MARK BRANDON BAKER OAM
PRESIDING MEMBER
Director since June 2024
Until his retirement in September 2023, Mark Brandon-Baker was Chairman and Managing Director of TG Public Affairs. TG Public Affairs is Australia’s largest government relations advisory firm, with clients including some the world’s best-known brands, ASX top 20 companies and major industry associations.
Before commencing with TGPA (then known as Endeavour Consulting) in 2006, Mark was Group Head of Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs for the Westpac Banking Corporation. As such, he advised the Bank’s Board and Senior Management on all legislative, regulatory and reputational risk issues affecting the bank’s interests.
Prior to Westpac, he was a Senior Adviser to then Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard MP, working within the Cabinet Policy Unit. He assisted in the development of whole-of-Government policy, with day-to-day Cabinet processes and also served as the Prime Minister’s senior speech writer.
Mark spent 15 years with Advance Bank, culminating in his appointment as Chief Executive – ACT Region. He also served as Secretary of the ACT Government’s Department of Business, Arts, Sport and Tourism.
Mark has been involved with regulatory, commercial and community boards for many years. He was Chair of the Anglican Investment and Development Fund. He served on the Board of Canberra Grammar School for 11 years, seven as its Chair. Other previous roles included membership of the Determining Authority of the Professional Services Review (the body that oversees medical practitioners’ relationship with Medicare and the PBS) and as a Board member of the Defence Housing Authority.
Mark is also a former President of the ACT Chamber of Commerce and Industry, former Chairman of the ACT Red Shield Appeal and former Chairman of the Duke of Edinburgh’s Award in the ACT (and a member of the DoE National Board).
In 2014, he was named an honorary lay canon of St Savior’s Cathedral in Goulburn and in 2019, was awarded a Medal of the Order of Australia for ‘services to the Canberra community’.