Cornerstone Government Relations is part of Cornerstone Group, a national advisory firm providing strategic counsel across government relations, public policy and commercial advisory. Our work spans the full spectrum of engagement—supporting clients to navigate complex political, regulatory and community environments through evidence-led strategy and disciplined execution.

Our management team and Advisory Board bring deep, multipartisan experience from senior roles in government, politics, public administration and industry. This expertise allows us to anticipate political dynamics, identify opportunities and deliver practical, credible advice.

Cornerstone supports clients across Australia’s most critical and highly regulated sectors, including essential services, major infrastructure, emerging technologies and industries undergoing significant reform. We work with organisations that operate in complex environments where constructive government, stakeholder and community engagement is essential.

Our extensive network reaches decision-makers at local, state and federal levels, as well as senior leaders in corporate Australia, industry associations, community organisations and the media. These relationships enable us to build informed, constructive dialogue grounded in trust and genuine insight.

As the Australasian member of The Advocacy Group Inc. (TAG)—a global network of public affairs and government relations professionals—Cornerstone extends its reach internationally, offering clients access to intelligence and support across key global markets.

Energy & Renewables
Mining and Resources
Banking & Financial Services
Insurance
Early Childhood Education & Care (ECEC)
Health & Aged Care
Education
Science, Technology & Innovation
Housing & Urban Development
Construction & Infrastructure
Transport & Aviation
Telecommunication

Our journey,
culture and
values

Bringing people together to discuss and negotiate a path forward is part of my DNA and is the reason Cornerstone Group was established in 2012.

Built on a foundation of ethics and facilitating outcomes, Cornerstone transformed what I already did as a business leader and member of politics into a viable and valued business.

In the mid-90s, electronic communication was becoming an essential part of the global supply chain. As a Director of the Australian Federation of Freight Forwarders, I was central to the development of an international agreement on process implementation, bringing global leaders to the table to implement electronic data interchange initiatives.

My experience also earned me a place on the negotiation team as Australia worked with both China and India in securing investment for infrastructure development.

As a former Director on the State Executive of a national political party, I observed first-hand how the interplay and two-way communications between business and government unfolded. Bringing people, business and government together via the Cornerstone Group was a natural evolution.

My motivation also comes from my early family life, and from my father’s dedication to charity work. This saw me involved in advocacy from a young age. Today, the Cornerstone Group still focuses on giving back to charities that our staff and clients believe need our support, including through pro bono services to the not-for-profit sector.

I believe that a business must set out to build ongoing and deep relationships with government, the community and the people in it. And to continue facilitating meaningful conversations between these stakeholders through good and bad times.

It is upon these foundations that the Cornerstone Group was founded, and against which we measure ourselves every day. Cornerstone is much more than a service provider to local and international businesses – we are proud to be the source of real time intelligence and insight for our clients as they grow their businesses in Australia.

Joseph Tannous
Founder and Executive Director Cornerstone Group

OUR
values

We are a registered government relations organisation operating across most Australian states and the Commonwealth, fully complying with all lobbying and industry codes of conduct.

Every member of the Cornerstone team – including our Advisory Board, directors, support staff, and key experts – adheres to rigorous standards of ethical conduct and confidentiality, upholding the highest principles of professional practice.

Cornerstone Government Relations is also a member of the Australian Professional Government Relations Association, and we comply with its Code of Conduct.

  • Responsible Business PracticeResponsible Business Practice

  • Trust and TransparencyTrust and Transparency

  • Social ResponsibilitySocial Responsibility

  • AccountabilityAccountability

  • RespectRespect

With leadership comes responsibility. All our business dealings are conducted within a strong ethical framework; this underpins the relationships we have built over time. We aim to balance commercial imperatives for clients with positive economic and social outcomes.

Cornerstone team members are passionate about the work they do for every client, on every project. We are upfront in all our dealings and we expect the same from our clients. Being open and honest is critical to achieving positive outcomes.

We know that the outcomes we strive to deliver for clients have direct flow-on effects. They should deliver a net benefit for society. We are strongly attuned to delivering outcomes that deliver social and environmental benefits for all.

We work to clearly defined objectives in a transparent manner and accept responsibility for our decisions and actions. We seek to apply all of our resources effectively for clients and we submit ourselves to appropriate scrutiny.

We treat everyone in a considerate, fair and courteous manner. We maintain confidentiality and treat private information in a highly sensitive way. Our team members collaborate and engage constructively with each other and with clients towards a common goal – and we share our successes.