Who we are

Ben Foster has spent 15 years at the centre of Australian politics, advising leaders through the moments where government decisions, stakeholder pressure and public scrutiny meet. His instinct is to find the path through: to build the coalitions and create the conditions for a decision to land, or a relationship to reset.

Before co-founding FMRS, Ben was a member of senior staff for the Premier of Victoria, leading business, union and stakeholder engagement and parliamentary strategy. Before that, he advised federal politicians and worked in the Commonwealth public service.

At FMRS, Ben leads government advisory, stakeholder strategy and inquiry preparation. His parliamentary experience runs across both state and federal jurisdictions, including ministers preparing for difficult questioning, members planning committee strategy, and the politics of contested legislation.

Jessie McCrone has spent 20 years working across campaigns, communications and policy at both state and national levels. She is known for bringing clarity to complexity, helping organisations focus on what matters, align internally, and move from ideas to execution.

Before co-founding FMRS, Jessie was Deputy Chief of Staff to the Premier of Victoria for over seven years, overseeing the Victorian Government's communications, digital and media functions. She was Chief of Staff at Labor's campaign headquarters for the successful 2018 and 2022 Victorian state election campaigns.

At FMRS, Jessie leads strategy, strategic communications, campaigns and organisational design. She is a regular political commentator on ABC radio.

Lissie Ratcliff advises CEOs, boards and senior executives through crisis, restructuring and special situations, regulatory scrutiny, and leadership transitions. Clients rely on her for confidential counsel and the kind of strategic foresight that comes from years at the centre of high-stakes decisions.

For seven years she was Chief of Staff to the Premier of Victoria, serving as principal strategic adviser to the Premier through major reform, crisis response, complex negotiation and three successful election campaigns, each won with an increased majority.

Lissie leads FMRS's new leader advisory practice, working with CEOs in their first hundred days, leaders managing major transitions, and executives navigating change and scrutiny at the same time.

Adam Sims has worked from every side of the communications relationship. He started in journalism as a federal press gallery reporter, became a senior adviser to Commonwealth ministers including the Deputy Prime Minister, served as Media Director for the Premier of Victoria, and went on to lead global corporate communications at IFM Investors, one of Australia's largest fund managers.

At IFM, Adam ran communications across major transactions including the acquisition of Sydney Airport, working across markets in Australia, Europe and North America. He has also advised United Nations agencies.

At FMRS, Adam leads corporate communications, financial communications and media strategy. He has direct relationships with senior editors and journalists across the major Australian mastheads and across international media.