Govcomms: The Future Of Government Communication

Matthew Abbott, Senior Executive Leader – Corporate Affairs. Matthew is head of media, government relations, internal communications, publications and the internet at the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC). Before joining ASIC in 2010, Matthew was a director of a public affairs consultancy, held a senior corporate affairs role with global shopping centre company, the Westfield Group, been an adviser to Joe Hockey in the Howard Government and worked for several NSW Liberal leaders. He has also worked as a financial journalist in the United Kingdom and started his career as a staff reporter with the Australian Financial Review. Matthew has a Bachelor of Commerce (UNSW) and a Master of Public Affairs (Sydney University). He also lectures on media and political campaigning in a masters program at Sydney University. Discussed in todays episode: Influencing behavior from a corporate affairs position How self-sufficient regulators are regarding media and communications output Measuring communic

Sheena Ireland is the founder and director of communications consultancy: Specialists in Communications. She has held senior communications positions in government and industry, including areas such as science and research, automotive, arts and sport. Her 16 years’ experience working with government and industry includes working as the Director of Stakeholder Relations at the Australian Research Council, Media Adviser to a Federal Government Cabinet Minister and Communications Manager for the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries. Sheena has spoken at government and small business conferences and seminars on the importance of communications strategy, the power of social media and the need for stakeholder engagement in any communications plan. She has also facilitated panel and ‘in-conversation’ discussions on meaningful connection, our quest for happiness, and mental health and wellbeing. Discussed in this episode: The impact of changing technology on government communications How pace and efficiency are

Barbara Walsh is a Senior Lecturer and Program Director in the Faculty of Arts and Design at the University of Canberra. Her specialised teaching and research interests lie in areas of integrated learning, social responsibility and corporate and strategic communication. Barbara’s 25-year career in public relations and corporate communications, also includes working as an Account Director for PR Consultancies in Sydney and London, managing her own consultancy in Sydney and several senior-level roles in the Australian Public Service. Discussed in this episode: Is effective social media engagement a litmus test for how well communicators can do their job? And how this reflects on the intent of an organisation to engage with citizens. Social media is a fast way to directly engage with citizens. But requires two-way trust and access to the right people for approval and support. The characteristics of good communicators are those who are agile, opportunistic, have strong personal characteristics, and can engage at

Professor Mark Evans (PhD) is Director of Democracy 2025 and Professor of Governance at the Institute for Governance and Policy Analysis. Mark is an expert in the study and practice of governance and policy analysis. He has a long track record of achievement in developing high quality, values-driven, knowledge institutions built around outstanding research with policy impact, relevant professional development programs, and creative partnerships with governance actors with a common commitment to delivering policy and leadership which delivers genuine public value. “Democracy 2025 – bridging the trust divide” is a unique collaboration between MoAD and foundation partner UC-IGPA that will see a centre established at the spiritual home of Australian Democracy, Old Parliament House, that will generate research, education and practice to enhance the quality of democratic engagement. It will bring together academic study and debate with public engagement opportunities such as events and exhibitions to investigate an

Simon Troeth is Director – Media at the Minerals Council of Australia. He has a long and distinguished career in both the media and politics.      Simon started his career as a print journalist, working for the Herald Sun and several other newspapers before moving in to politics where he spent 15 years working for state and federal politicians and was the Principal Media Adviser to the Premier of Victoria. He has also had several roles as media and policy advisers and was the Director of Strategic Communication for the Victorian Department of Justice. Simon has worked for three industry and has also worked as a consultant specialising in communications and government relations strategies. Discussed in this episode: How communication has changed over the last 30 years The growing nature of immediacy and personalization in how we consume media Government has acknowledged the need to get closer with their audience Important behaviours to follow when interacting with journalists How to make an effective pitch Wh

Shawn Callahan is the founder of Anecdote and one of the world’s leading business storytelling teachers and advisors. He started his career in technology with companies including Oracle and IBM, before he founded Anecdote in 2004. Anecdote helps leaders and sellers be better oral storytellers and assists corporations deliver on their strategies using stories. Most recently Shawn published his book PUTTING STORIES TO WORK. At its heart, this book provides a process for becoming a good business storyteller. Discussed in this episode: Why storytelling is an effective communication approach What makes a good story Three focus areas for organisations to use storytelling How you can become better at telling stories in an organisational setting How to decide what information you should put in a story Why you should never use the word story How to measure the impact of the value of storytelling in your organisation

Josie Khng joined the contentgroup team in January 2018 as one of its strategists. Prior to her move to Australia, she was head of social media at global creative agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty in Singapore. She has a wealth of global brand experience and has led award-winning creative campaigns for IKEA. Now she focuses on developing creative strategies and content for her government and public sector clients. Discussed in this episode: The future of social media and how the entertainment in storytelling can guide government communication Ways to capture your audience’s time Why personas are a must Examples of successful creative government campaigns How to structure your communication team Key takeaways for government storytelling

Andrew Bell is an ABC producer and reporter in the ACT. He worked for the BBC and commercial radio in Wales before moving to Australia in 1988. In Australia, he has reported and produced news bulletins and documentaries for regional and metropolitan commercial television, Reuters and the ABC in Sydney and Melbourne.  Andrew discusses the evolving world of media and how technology is changing the profession. Discussed in this episode: What are reporters looking for when you call to pitch them your story? What time of the day is best? How is technology changing the way newsrooms behave? What will give you your best chance of having your story run?    

Stuart Howie, author, communications and media consultant, journalist and speaker shares with us insights and strategies from his latest book, The DIY Newsroom. Stuart draws on the principles and practices of newsrooms. Why newsrooms? Well, newsrooms are at the top of the content food chain - information is their reason for being. Stuart knows a thing or two about newsrooms, having transformed newsrooms across a 30-year career as an editor and journalist, including time as editorial director for Fairfax Regional Media. Discussed in this episode: What editorial operations that impacts a nation looks like. And the parts you can take and tailor to your own operations. The power of acting SMART™. What it is and how you can control your message for maximum impact. Future proofing your comms strategy for 2019 Essentials for authentic stakeholder engagement Building diversity into an engaging strategy that converts

As one of the leading and most experienced communicators in Australia, Adrian Cropley shares with us the growing functionality of combining communication and business and the role that plays in successful leadership. With over 20 years’ experience, Adrian has worked with a number of Fortune 500 companies in areas such as change management, crisis management and strategic communication. From this, he has perfected the skills required to be a professional communicator and build strong teams. Described as the “friendliest man in the [comms] game”, this a great listen to better your leadership skills, working towards creating a healthy, functioning and strong comms team! Discussed in this episode: The functionality of strategic communication in the late 2010s Turning everyone in your organisation into a pro communicator The evolution of communication and leadership When two worlds collide - business and communication Building the ‘comms team of tomorrow’ The damage of the 24/7 news cycle on comms in government B

This week we present an exclusive interview with Geoff Fisher, contentgroup’s Client Services Manager, about the application of Phase One and Two of our Content Communication Framework. Taking you behind the scenes of how contentgroup operates, we explore the future of strategic communication and what it means for government. This week’s episode breaks down myths that surround comms teams, injecting project management and strategic thinking into communication and increasing your stakeholder engagement. Most importantly, Geoff outlines not only the ‘why’ but also ‘how’, through the Framework, this is achievable. If you enjoyed today’s episode or have any questions email: info@contentgroup.com.au Also discussed in this episode: The future of government communication How to successfully start a communication strategy Why communication is important throughout, not just at the end Injecting comms into the policy team Comms as more than the ‘Colouring-in Department’ Keeping the audience involved and informed

TAKE PART IN OUR AUDIENCE SURVEY AND WIN! This week we are excited to release Part 2 of our interview with Robert Rose, a leader in the content marketing space. As well as leading a consultancy firm of his own, most recently Robert Rose was the host of Content Marketing World. Continuing from Part 1, in this episode Robert shares with us the creation of strategic content, focusing on the implementation of empathy and storytelling to capture your audience’s attention. Alarmingly, the tools and solutions Robert provides are a lot simpler than you may think! If you missed Part 1 make sure to find it wherever you listen to podcasts. Discussed in Part 2: Putting your content strategy to use, effectively Creating goals and actually reaching them The power of stepping away from technology Finding empathy and following it through Learning what your audience wants and delivering that Learn more and register to our Masterclass.    Discussed in Part 1: Driving emotion and empathy to break through the noise Creating s

TAKE PART IN OUR AUDIENCE SURVEY AND WIN! This week we are excited to share with you Part 1 of our interview with Robert Rose, a founder and guru in the content marketing space. Through the release of his book ‘Managing Content Marketing’, co-written with Joe Pulizzi, the concept of strategic media came to be. In this episode, Robert shares insights into how the world of content marketing is changing, the tools for us as communicators to stay ahead and the growing role of content in organisations. Make sure to subscribe for Part 2 when we explore implementing your content strategy, furthering our discussion on empathy and the importance of taking a break while everything changes so rapidly. Discussed in Part 1: Driving emotion and empathy to break through the noise Creating scalable content Creating an evidence-based case for a content strategy The tools to build and evaluate your content strategy Distributing content in a timely manner “Culture eats strategy for breakfast”   Learn more and register to our

To let your communication strategy flourish, you need to get everyone involved. On this week’s episode, we talk with leading social media specialist Stephanie McCormick from the Australian Catholic University (ACU) on how to get your whole organisation involved in communication. A big part of Stephanie’s role is to find how to get everyone involved and break down traditional silos. Learn how she expressed the worth of comms and used all resources available, using digital communication to solve problems. This week is a very valuable listen for all social media managers and specialists. Stay till the end for Stephanie’s advice on removing yourself from social media and step away from the computer! Discussed in this episode: Digital communication to solve problems Applying law skills to the practice of communication Breaking down silos – telling your company story is everyone’s role University tactics applicable to the public sector Combining traditional media with digital Making the most of free digital tools

What do you know about ‘gamification’? This week on GovComms we talk with Kerstin Oberprieler, a leading expert in the field, about what it means for the future of government communication and audience engagement. While it may appear as an odd concept, it’s something that's always been around us. Whether it’s frequent flyer miles, points at your favourite retailer or your Fitbit, gamified systems are all around you. And what Kerstin and her company PentaQuest are trying to achieve is integrating it into much more than just a loyalty system and audience engagement. More than just sharing photos and videos, gamification engages your audience and embeds them into your content giving them a personal, hands-on experience. Find out how the inner-workings of gamification fit perfectly into strategic communication by looking at specific Australian Government examples. Discussed in this episode: Government and gamification, where two worlds collide The similarities between strategic gamification and communication Wha

Another episode in our solo masterclass series, this week David takes you through the processes of ‘measurement and evaluation’ within the contentgroup Content Communication Methodology. Though the benefits are apparent, this process is often left till last minute or left out completely. This episode addresses a variety of the misconceptions that are held against measurement and ways to start implementing measurement in your own projects. Some benefits include the ability to target your audience better, communicate with stakeholders effectively, create and track goals and objectives, and using the information gathered to improve future projects. “We test, and we learn, in service of our audience.” Liked today's episode? Register to our Content Communication Masterclasses to learn firsthand the value of measurement and evaluation in government communication. Discussed in this episode: The growing streams for communication Measurement and evaluation as a tool to increase capability A step-by-step guide to impl

While today they might just be at school or mastering streaks on Snapchat, one day the youth of today will be the leaders of tomorrow. And unlike the generations before them, 70% of these future professions and career paths don’t even exist yet. But what’s more shocking is they’re more than prepared for such an occurrence and ready to face this task as it comes. While there is uncertainty in what this change will bring, they already know what change looks like and how to navigate it. This week we’re joined by Claire Madden, author of Hello Gen Z and social researcher on generational engagement. Claire explores with David the technological cultural shift and what we as communicators can learn from these leaders of tomorrow though still young today. Discussed in this episode: Generational change and how Gen Z broke the mould The material and technological impact on Gen Z What technology has done to how people learn, research and communicate Ways government and the public sector can utilise the skills and abili

Todd Wheatland is no stranger to the world of content; he’s had leading roles in strategy for agencies such as Isentia, KellyOCG and King Content as well as a variety of boutique operations for over a decade. As an early player in the game, this week Todd shares with us the insights he’s gathered from years of experiences and provides you with the tips you need to become the best content communicator you can be. If you’re lucky enough to be heading to Content Marketing World in Cleveland, Ohio next week keep an eye for him and say g’day and tell him you enjoyed the episode! Discussed in this episode Case study: how content drives change management Thinking outside the box and breaking the rules to achieve the best outcome How to measure stories The power of the media to reach your greater audience Using data and measurement to create content that grabs attention Skills from the private sector that are applicable for public Insights into what to expect from Content Marketing World 2018 You can find Todd Whea

Supporting an audience of over half a million people is a gigantic task, especially when you have such a diverse crowd following you. For the University of Sydney, this is the exact challenge they face daily; students, international visitors, alumni and academics all coming for a unique experience. The secret of managing it all? Jenna Bradwell, the one woman social media team. This week on GovComms, Jenna Bradwell, their Social Media Specialist, takes you behind the scenes of the University of Sydney’s social media ‘team’ and shares with us how she alone manages their entire social presence. Sometimes less is more; a must listen for all social media managers and directors. Discussed in this episode: Building a social media skillset Importance of knowing your audience and how to find out Ways to get your whole organisation involved in content creation How to control and listen to a large, diverse audience Creating a strong social media presence, mastering one channel at a time Skipping social media tools and

This week on GovComms we explore the biggest problems being faced in government communication, but more importantly, we provide answers to solve them. Through a research partnership at the Australia National University and the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, contentgroup has been developing an evidence-based methodology to solve governments biggest communication challenges. Designed to increase capability internally, this special episode takes you behind the scenes of contentgroup and how we plan to change government communication. Discussed in this episode: The biggest challenges in government communication The purpose of effective communication in the public sector From Sydney to Vienna, how our methodology went international Restoring trust one government at a time The power of storytelling in communication and policy development You can learn more by visiting our website or getting in touch info@contentgroup.com.au.