Description:
Geoff Allen delivers an authoritative guide to managing the vital intersection of business, government, and society. Allen offers clear frameworks and practical insights for integrating public affairs into corporate strategy.
Brief description: Geoff Allen has spent five decades at the intersection of business and government in Australia. As a Commonwealth public servant, he became senior advisor to the minister for labour, federal treasurer and leader of the Opposition in the 1970s. He was then appointed senior research fellow at the Melbourne Business School (MBS) where he pioneered the teaching and research in business government relations in Australia in the 1970s. He became deputy chairman of MBS for ten years and for twenty years continued to teach in MBA and executive programs.Allen was co-founder of the Business Council of Australia (BCA) and designed its structure and modus operandi. He was foundation CEO during Australia's Hawke-Keating era of major economic reform. During his time at BCA, Allen played a key role in creating business unity on vital national issues.He subsequently formed the Allen Consulting Group which led a new wave of outsourced public policy research, advising senior government and business clients. He served as chairman on several Commonwealth and state government advisory councils, including the Trade Policy Advisory Council and the Australian Statistics Advisory Council. He was a member of the government's Foreign Affairs Council and Prime Minister's Community Business Partnership, national chair of the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA), and director of several public companies in the mining and tertiary sectors.In 1990, Allen founded the Australian Centre for Corporate Public Affairs which has been the catalyst for thought leadership and professional development for corporate public affairs management in Australia for more than thirty years. He was also Asia-Pacific regional editor of the Journal of Public Affairs.He received a Centenary Medal for services to international trade and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2009 in recognition of his contribution to business-government relations and public affairs.
Review Quotes:
Geoff Allen, one of Australia's foremost experts in the field, has written an authoritative and informative text on this important business function, rich with examples and case studies and full of valuable insights both for corporate public affairs practitioners and for business managers.
- The Hon Paul Fletcher MP, former Federal Minister and former Director, Corporate and Regulatory Affairs, Optus Ltd
Geoff Allen - true pioneer of corporate public affairs - has written this insightful, accessible book to show us how integrating management of these issues blows up dreaded silos and adds significant value for companies.
- Professor Jennifer J Griffin, Quinlan School of Business, Loyola University Chicago
At a time of rising challenges to the corporate sector, this timely and important new book skilfully covers all the key areas of corporate public affairs, from government relations to issues management to stakeholder engagement. It is written by one of the most experienced thinkers and practitioners in the field in Australia. It is highly recommended for corporate practitioners, government policy makers, business association leaders, interest groups, academics, and students.
- Professor Stephen Bell, University of Queensland
Companies need a holistic approach to their critical non-market stakeholders. This book, authored by a practitioner who has done it all, fills an important gap in material for specialist executives, general business managers and management educators.
- The Hon Warwick Smith AO, company director and former Federal Minister
I am convinced that the management of social and political issues must be part of the normal corporate decision-making process and the future of the corporation. We can do our sums, excel in production and marketing, fine-tune our cash flows, and manage people effectively - but we still fail badly if we do not properly address social and political issues.
- Sir Arvi Parbo AC, former Chairman BHP Ltd, WMC Ltd, Alcoa Australia
Allen's wisdom, gained over a lifetime of experience in effective government relations, should be compulsory reading for all business leaders. They should read Allen's book carefully - an encyclopaedia on effective business relations with governments, political leaders, investors, employees, suppliers, customers and the general public. Each page will evoke the recriminatory reaction: "This is so much common sense - why are we not doing this?"
- Professor Graeme Samuel AC, former Chairman, Australian Consumer and Competition Commission
No one has done more than Geoff Allen to promote the development of a business voice in Australia over the past five decades. Now Allen has picked the ideal time to bring it all together for anyone interested in corporate affairs and the role of business. I'm always interested in what he has to say about these things.
- Michael Stutchbury, Editor-at-Large, Australian Financial Review
As demonstrated here, effective corporate affairs management - understanding and dealing with the social and political environment - is crucial to success in major businesses. It should be respected and managed at the highest level in our companies.
- Hugh Morgan AC, business leader and company director