The Public sector, including the Central Agencies – The Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, and the Treasury
I have extensive experience in the public sector. Most recently, I have been Principal Advisor to the Head of Communications & Engagement at ACC. I have supported a review of the external engagement structure to promote a proactive, responsive and transparent organisation, lifted capacity and performance in a large communications team and played an integral role in the development of an ambitious internal and external engagement strategy designed as a critical partner to a customer-centric and transforming organisation.
During 2015 I was responsible for communications and engagement on the CabNet project sponsored by the Cabinet Office – an all-of-government initiative to move the Cabinet and Cabinet Committee paper process on to a secure, online environment, involving extensive stakeholder engagement with 28 Ministers’ offices and 46 agencies – over 2000 users across the State sector.
From February to December 2016 I provided communications advice to the Director of the Office of the Chief Executive in the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, initially focused on the transition of CERA functions to the department and latterly as Principal Advisor – internal communications, providing strategic advice and communication delivery across the department through a period of growth and change.
I have been involved in two projects in Fiscal and State Sector management within the Treasury and during 2014 provided communications advice to CASS (Central Agencies Shared Services).
Insurance, finance and banking
My work with The Treasury and the Medical Assurance Society built on my previous financial experience with Melbourne-based financial public relations company, Hinton & Associates, and Merchant Bankers, Fay Richwhite. Until my work with the Central Agencies, I regularly wrote features and personal finance articles for On MAS, the Medical Assurance Member magazine.
In the late 1990s and 2000, as an associate of Hinton & Associates, I was involved in a number of high-profile mergers, acquisitions and takeovers, including being part of a team communicating National Australia Bank’s $2.4 billion acquisition of MLC Limited.
While an associate of public relations firm, Symmans, Saker Elliott & Hickman in the 1990s, I worked as part of a team with ANZ and NZ Post on strategic change, including the production of audio-visual resources in New Zealand and Australia.
Following an extended period travelling and working in London after graduating from University, at Fay Richwhite I oversaw elements of its extensive sponsorship programme and became involved in the marketing and promotion of a new investment banking issue.
Energy sector
I particularly enjoy making complex topics accessible through the use of plain language, eg, in the electricity sector. Since 2004, I have been involved with New Zealand’s electricity regulator, the Electricity Commission, latterly the Electricity Authority, providing strategic communications advice and support, including special projects, writing regular publications, fact sheets and for the web. In 1998, I was responsible for marketing communications for the launch of Contact Energy in New Zealand’s retail electricity marketplace and in 2000 I worked in TransAlta’s external relations team.
Industry training
Over 10 years ago, I was introduced to the Agriculture industry-training organisation (Agriculture ITO) through some work I was doing in the industry training area for TEC. I provided Agriculture ITO (now Primary ITO) with a full range of communications support. Other agriculture sector clients have included Agriculture Services Limited and FarmSafe. I enjoy promoting learning and development and have also worked with the Aviation, Travel and Tourism, Equine and Retail ITOs and the Primary sector organisation.
Me
I have a Bachelor of Arts majoring in English Literature and Political Science from Victoria University and a New Zealand Certificate of Direct Marketing. I also hold a City and Guilds photography qualification from London.
Children’s books are my passion. I am the author of six children’s readers used in schools. A particular highlight was photographing the mountain gorillas in Zaire (now Congo) and publishing Mountain Gorillas, a reader used in classrooms in New Zealand, Australia, United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.
I live in beautiful Breaker Bay, Wellington, with my husband Ross, daughter Victoria and naughty dog Chip.
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