There is often a lack of respect or trust for communications professionals. Often our advice is dismissed or discounted as not as important as an economist, policy officer or project manager. I have been asked more times than I can…
Communicating our value to an organisation
Last week, I joined the IABC Converge conference with communications peers from the Asia Pacific, Europe, Middle East and Africa. The two day, fully virtual conference had speakers from around the world sharing their insights into the latest and greatest…
Next steps in your communications career
Last Thursday, I had the pleasure of participating in a panel discussion for IABC Canberra with Justine O’Brien from the Australian Academy of Technology & Engineering and Jaimee Thorpe from Hays Recruitment. We talked to communications professionals about what was…
Communications operating model: How to structure your communication team
It is the ultimate conundrum in communications – Do we have the right operating model? It is an issue that comes up for communications teams every few years. Is there another way to offer our services? How is everyone else…
A 2021 challenge: personal development
I didn’t realise how important it was to do personal development until I had to pay for it myself. When working in government I took it for granted (I see that now) that I could do a course or attend…
Canberra Communications Professional Series: Paige Pettit
Paige is a Communications Manager at the Digital Transformation Agency. I have known Paige for almost eight years, and she is one of the most humble communicators I know. I have watched her grow from a quiet, junior communications officer…
Canberra Communications Professional Series: Alison Senti
Alison is well known in Canberra communications circles, having worked in the industry for two decades and as the former President of IABC Canberra. Inspired by her kids, other communicators and recently re-elected Jacinda Ardern (who isn’t?), Alison has recently…
Canberra Communications Professional Series: Astrid O’Neill
Astrid was nominated by Lisa Ranson who is a fellow board member on the IABC Canberra board. Since 2018, Astrid has worked at Cordelta as a content writer, designer and now Content Lead. She is a girl after my own…
Canberra Communications Professional series: Emily Curlewis
Emily is the Chief Operations Officer at Veritec, a Canberra-based IT company who specalises in partnering with the public sector through Microsoft solutions. I first met Emily when she had just moved to Canberra and was immediately drawn to her…
Riding the wave of self-confidence
If you work in government communications every day can be like riding a wave. You get great feedback from the Secretary. You have a difficult meeting. Your media release gets through two Executive with limited changes! You drop the ball,…