in editorial production, having worked as production editor on business titles in Sydney and London, as a senior sub-editor for Australian Associated Press and as a news editor for the Age in Melbourne. While in India he was an editor for Dow Jones Newswires.
Jason was raised in Sydney, where he obtained his Bachelor of Arts (Communication) from the University of Technology, Sydney and his Master of International Studies from the University of Sydney.