Justin Kerr-Stevens, Founder, Northbourne Advisory.Northbourne Advisory, a strategic communications and advisory firm led by long-standing regional advisor Justin Kerr-Stevens has opened up shop in Doha, Qatar.
Endorsed by Media City Qatar, the firm is already active across the Gulf, Australia, and Europe. It aims to offer strategic advice to leaders navigating high-pressure environments and reputational risk.
“I’ve set up Northbourne to close the gap between what clients need and what most agencies assume they want,” says the firm’s Founder Kerr-Stevens.
Kerr-Stevens brings nearly 30 years of experience across government, corporate, and institutional communications and served as CEO and Managing Director of BLJ Worldwide in Doha.
On the reason behind the firm’s launch he said: “I kept hearing the same advisory language used over and over. Big claims about strategy followed by static, over processed plans.”
“Meanwhile, the region has moved fast. Economies have shifted. Media, public expectation, and politics have evolved. A lot of firms have not.”
“What‘s missing is grounded, locally aware advice that is still future-focused,” he adds. “Clients want insight based on genuine experience, not just desk research. They want decisions, not delays.”
Therefore, Northbourne Advisory’s core services include strategy, crisis management, reputation advisory, geopolitical insight, stakeholder engagement and capability building.
“Our aim is to help leaders think clearly, act quickly, and communicate with purpose. Every project is different, but the need for calm, well-judged advice is constant,” explains Kerr-Stevens.
“We deliberately keep our scope tight for a reason. That is what allows us to deliver properly,” he adds.
Talent and services at Northbourne Advisory
On the team powering the newly launched firm, Kerr-Stevens explains that Northbourne’s agency model relies on the depth of talent already present within the market.
“We’ve started with a small, senior team who understand the region, have delivered in complex environments, and know how to get the job done,” Kerr-Stevens explains. “That’s our baseline. We’re not here to make noise about big hires.”
Furthermore, the firm aims to positions itself as a discreet, high-trust partner to senior leaders and organisations with reputations to protect and opportunities to shape. As a result, Northbourne will also work behind the scenes to help organisations assess their internal communications infrastructure and build long-term capability.
“We are working with clients across government, investment, policy, and culture. That includes direct advisory work as well as supporting larger networked agencies that have built out project offices in the region and need senior expertise on the ground,” Kerr-Stevens says.
This includes reviewing in-house structures, clarifying roles and responsibilities, and equipping senior teams to perform under pressure. Through training, simulations, and strategic planning, the aim is to make communications sharper, faster, and more effective when it matters most.
“Looking ahead, we are prioritising sectors facing complexity and public scrutiny,” he adds. “That includes diplomacy, climate and sustainability, cultural institutions, and major investment programs. In these areas, reputation, clarity, and strategic communication are essential to getting things done.”
Finally, with a flexible organisational model that ‘builds teams around problems not hierarchies,’ Northbourne Advisory will work toward making communications sharper, faster, and more effective when it matters most.
“We don’t parachute in with assumptions. We listen, we challenge, and we work side by side with our clients. The goal is not just to fix problems, but to leave teams stronger and better prepared for what’s next.”
“We are here to help people cut through noise, stay steady under pressure, and get the work done,” Kerr-Stevens concludes.
