89 Degrees East

What 89 Degrees East does

89 Degrees East Pty Ltd is an Australian strategic communications, research, and digital agency founded in 2001, operating from five offices across Melbourne (headquarters), Canberra, Brisbane, Byron Bay, and Sydney with a team of 50+ specialists. The firm delivers an integrated three-pillar service offering — Data Services (qualitative and quantitative research, audience segmentation, UX/UI mapping, stakeholder mapping), Strategy Services (strategic communications, campaign design, reputation management, political advisory, digital activation), and Delivery Services (media relations, digital campaigns, graphic design, media buying, branding, events, e-learning, VR training) — to federal and state government departments, ASX-listed and multinational corporations, and not-for-profit/advocacy organisations.

The company monetises through bespoke project-based and retainer consulting engagements, with no public pricing or self-serve distribution. Its go-to-market is sales-led, anchored by a leadership team with deep government and media credentials — CEO Alister Jordan (former Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister, 2008–2010) and Founder/CCO Annie O'Rourke (former Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister) — supplemented by community-led channels including two podcasts ('Moving the Middle: The Gender Compass Podcast' co-hosted with Plan International Australia, and 'Blue Red Green & Everything in Between') and a portfolio of proprietary research initiatives (Climate Compass, Gender Compass, Community Compass, Mental Health Compass). The firm is a member of the Australian Polling Council and publishes formal Methodology Statements for all publicly released polling, lending credibility to its large-scale survey work (e.g., 2,000+ respondent polls). Notable client relationships include the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet, Department of Health and Aged Care, Victorian Government, Bupa, Xero, Sydney Airport, Medibank, Coles Group, and Virgin Australia, alongside advocacy organisations such as The Sunrise Project, Brotherhood of St Laurence, and Farmers for Climate Action.

The business is privately held, founder-led, and bootstrapped — no external institutional investors, private equity backing, or parent company affiliations are disclosed, and no funding rounds have been recorded. The legal entity is 89 Degrees East Pty Ltd, registered in New South Wales, Australia.

Name

89 Degrees East

Legal name

89 Degrees East Pty Ltd

Website

https://89degreeseast.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

89 Degrees East is an Australian strategic communications, research, and digital agency founded in 2001, serving federal and state government, ASX-listed enterprises, and not-for-profit organisations with integrated data, strategy, and campaign delivery services across five offices nationally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Strategic Communications and Public Affairs Consulting

NAICS

Advertising, Public Relations, and Related Services (5418), Public Relations Agencies (541820), Marketing Research and Public Opinion Polling (541910)

SIC

Services-Advertising Agencies (7311), Services-Advertising (7310)

akta.pro primary industry

Online/Hybrid Lifelong Learning Platforms & Open Enrollment Programs (EDAAAEAL)

Keywords

• Strategic communications
• Public affairs consulting
• Stakeholder engagement
• Social research
• Data-driven insights

Headquarters

HQ city

Australian Capital Territory

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Professional Services and Consultancy: 89 Degrees East generates revenue through consulting engagements with government departments, multinational corporations, ASX-listed companies, industry associations, and not-for-profit organisations. Services span data and research, strategic communications, campaign design and delivery, digital activation, media relations, events, branding, and creative services. Engagements appear to be project-based or retainer arrangements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

89 Degrees East is a strategic communications, research, and digital agency that helps government, corporate, and not-for-profit clients understand their audiences through data-driven research and insights, design strategic communications and campaigns, and execute delivery across media relations, digital, creative, e-learning, and VR training. Its offering is organised into three service pillars — Data (research, analytics, segmentation), Strategy (communications strategy, campaign design, reputation and stakeholder management, political advisory), and Delivery (media relations, digital campaigns, design, branding, events, e-learning, VR training) — supported by proprietary social research frameworks (Gender Compass, Climate Compass, Mental Health Compass, Community Compass).

Product overview

89 Degrees East is a communications agency offering a unified suite of data, strategy, and delivery services. The core offering spans three interconnected service pillars: Data Services (qualitative and quantitative research, data analysis, audience segmentation, UX/UI mapping, stakeholder mapping), Strategy Services (strategic communications, campaign design, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, political advisory, digital activation, risk management), and Delivery Services (media relations, digital campaigns, graphic design, media buying, branding, events, e-learning, VR training). Additionally, the company produces thought leadership content through research initiatives including Gender Compass, Climate Compass, Mental Health Compass, and Community Compass, and publishes two podcasts: 'Moving the Middle: The Gender Compass Podcast' and 'Blue Red Green & Everything in Between'.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Moving the Middle: The Gender Compass Podcast: A podcast exploring how research and real stories shift attitudes on equality, backed by Gender Compass research.
• Blue Red Green & Everything in Between

Products and services

• Data Services Research and data analytics offerings including qualitative research, quantitative research, data analysis, audience segmentation, UX/UI mapping, and stakeholder mapping. Delivered to clients as a contracted service pillar.
• Strategy Services Strategic communications, campaign design and delivery, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, political advisory and advocacy, digital activation, and risk management. Delivered as a contracted service pillar to government, corporate, and not-for-profit clients.
• Delivery Services Execution services including media relations, digital campaigns, graphic design and animation, media buying, branding, events, e-learning design and hosting, and VR training. Delivered as a contracted service pillar.
• Climate Compass A social research initiative focused on community attitudes to climate change, working with climate and environment NGOs. Published with formal Australian Polling Council methodology statements.
• Gender Compass A research project bringing together advocates, researchers, communicators, and philanthropists to rethink how to talk about gender equality and build a broader base of support for the movement. Backed by the 'Moving the Middle' podcast.
• Community Compass Research initiative focused on understanding community attitudes and social trends in Australia, published with formal methodology statements.
• Mental Health Compass A research initiative focused on mental health attitudes and advocacy, developed in partnership with Australians for Mental Health.

Quantifiable outcome

• Survey of 2,000+ respondents on renewable energy attitudes conducted on behalf of Renew Australia For All, with results used to support the 'Sovereign Power' policy proposal.

Named customers32 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

Three partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Australian Polling CouncilcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner89 Degrees East is a member of the Australian Polling Council, which aims to increase public confidence in Australian polling through greater transparency. As a member, the company complies with the Council's Code of Conduct and publishes formal Methodology Statements for all publicly released polling, outlining survey design, weighting, sampling, and fieldwork.
• Renew Australia for AllmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner89 Degrees East conducted a major survey on behalf of Renew Australia for All, polling over 2,000 Australians on attitudes to government-owned energy infrastructure and public investment in renewables. Results were used to support the 'Sovereign Power' policy proposal. Multiple methodology statements are published for this client relationship.
• Plan International AustraliamajorStrategic or Co-development Partner89 Degrees East co-hosts the 'Moving the Middle: The Gender Compass Podcast' with Plan International Australia. The podcast is backed by the Gender Compass research project and explores how leaders and changemakers engage Australians on gender equality. Hayley Cull, Deputy CEO of Plan International Australia, co-hosts the series with Dr Rebecca Huntley.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hawker Britton: Leading Australian public affairs and government relations consultancy with strong ties to the Labor side of politics. Comparable to 89 Degrees East in serving federal/state government clients with political advisory, stakeholder engagement, and campaign services.
• C|T Group (Crosby Textor): Global political and corporate advisory firm with major Australian operations, originally built on political consulting. Highly comparable to 89 Degrees East in leveraging political expertise for corporate and government clients across strategy, research, and campaign execution.
• Newgate Communications: Australian and Asia-Pacific strategic communications and public affairs firm offering research, government relations, corporate communications, and campaign services. Direct peer serving the same multinational, government, and NFP verticals as 89 Degrees East.
• SenateSHJ: Australian strategic communications consultancy with strong corporate affairs and government relations capabilities. Comparable in serving ASX-listed, government, and peak-body clients across strategy, media, and stakeholder engagement.
• GRACosway: Australian strategic communications and government relations firm advising ASX-listed companies, multinationals, and government clients. Overlaps with 89 Degrees East on corporate affairs, reputation management, and public affairs work.
• Thinkerbell: Australian-founded creative, brand, and communications agency operating across measured communications, PR, and digital. Comparable in offering integrated strategy + creative + delivery for enterprise clients in Australia.
• Sling & Stone: Australian integrated PR and communications agency serving enterprise, government, and technology clients. Comparable in providing strategic communications, digital campaigns, and creative execution to similar buyer profiles.

Broad incumbents

• Edelman Australia: Global public relations firm's Australian operations offering corporate affairs, public engagement, and research. Competes for the same multinational and government mandates as 89 Degrees East but with much larger global bench and resources.
• FGS Global (Finsbury Glover Hering): Global public affairs and strategic communications firm with Australian presence, advising corporates and governments on reputation, policy, and transactions. Overlaps with 89 Degrees East in public affairs and stakeholder engagement for ASX-listed and government clients.
• BCW (Burson Cohn & Wolfe) Australia: Global communications agency with significant Australian operations serving corporate and government clients. Competes with 89 Degrees East on public affairs, corporate communications, and digital campaign mandates at the enterprise level.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/89oEast
• Facebookfacebook.com/89degreeseast

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about 89 Degrees East