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 public affairs, media, and strategic communications for more than 25 years. She is responsible for overseeing the firm’s strategic partnerships, along with the corporate communications practice.
Her extensive experience in corporate and financial communications, issue & crisis management, government relations, and public relations has helped build trusted relationships with clients, industry leaders, and political representatives across the spectrum. Throughout her 20-year career at CMAX Advisory, Tara has counselled clients on complex issues from a range of sectors including financial services (mergers & acquisitions), cyber, defence, agriculture, health and education.
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.
Throughout her career, Tara has built a valuable reputation assisting a number of non-profit and community organisations. She 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 Government Relations Practitioner of the Year and was a finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards. 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.
Tyson Sara has more than 30 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.
Nicole Elliott is an award-winning consultant and senior executive with 20 years of experience across government, consulting and strategic advisory environments.
Throughout her career, Nicole has operated at the intersection of public policy, programs, operations and service delivery. She has led high-performing teams, managed multi-million-dollar budgets, overseen complex delivery environments, and driven significant business growth through trusted client relationships and a strong focus on quality and impact.
At CMAX Advisory, Nicole leads the firm’s operational agenda, driving client service excellence, organisational performance, strategic planning and team leadership. Nicole is recognised for her ability to translate strategy into action and align people, operations and client needs to achieve sustainable commercial and organisational outcomes. Her practical, people centred leadership style and collaborative approach have earned her a reputation as a trusted advisor to executives, government leaders and stakeholders.
Prior to joining CMAX Advisory, Nicole spent five years at Proximity (now SPA Australia) as National Lead Consulting and Principal Advisor, where she built and led the firm’s Consulting Practice. Prior, Nicole held senior executive positions across the Australian Government, leading complex policy and delivery functions within the industry, environment, infrastructure and agriculture portfolios. In these roles, she oversaw several of Australia’s largest government investment programs, including multi-billion-dollar initiatives supporting research and development, water infrastructure and environmental outcomes.
Nicole grew up in Canberra and attended the Australian National University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science (Resource and Environmental Management). Nicole also holds a Diploma of Project Management and is a certified leadership coach and facilitator.
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 PSM is on CMAX Advisory’s panel of Special Counsels.
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.
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.
Glenn Alcock is a trusted defence and national security adviser with 20 years’ experience spanning the Department of Defence, consulting and industry, helping government and businesses navigate complex capability, technology and strategic challenges.
Throughout his career, Glenn has advised senior government and industry leaders on defence capability, policy, commercial strategy and stakeholder engagement, with a particular focus on strengthening Australia’s sovereign defence industrial base and accelerating the delivery of Defence capability.
Glenn has held senior leadership roles across consulting, technology and government including Defence’s Strategy, Policy and Industry Group, giving him a rare combination of expertise in policy, capability acquisition, engineering, commercialisation and business growth. He played a key role in developing Australia’s 2016 Defence White Paper and represented Australia on complex international defence acquisition programs.
Beyond government, Glenn has held senior leadership roles across the Australian defence industry, working with global prime contractors and sovereign Australian businesses to support capability delivery, business growth and market engagement. He successfully led a sovereign Australian technology company from start-up through to national growth, delivering advanced capabilities to Defence, emergency services and critical infrastructure customers. This broad experience provides him with first-hand insight into the commercial, technical and strategic challenges facing industry, enabling him to deliver practical, outcomes-focused advice grounded in real-world experience.
As CMAX Advisory’s Director of Defence and National Security, Glenn works across the maritime, land, air, space and autonomous systems domains. He advises clients on defence strategy, stakeholder engagement, market positioning, capability development and technology adoption. He is recognised for combining strategic insight with deep technical expertise to help clients solve complex problems, build trusted relationships and deliver enduring outcomes.
Glenn holds a Bachelor of Engineering (Mechatronics).
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.
Jericho ‘Jerry’ Sayson is a national security and public policy leader with 15 years’ experience spanning military service, national security, emergency management, and senior government advisory roles.
Jerry served for more than a decade in the Royal Australian Air Force, including on multiple deployments to the Middle East and operations across Australia. During his military career, he led diverse teams, training programs, operational activities and complex projects, building a reputation for calm leadership in high-pressure environments. He remains an active reservist.
Across government, Jerry has held strategic advisory positions within the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and the National Emergency Management Agency. He served as a lead advisor to Defence senior leaders on ministerial and strategic issues across the air and space domains, represented Australian national security interests in international forums, and supported whole-of-government responses to major national crises, including the 2019–20 Black Summer bushfires and ex-Tropical Cyclone Jasper in 2023.
At CMAX Advisory, Jerry is known for his ability to navigate complex policy, operational and stakeholder environments, and translate client strategic priorities into practical outcomes. He brings a thoughtful, measured leadership style, combining intellectual curiosity, sound judgement, and an approachable manner to build trusted client relationships and deliver results.
Jerry is a graduate of the Australian Defence Force Academy and the University of New South Wales.
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.
Passionate about policy, geopolitics, and advocacy, Lilly supports CMAX Advisory clients with an understanding of the issues shaping Canberra and beyond.
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.
Aidan supports CMAX Advisory’s clients through research, policy analysis and stakeholder engagement, with a particular interest in economic security, geopolitics and international affairs.
Prior to joining CMAX Advisory, Aidan worked at the United States Studies Centre as a Research Associate, where he helped coordinate the planning and delivery of major events, including the Centre’s Economic Security Dialogue Series. In this role, he also contributed to research on economic security issues, building strong analytical, organisational and research skills.
Aidan is particularly interested in the operation of economic security in the Indo-Pacific and the ways in which geopolitical developments shape government policy, investment decisions and commercial environments. He also has a keen interest in the intersection between geopolitics and the global energy transition, and closely follows international trends and developments that influence the environment in which clients operate.
Aidan holds a Bachelor of International Relations and a Bachelor of Politics, Philosophy and Economics from the Australian National University.
Carli is CMAX’s Office Manager and 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, process improvement and event management.
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.