Meet The Team
Jason de Sousa | Managing Partner
Jason’s strength lies in his deep understanding of the intersection between business, markets and public policy. Prior to leading Ideia Partners, Jason was an Executive Director at Lendlease Corporation focused on strategy, origination and investment in major infrastructure and real estate projects across the Company’s Australian and international portfolio. Prior to this he served in senior policy and leadership roles at both the State and Commonwealth levels of government in Australia.
Jason has acted for public and private sector clients in Asia and Australasia advising on public private partnerships, infrastructure investment strategy, and regulation. He has a particular interest in how to unlock the potential of cities, focusing on how infrastructure and urban renewal projects can make cities more affordable, efficient and accessible, and create value for public and private investors.
Jason holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Australian Graduate School of Management, a Master of International Relations and a Bachelor of Economics from Macquarie University.
Andrew Huckel | Partner
Andrew has operated at a senior level in corporate, financial and government/public affairs for more than 20 years, including as the former Director of Corporate Affairs for Australia’s largest private rail freight company. At Pacific National, he was involved in the delivery of inland regional Australia’s largest intermodal terminal at Parkes (Central West , New South Wales) and St Marys Freight Hub in Western Sydney.
Major infrastructure projects overseen by Andrew included Sydney’s WestConnex and NorthConnex motorways, upgrades to the Pacific, Princes, Great Western and Newell highways, Bridges for the Bush, and Fixing Country Roads and Rail. He was also involved in the development of the state’s first Freight and Ports Strategy.
Andrew has a deep knowledge and understanding of how to navigate large and complex government agencies and engage with the executive of government. Andrew is a three-time graduate of The University of Sydney, Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and 2004 recipient of a Churchill Fellowship.
Tony Shepherd AO | Senior Adviser
Tony is a Senior Adviser and shareholder. He has had an extensive and successful career in Australia and overseas in the private and public sectors. He helped to pioneer innovative private investment and development of critical transport infrastructure, including major projects like the Sydney Harbour Tunnel, EastLink (Melbourne) and Melbourne City Link. The latter was one of the first roads in the world to deploy electronic tolling.
Tony was inaugural chair of WestConnex Delivery Authority (Sydney) and oversaw the listing of Transurban, ConnectEast (Melbourne) and Transfield Services. At Transfield Services, Tony was instrumental in the redevelopment of the historic Walsh Bay precinct (Sydney), the construction and delivery of 10 ANZAC class frigates for the Australian and New Zealand navies and negotiating public-private partnerships to develop and construct power stations in New South Wales and Queensland.
Tony is also a Director of Enviropacific Pty Ltd and Racing NSW. Tony was president of the Business Council of Australia (BCA) and chair of the National Commission of Audit. He is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Patron of Infrastructure Partnerships Australia.
Dean Dalla Valle | Senior Adviser
Dean is a Senior Adviser and shareholder. Most recently he served as CEO of Pacific National, Australia’s largest private rail freight company.
Prior to that, Dean held senior leadership roles at BHP Billiton during a 40-year career - earning him a reputation as one of the company’s longest serving and most respected leaders. He completed his tenure as Chief Commercial Officer with responsibility for marketing and distribution of commodities, the global Health Safety and Environment program, technology and the highly complex Samarco recovery project in Brazil. Prior to this, Dean was President of BHP Billiton’s international coal business.
Dean is the Chairman of Hysata, which is developing the world’s most efficient electrolysis cell, and a Non-Executive Director of Rio Tinto Group.
Susanna Montrone | Director
Susanna is a trusted adviser working with global and ASX-listed companies to navigate complex policy and regulatory environments. With deep networks across government, and an understanding of how to build collaborative partnerships between the private and public sectors to deliver reform and manage issues, she ensures effective engagement for clients with government policy makers, regulators and investors as a core part of business success.
Susanna has served in senior roles in government across her career including as Cabinet Director to the New South Wales Deputy Premier during the Covid pandemic, Director of Legislative Affairs for the then Government in NSW’s Upper House, and Chief of Staff at the Powerhouse Museum during its $1.2 billion renewal.
More recently she has worked to pioneer precinct partnerships at a local level, and with major philanthropic institutions on policy reform and political leadership. She volunteers her time on the board of Muscular Dystrophy NSW.
Anna Wyllie | Director
With more than 20 years of experience working in private, public, and not-for-profit organsations, Anna is a dynamic economic development specialist, bringing strategic thinking and a global focus to regional issues.
Anna’s most recent role was with the Department of Regional NSW as the Director of Regional Development for the South-East where she worked with local government (including bushfire affected communities), businesses and communities to develop and implement projects to create jobs, improve infrastructure and attact investment to regional areas, including working in the areas of renewables and the circular economy.
Prior to that, as Chief Strategy Officer for Parkes Shire Council, Anna oversaw economic development, including playing an instrumental role in the development of te Parkes National Logistics Hub and Special Activation Precinct, marketing, communications, tourism, regional drought resilience initiatives, events, and grants. She brings a wealth of experience and knowledge and a strong background in leadership, negotiations and stakeholder engagement and management.
Anna has a Bachelor Commerce (Government and Political Economy) Sydney University and a Diploma in Project Management.