As the pick to succeed Jennifer Westacott as the head of the Business Council of Australia, congenial political staffer and former lawyer Bran Black lacked instant name recognition.

But on Tuesday, the politico’s well-honed advocacy skills were already on display. The BCA – the country’s biggest business lobby – had swiftly produced Black for an interview after getting wind of a profile. By 2pm, UNSW chancellor and “chairman of everything” David Gonski was on the phone.