Strategic Advisory · Queensland
Castle Hill Advisory provides bespoke strategic advice in government relations, communications, stakeholder engagement and public policy — built on deep experience at the highest levels of Queensland State and Local Government.
Trusted advisors to government,
business and community.
About
Castle Hill Advisory was founded in April 2024 by Jonte Verwey, a seasoned public policy expert with nearly a decade of experience advising State Ministers and the Mayor of Townsville.
Based in regional North Queensland, but with networks across Australia, we offer the kind of frank, experienced counsel that can only come from having operated at the centre of government.
We work with local governments, not-for-profit organisations, and small to medium enterprises — offering tailored, responsive and impactful advisory services at every stage of engagement with government and the public.
Services
Our offering spans the full spectrum of strategic government and community engagement — always bespoke, always informed by real-world experience in the machinery of government.
Navigate complex government landscapes with confidence. We develop and implement targeted advocacy strategies, leveraging deep knowledge of how decisions are made at State and Local Government level.
From proactive media strategies to reactive communications management, we craft clear, compelling messaging that resonates with the audiences that matter most to your organisation.
We design and deliver stakeholder engagement programs that build trust, manage expectations and produce durable outcomes — drawing on extensive experience managing diverse and competing interests.
Rigorous, persuasive policy documents and submissions to State and Federal Parliament, parliamentary committees and Departmental consultations — including budget processes. We translate complex positions into clear arguments that cut through in government and regulatory processes.
High-quality speeches, briefing notes and correspondence crafted to your voice and context. We also review and strengthen existing documents to ensure clarity, accuracy and impact.
Supporting organisations seeking to establish or grow their footprint in regional Australia. We help identify opportunities, build relationships and develop the strategic narrative that opens doors.
The Team
Owner & Director · Castle Hill Advisory
Jonte is a public policy expert with close to a decade of experience at the heart of government and politics in Queensland. Beginning his career in a junior electorate officer role, he progressed through a series of increasingly senior advisory roles across multiple Ministerial offices before serving as Advisor to the Mayor of Townsville.
In those roles, Jonte provided strategic and political advice, managed complex stakeholder relationships, prepared parliamentary submissions, and guided proactive media and policy strategies at both State and Local Government level.
In April 2024, Jonte founded Castle Hill Advisory to bring that experience directly to clients navigating Queensland's government and regulatory environment. He remains deeply embedded in the North Queensland community, serving on the board of a local community housing provider and on the committee of a local sporting club, demonstrating a genuine commitment to the communities Castle Hill Advisory serves.
Jonte holds a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science & French) and a Master of Governance and Public Policy from the University of Queensland, and a Graduate Certificate in Business Analytics from the University of Technology Sydney.
Why Castle Hill Advisory
We are not a large firm. We are a focused one — with the access, experience and care that only a boutique practice can offer.
Having worked alongside elected officials and senior bureaucrats, we understand how decisions are really made.
Specialists in regional Queensland with a particular depth of knowledge in North Queensland's political and economic landscape.
Relationships built over years at senior levels of all levels of Government — not a rolodex, but real working connections.
Every client is different. We take the time to understand your context and deliver advice tailored precisely to your needs and goals.
Contact
Whether you're navigating a government process, planning a stakeholder engagement campaign, or simply want to understand how Castle Hill Advisory can add value — we'd be glad to hear from you.