Lillis Clark
1. Business / Trading Name: Lillis Clark (the company operates under this name, combining the founders’ surnames).
2. Company Number: 6924493.
3. NZBN: 9429046891655.
4. Entity Type: New Zealand Limited Company.
5. Business Classification: M696275 – Public affairs consultant service (classified as a public affairs consultancy).
6. Industry Category: Public Relations and Communications Services (operating in the strategic communications, public affairs, and PR sector). The firm’s services span government relations, media, and lobbying.
7. Year Founded: 2018 (incorporated 11 July 2018).
8. Addresses:
• Registered & Physical Office: Generator, 40 Bowen Street, Pipitea, Wellington 6011, New Zealand. This is a co-working space near Parliament.
• Postal Address: PO Box 643, Wellington 6140, New Zealand.
9. Website URL: www.lillisclark.com.
10. LinkedIn URL: https://www.linkedin.com/company/lillisclark/?originalSubdomain=nz
11. Company Hub NZ URL:
https://www.companyhub.nz/companyDetails.cfm?nzbn=9429046891655
13. Social Media URLs: The firm’s online footprint is modest. The LinkedIn company page serves as its main social media. No active presence on Instagram or YouTube is evident (despite placeholders on data aggregators). In practice, the principals often communicate through industry networks rather than public social media posts.
14. Ultimate Holding Company: None. Lillis Clark is privately held by its founders with no parent corporation – it is an independent firm.
15. Key Shareholders: Anna Marie Lillis (50% – 50 shares) and Kenneth James (“Kenny”) Clark (50% – 50 shares). Each founder owns half of the company. There are no other shareholders.
16. Leadership: The firm is led by its Founding Directors – Anna Lillis and Kenny Clark, who jointly run the agency. Both are experienced in government relations and strategic communications, having held senior advisory roles in government before founding the firm. They remain the principal consultants and public faces of Lillis Clark. (Anna Lillis serves as Managing Director overseeing communications strategy, while Kenny Clark directs government relations and advocacy efforts.)
17. Staff: In addition to the two directors, Lillis Clark has a small team of consultants and support staff:
• Erica Guy – Associate (Senior Consultant): Experienced in media and strategic communications (joined 2019). Leads client campaigns (e.g. a nationwide GP awareness campaign) and has a background in NGO communications (ex-Plunket).
• Oliver “Ollie” Couchman – Consultant: Communications professional with a background in public sector roles (joined 2020). Former senior advisor at the Ministry for the Environment, with experience in political communications.
• Emily van Velthooven – Consultant: Former journalist (ex-TVNZ reporter) with ~10 years in media. Provides media strategy and storytelling expertise since moving into consultancy.
• Charlotte Campbell – Office Manager: Joined 2022 to manage day-to-day operations and assist on client events. Background in an industry association’s administration.
• Jannah Dennison – Consultant (Content Specialist): Writer/editor focusing on content creation and research (working with Lillis Clark since 2021). Experienced in not-for-profit and corporate communications, she develops campaign materials and qualitative research insights.
Staff count: Approximately 5–7 employees/contractors. Industry sources categorize Lillis Clark as a “boutique” firm with 1–10 employees.
17a. Staff with Previous Government Roles: Several Lillis Clark personnel have held prior roles in government or politics:
• Anna Lillis: Over a decade as a senior communications advisor in the Beehive (Parliament) for multiple Government Ministers. She managed messaging across portfolios like finance, economic development, education, foreign affairs, infrastructure, science and innovation, etc., including leading communications for the Government’s Budget.
• Kenny Clark: Around 20 years in and around NZ’s political scene. Ministerial advisor alongside senior Ministers in portfolios such as finance, transport, ICT, health, and tertiary education during the John Key/Bill English era. (He gained “inside experience” working directly with ministers on challenging portfolios.)
• Oliver Couchman: Previously worked in the office of a senior Member of Parliament and in a political party’s communications unit. Also served as a senior comms advisor in a government ministry, liaising with Ministers.
• (Other staff have predominantly media or private-sector backgrounds; Erica, Emily, Charlotte, and Jannah have not held government staff roles.)
18. Past Employees: No high-profile departures have been publicly noted. As a young firm, Lillis Clark’s core team has remained stable since its founding in 2018. The founders themselves came from another consultancy: Kenny Clark was initially a director/shareholder of Matai Partners Limited (a PR consulting firm started in 2016) but resigned in late 2020 to focus fully on Lillis Clark and its new research arm. Jannah Dennison (consultant) is a relatively recent addition (2021) and continues in her role. No public record of other past staff or significant turnover is available, suggesting the team of advisors has grown steadily rather than seeing many leave.
19. Clients: Lillis Clark’s client base spans corporate, public, and non-profit sectors, although specific client names are often kept confidential (common in the lobbying industry). Known and reported clients or projects include:
• University of Waikato: Lillis Clark (in partnership with Steven Joyce’s firm) worked for the University on its campaign to establish a new Waikato medical school. They successfully lobbied to have the idea adopted as policy by the National Party in 2023 (the party promised to fund a third medical school at Waikato).
• Health Sector Clients: NZ Health Group, a major private healthcare provider, engaged Lillis Clark. For example, in Dec 2024, Lillis Clark’s Erica Guy accompanied NZ Health Group executives to a meeting with the Associate Health Minister – indicating NZ Health Group is a client. The firm likely advises on health policy and government relations for such healthcare companies.
• Industry Associations (Construction/Infrastructure): Lillis Clark represents or coordinates coalitions of industry bodies. A diary disclosure shows Anna Lillis facilitating a meeting between the Minister and CEOs of Master Plumbers, Master Builders, Engineering NZ, and the NZ Institute of Building, suggesting those associations (or a collective of construction industry groups) are clients. They likely hired Lillis Clark to advocate for their sector’s interests (e.g. addressing skilled trades training, regulatory settings, etc.).
• Energy and Primary Industries: While specific clients are undisclosed, Anna Lillis has noted experience with the energy/resources and primary industry sectors, and Erica Guy’s background included work for Fonterra, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, and Contact Energy (though that was prior to joining Lillis Clark). This indicates the firm is familiar with advising agriculture, dairy, and energy companies – and may have such clients in these sectors.
• Technology and Education: The team’s experience and networks (Anna’s work in tech and tertiary education portfolios) suggest clients in tech/start-ups or educational institutions beyond Waikato. For instance, the firm has worked on international education issues, possibly for universities or education providers. (Specific names aren’t public.)
• Not-for-Profit Organizations: Lillis Clark “clients include… not-for-profit organisations”. One example is the Plunket Society (Erica Guy was a senior communications advisor for Plunket before joining, and likely liaised with Lillis Clark on projects). The firm may assist NGOs or advocacy groups in strategizing campaigns to influence policy (e.g. health charities, social service NGOs).
Overall, Lillis Clark’s clientele ranges from multinational corporations and NZX-listed companies to industry associations and NGOs. Many clients seek help navigating government policy or raising public/regulatory issues. The firm does not publicly list its clients, citing confidentiality, but media and official records have revealed the above engagements.
19a. Industries/Sectors Represented: Based on known clients, Lillis Clark represents a diverse set of sectors, notably:
• Tertiary Education (universities, e.g. Waikato University)
• Healthcare (primary care/general practice, health service providers)
• Construction & Infrastructure (building trade associations, engineering bodies)
• Energy & Resources (inferred from team’s background experience in oil, gas, electricity, agriculture)
• Technology & Innovation (sector mentioned in founders’ past work, likely clients in tech/start-up advocacy)
• Public Sector / Not-for-Profit (education, health charities, possibly government agencies on communication projects).
20. Publicly Disclosed Engagements: Lillis Clark’s lobbying activities usually occur behind closed doors, but several have come to light through media or Official Information Act disclosures:
• Ministerial Diaries: Appearances of Lillis Clark staff in ministers’ public diaries confirm lobbying meetings. For example, in Dec 2023, Anna Lillis is listed as attending a meeting with the Building and Construction Minister alongside industry CEOs. In Dec 2024, Erica Guy is named meeting the Associate Health Minister with NZ Health Group reps. These entries are direct evidence of Lillis Clark’s access to decision-makers on behalf of clients.
• Policy Development Consultations: The Ministry of Justice’s 2023 lobbying reform project records show Lillis Clark participated in consultations to develop a lobbyists’ code of conduct. Their attendance in those meetings was made public, identifying them as a prominent firm of ex-government staff now in lobbying.
• National Party Conference 2023: Lillis Clark’s research arm (Aureus) was openly acknowledged as a sponsor and advisor at the National Party’s conference. Political commentators noted the firm’s notable presence influencing the governing party’s policy discussions.
• Media Reports: Journalists have occasionally named Lillis Clark in investigative stories – e.g., regarding the Waikato med school lobbying (Good Oil news site).
21. Affiliations: Lillis Clark and its principals are connected within both industry and political networks:
• Professional Bodies: The firm is a member of the Public Relations Institute of NZ (PRINZ) (by virtue of its PR consulting role) and its affiliated research entity Aureus Insights is a member of the Research Association of NZ, adhering to industry codes of practice.
• Lobbying Industry Initiatives: Lillis Clark took part in establishing a new Voluntary Code of Conduct for Lobbyists in 2023, working with peers and the Ministry of Justice. This indicates affiliation with efforts to self-regulate the lobbying profession.
• Political Networks: Both Anna Lillis and Kenny Clark are informally affiliated with the National Party’s network due to their history as National Government staffers. They work closely with notable National figures (e.g., former Minister Steven Joyce and his consultancy). This collaboration effectively ties them into National’s orbit of advisors.
• Community and Education: Anna Lillis serves as Board Chair of Queen Margaret College (Wellington), reflecting a community leadership role (and reinforcing her connections in the education and philanthropic sector).
• Business Community: The firm is based at the Generator Wellington co-working space, which hosts various startups and consultancy firms – situating Lillis Clark in a hub of Wellington’s professional and lobbying community (often frequented by government relations practitioners). They maintain relationships with other PR/lobbying firms and think tanks (e.g., sharing insights, or collaborating on client projects when needed, as seen with the university lobbying where another firm was also retained).
• In summary, Lillis Clark is well-integrated into Wellington’s public affairs ecosystem, bridging political circles and corporate communications networks.
22. Sponsorships / Collaborations:
• Political Events Sponsorship: The firm (via Aureus Research) was a commercial sponsor of the National Party’s 2023 conference, underscoring its investment in maintaining influence with the ruling party. Their sponsorship and advisory role at that event were highlighted by political journalists as unusual for a research/lobbying outfit.
• Collaboration with Steven Joyce: Lillis Clark collaborates closely with Joyce Advisory (the consultancy of ex-Cabinet minister Steven Joyce). Joyce’s firm brought in Clark and Lillis to assist on major projects like the Waikato med school lobbying. This partnership leverages Joyce’s high-level political clout and Lillis Clark’s on-the-ground lobbying skills. The synergy exemplifies the revolving-door network: ex-ministers and ex-staffers teaming up for clients.
• Joint Campaigns: The firm sometimes works in tandem with industry coalitions or other PR agencies. For example, on tertiary education issues, Waikato University simultaneously engaged another lobbying firm (Capital Government Relations) for Labour-era lobbying while working with Lillis Clark and Joyce for National-facing strategy – indicating a coordinated collaboration across firms.
• Community and Media Collaborations: Lillis Clark’s team members often interface with media (leveraging relationships with journalists like those at TVNZ via Emily van Velthooven’s background) and with community healthcare providers (through Erica Guy’s ties to Plunket and GP networks). These relationships are not formal sponsorships but are collaborative efforts to amplify clients’ messages.
• Sponsorships: There’s no public record of Lillis Clark sponsoring charities or events outside the political/industry realm. Their focus appears to be on strategic sponsorships that align with their advocacy work (e.g. sponsoring political conferences or providing pro bono communications advice for causes aligned with their sectors).
23. Events (Held or Organised): Lillis Clark typically works behind the scenes, but it has been involved in organizing or supporting events for clients and within the political domain:
• Client Events and Campaigns: The firm helps put together events such as campaign launches, media briefings, and stakeholder forums for its clients. Charlotte Campbell’s role explicitly includes event management tasks on behalf of clients, indicating the firm regularly arranges such events to advance client objectives.
• Industry Conferences: Lillis Clark’s principals speak at or attend conferences relevant to their clients’ industries (e.g., health summits, education forums), though not as public organizers.
• National Party Conference 2023: While not an organizer, their sponsored presence and behind-the-scenes influence effectively made them part of this major political event’s programme. They used the opportunity to run focus groups and advise ministers during the conference.
• Hosted Events: There is no evidence of Lillis Clark hosting public seminars or its own branded events. Any events held tend to be closed-door meetings (such as roundtables between clients and policymakers) that Lillis Clark facilitates, rather than public-facing events.
24. Political Donations: No known direct political donations have been made by Lillis Clark Ltd or its directors in disclosed records. The firm’s influence is exercised via lobbying activity and strategic counsel, not via financial contributions to parties. Instead of donations, the company channels support through event sponsorships and services. It operates in a space where access and information are currency, more so than open donations. (A search of Electoral Commission donation records did not reveal contributions under the Lillis Clark name, and media investigations have not highlighted any such donations.) However, the close relationship with the National Party is evident through non-monetary support, which, while not a “donation,” serves a similar purpose of currying favor. In New Zealand’s lobbying climate – described as a “wild west” with little transparency on lobbyist dealings – firms like Lillis Clark typically avoid the spotlight of donations and prefer to exert influence more discreetly.
25. Controversies: Lillis Clark has not been at the center of any scandal unique to itself; however, it features in broader controversies about lobbying and political influence in New Zealand:
• Lobbying Transparency Debate: The firm is frequently cited in commentary about unregulated lobbying. It was named among firms that prompted concern over a “revolving door” between government and lobbying, contributing to the perception of a “Wild West” lobbying environment lacking rules. This association with NZ’s lobbying free-for-all is a reputational challenge. In early 2023, several lobbying-related scandals (unrelated to Lillis Clark specifically) led the government to crack down on the industry, indirectly casting scrutiny on all firms including Lillis Clark.
• Use of Government Contacts: Because Anna Lillis and Kenny Clark previously worked for top National ministers, critics have pointed out that they might trade on insider knowledge and networks. While not illegal, this raises conflict of interest questions. Media discussion has lumped Lillis Clark with other former political staffer-run firms that allegedly enjoy undue access. This was highlighted by Bryce Edwards citing them as “lobbyists who used to work in John Key’s administration” in a critical piece on lobbying influence.
• Undisclosed Role in Policy: According to political journalist Richard Harman, “Lillis Clark… is said to write much of the Beehive policy” for the current government. If true, this blurred line between private consultants and public policy could be seen as controversial. However, it has not sparked official investigation – it mainly circulates as insider commentary.
• Auditor-General Inquiry (Waikato Univ.): An Auditor-General’s report in 2023 criticized Waikato University for the way it contracted Steven Joyce’s firm for advice. Lillis Clark’s behind-the-scenes work on the med school campaign was tangentially part of that scenario. While the criticism was aimed at the university and Joyce, it cast light on the unusual scale of private consulting fees in public education. Lillis Clark itself was not named in the Auditor-General’s findings (the university had officially hired different firms for lobbying), thus avoiding direct censure.
• No Personal Scandals: There have been no reports of misconduct by Anna Lillis or Kenny Clark individually. The controversies involving Lillis Clark are thus industry-level concerns (opacity, potential conflicts) rather than any specific wrongdoing by the firm. They have so far managed to avoid the kind of direct scandal that forced some lobbyists (e.g. those breaching government rules) into headlines.
26. Other Information of Note:
• Aureus Insights (Research Arm): In 2020 the founders launched a separate entity, Aureus Insights Limited, to provide qualitative research and polling services. Aureus (sometimes referred to as “Aureus Research”) is effectively a sister company to Lillis Clark, run by the same owners. It conducts focus groups, opinion research, and market analysis, often to inform lobbying strategies. Aureus is notable for its work for the National Party – running focus groups that reportedly guide the Prime Minister’s day-to-day decisions. This integration of data-driven insight with lobbying gives Lillis Clark a powerful edge in shaping messages and policy.
• Founders’ Backgrounds: Anna Lillis and Kenny Clark capitalized on their extensive government experience to start the firm. Both served in the administration of former PM John Key (2008–2016) and Bill English (2016–2017), which explains their strong ties to the National Party. Anna’s roles spanned communications for key economic portfolios, and Kenny was known within Wellington circles as a trusted ministerial advisor. Their transition from public service to private lobbying exemplifies New Zealand’s “revolving door” between government and consultancies.
• Location & Proximity: The office at 40 Bowen Street places Lillis Clark literally a short walk from the Beehive (Parliament). This physical proximity to power is by design – many lobbying firms cluster near Parliament. It allows frequent face-to-face access to MPs and officials (formally and informally). The building (“Generator”) also houses other public affairs firms, making it something of a lobbying hub.
• Brand and Approach: Lillis Clark markets itself as a “boutique” agency that can communicate to ‘one or one million’. The name itself is the combination of the founders’ last names, reflecting a personal, partnership-driven brand. They emphasize a tailored approach, leveraging insider knowledge of how government works (“navigating Wellington”) and polished media skills to get results. Their services range from classic PR to direct government relations, crisis management, and digital campaigns, indicating a full-spectrum approach to influence.
• Queen Margaret College Governance: Outside of work, Anna Lillis’s position as Chair of the Board of Governors at QMC (a prestigious girls’ school in Wellington) is noteworthy. It speaks to her community involvement and suggests a degree of public trust and leadership beyond politics. This role doesn’t directly relate to lobbying, but it enhances her personal profile in Wellington’s civic landscape.
• Public Image: Unlike some larger lobbying firms, Lillis Clark keeps a low public profile. They rarely speak to media about their work – most information comes from third parties. Their website focuses on capabilities and team bios rather than client success stories (owing to confidentiality). This low-key approach is common in NZ lobbying, but it means Lillis Clark is not a household name – their influence is exercised mostly out of public view.
• Relationship with Other Lobbyists: The founders maintain collegial relationships with other lobbyists across the political spectrum. They have worked alongside figures like Neale Jones (ex-Labour staffer at Capital Government Relations) and others when interests align (e.g., collective industry pushes for more lobbying transparency, or when multiple firms are engaged by one client for different audiences). This indicates pragmatism – despite partisan backgrounds, they will collaborate for a client’s needs or industry unity.
Spot anything in this entry that is wrong? Please either leave a comment at the end or email, in confidence: bryce@democracyproject.nz