The people you meet are the people who do the work.

Christian Bonnevie is a government relations and regulatory affairs adviser with deep expertise in navigating Wellington’s political and regulatory landscape. He specialises in political risk analysis, targeted advocacy, policy engagement, ministerial and official relationship management, regulatory strategy and M&A and infrastructure communications.

Christian’s career spans journalism, political advisory roles in the Beehive and regulatory work at the Commerce Commission. He has counselled Boards and executive teams through high-stakes merger and acquisition applications, market studies, investigations and major infrastructure projects requiring complex public and media engagement.

Christian brings political judgement and technical rigour to every brief, helping clients align strategy with commercial objectives and navigate the most challenging policy and regulatory environments. He leads Shanahan Partners’ government relations and regulatory affairs practice from Wellington.

Mat is a corporate affairs adviser with extensive experience leading strategy from within New Zealand’s most scrutinised organisations. He specialises in stakeholder strategy, regulatory engagement, crisis and issues management, capital markets communications, transformation narrative and government relations.

Previously, as Chief Corporate Affairs Officer at Air New Zealand, Mat led the stakeholder and communications strategy for the airline’s pandemic recovery, $2.2 billion recapitalisation, and international network restart. He also spent a decade at 2degrees, guiding the company from pre-pay startup to a profitable national operator sold for $1.32 billion.

With a background as a trained journalist, Mat combines credibility with an evidence-led, audience-first approach. Having navigated high-stakes operational and political environments — including a government transition mid-recovery and New Zealand’s 1998 Auckland CBD power outage — he brings perspective and calm to complex situations. Mat currently serves as a Director of Crown Regional Holdings Limited and is a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand.

Richard is one of New Zealand’s leading strategic advisors, with more than 25 years’ experience guiding organisations through complex decisions, transformations and reputation challenges. He advises on corporate affairs and strategic communications across capital markets, regulatory engagement, transformation narrative, stakeholder strategy, crisis management and enterprise-wide change.

Previously a Partner at Shanahan and in senior executive roles at Spark, Vector, Vodafone/One NZ and Auckland Airport, Richard has counselled CEOs, Boards and executive teams across finance, technology, energy, aviation, telecommunications, infrastructure, tourism, FMCG and the public sector. He has supported organisations through more than 20 major M&A transactions, including New Zealand’s largest deal in two decades, as well as capital raises, divestments, restructures, regulatory challenges and market-shaping initiatives.

Richard brings a structured, problem-solving approach, helping leaders navigate ambiguity and high-pressure situations with clarity. From Spark’s iconic rebrand to the launch of New Zealand’s first 5G network and the expansion of global airline routes into Auckland, he has shaped some of the country’s most significant corporate moments. A committed mentor and trusted counsel, Richard continually seeks to help leaders and organisations perform at their best.

Peter is an international strategic communications adviser with over two decades of experience navigating complex reputational, regulatory and commercial challenges. He works across corporate narrative, stakeholder strategy, capital markets communication, M&A advisory, regulatory engagement, crisis management and organisational change.

Peter began his career as a political adviser in the government of Tony Blair, developing a career-long instinct for political risk, public interest and commercial consequence. He has held senior leadership roles at Grayling, leading the global corporate affairs practice, and as Director of Communications at Metro Bank, guiding communications ahead of its London Stock Exchange listing. He has advised senior leaders at major global financial institutions and corporates, including BlackRock, ANZ and Kiwi Group Capital.

Recognised by PRWeek and named in the Financial Times’ Top 100 LGBT Leaders in the City, Peter brings clarity under pressure, structured counsel and a broad global perspective. He relocated to Auckland in 2024 and now advises organisations across New Zealand and internationally.

Hugo is a capital markets, corporate and crisis communications adviser trusted by senior decision-makers in high-pressure environments. He works across equity transactions, IPO communications, M&A advisory, governance and leadership transitions, earnings disclosures, shareholder confidence rebuilding, crisis and issues management and community and iwi engagement.

Hugo has guided executives and boards through some of New Zealand’s most significant commercial and regulatory episodes, including the Reserve Bank’s conduct and culture review of the life insurance sector, the Commerce Commission’s retail fuel market study and complex M&A transactions. He has also led communications during major emergencies, including the MV Rena grounding and national civil defence responses to cyclones Cook, Tracy and Gabrielle.

With a background in Civil Defence Emergency Management, Hugo brings calm, structured counsel to situations that test organisations and leaders most. Having supported equity market transactions exceeding $2.5 billion since COVID-19, he combines experience, discretion and a personal approach to deliver steady leadership and clear thinking when it matters most.