Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
As a corporate communications executive with deep experience spanning strategic comms, media and all levels of government, I build brands and corporate reputation. Through experience built in current and previous roles, I provide strategic and practical advice on complex reputation and policy issues, risk, crisis management and governance and have a demonstrable ability to communicate complex detail effectively and solve problems. I have expertise in leading high performing teams and a strong ability to navigate complex internal and external stakeholder environments, including lobbying and networking at the political level, liaising with government ministers and their departments. Attributes include being able to assimilate and synthesise complex information quickly with a focus on the ‘big picture,’ and have the ability to be innovative and 'think outside the box' whilst acting with energy, curiosity, integrity and resilience. My professional development extends to graduating from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Company Directors course, with experience in board effectiveness, risk & strategy, governance & compliance and financial literacy.
I oversee the ongoing delivery of good governance practices through accurate, timely and transparent disclosures embedded throughout NBN Co’s suite of corporate reporting documents including the Half Year Report, Sustainability Bond Report, Corporate Plan, Annual Report and Modern Slavery Statement (delivered successfully from FY22 through to FY26). This includes delivering these reports to the Audit & Risk Committee for review and feedback prior to formal submission to the board. I assist nbn’s Treasury team in positioning the company as Australia’s largest corporate issuer in green and sustainability format through the writing and publishing of nbn’s Sustainability Bond Framework and annual Sustainability Bond Report, which are designed for investors relations, and subsequent media announcements. These have enabled the company to raise A$10.7 billion equivalent in green and sustainability format in the domestic and international debt markets over the past three years. I oversee the creation and presentation of comms materials for financial results, sustainability and innovation milestones and support the executive team with speech writing, strategic media advice, media coaching and key written communications. I play a lead strategic communications role, including reputation, issues and crisis management and take a proactive approach to media relations.
I helped grow TPG Telecom’s visibility and influence across traditional and online media and all levels of government through integrated and proactive approaches to content development on all communications channels across the company’s family of brands. I also managed relationships and engagement with Federal and State MP’s offices and the Department of Communications in relation to network coverage, infrastructure deployment and constituents’ service issues.
I helped build Optus' reputation as a trusted service delivery organisation across all levels of government through effective stakeholder engagement and issues management. Led Optus’ involvement in the Minderoo Foundation’s Fire & Flood Resilience working group as part of the company’s efforts to make the network more resilient to climate change and extreme weather events. I secured $3 million in funding to increase the resilience of Optus’ regional telecommunications infrastructure to keep communities connected during natural disasters through a successful submission to the Australian Government’s Strengthening Telecommunications Against Natural Disasters program. I oversaw the resolution of inquiries and issues from Federal and State MP’s offices and the Department of Communications in relation to coverage, infrastructure deployment and constituents’ service issues and I provided advice across the business on the best levers to engage in working with government stakeholders.
I led a high performing department of 50 staff in Media, Communications, Web and Correspondence and the daily management of a $4.5 million cost centre to support the City's key programs, policy and operational priorities through the creation of positive media and communications strategies. WE helped safeguard reputation and build customer trust. I provided strategic and operational guidance to the CEO and senior leadership team on contentious and emerging issues, proactively identified and created effective issues mitigation strategies. I also led the planning and production of media opportunities, speeches, media releases, media responses, correspondence and briefing notes for the Lord Mayor.
I helped influence policy decisions favourable to Optus’ business priorities through lobbying efforts and written submissions to inquiries at State and Federal Government level. I helped mitigate contentious issues likely to impact on Optus’ business interests and turned them round to commercially satisfactory outcomes. Resolution of inquiries and issues from Federal and State MP’s offices and the Department of Communications in relation to coverage, infrastructure deployment and constituents’ service issues. Managed Optus’ compliance with annual Australian Electoral Commission Political Donation Returns.