Our Founder

Donna Staunton was the Founding Managing Director of The Strategic Counsel. She was on the Senior Management teams of a number of substantial public and private sector organisations, including ASX top 20 and Fortune 500 companies.

Donna was also the first woman appointed to the Business Council of Australia. She established the Strategic Counsel with Michael in 2007 and was the MD until her premature death in January 2018.

Donna's extensive legal, corporate and government experience in both the public and private sectors, in listed and unlisted companies and in the not-for-profit sector were impressive. Over two decades Donna developed extremely productive working relationships with both sides of federal politics and with the public service.

She was well respected for her robust advice and spent many years refining messages which resonate to this day. Her skills were matched by her vibrant, warm personality.

Eulogy for Donna Staunton by Hon. Michael Wooldridge on 10 January 2018
Tributes for an 'amazing human being' by Pharma Dispatch, 8 January 2018
Condolences from Parliament House Debates on 27 March 2018 for Donna