Reporting, our necessary evil.
In my experience, comms people are generally bad at two things – measuring what they do and telling people how great they are. It’s not on purpose. We always have the best of intentions. You might even do it every…
Value = We connect you to the outside world
A few weeks ago, I did a planning day with a communications branch. It was an opportunity for the whole team to stop and discuss ‘why are we here?’. As a group, I challenged them to find the words to…
Have you started your EA communications strategy?
Updated for 2021! AGGGGHHHH not enterprise bargaining in the public service. Those of us who were part of the last bargaining round cannot believe it’s almost been three years. I know some departments have yet to finalise their agreements but…
Building respect in the communications profession
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
UPDATED: 2024 It is the ultimate conundrum in communications—do we have the right operating model? This issue comes up for communications teams every few years. Is there another way to offer our services? How is everyone else doing it? Should…
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…