Ben Hutchison Email & Phone Number

Providing engagement and communications consultation on a project which launched a range of new cyber security services, initiaitves and guidance. The aim of the project is to enhance the level of cyber security and privacy protections in place in kura and schools. Ensuring that a secure and private online learning experience is provided for children across Aotearoa. Responsibilities include:• Supporting sector change, I led the creation and delivery of our Communications and Engagement Strategy and our Channels Strategy for the Project• Developing and executing our 2023 Conference Campaign• Stakeholder and partner management, including the initiating a digital reference group for the project• Content creation including: promotional articles for publication, technical guidance for schools• Working with project workstreams on the delivery of new services and creating comms and engagement plans for promotion of these services.

Lower Hutt City, Wellington, New Zealand

Working alongside senior leadership, public health doctors and health advisors in a principal communications advisor capacity. I lead all communications and engagement activity as part of the Wellington regional health response to the COVID-19 pandemic. At this time, Regional Public Health (RPH) was the Public Health Unit for Capital & Coast, Hutt Valley and Wairarapa District Health Boards. Responsibilities include: • Creation and delivery of RPH's Communications and Engagement Strategy which prioritises objectives on equity, Māori and Pacific health, accessibility and community health protection • Media management - responding to media enquiries and creating proactive media releases. Advisor for reputational risk issues. Provided media response as lead agency on a number of issues with a high level of national media scrutiny• Coordinating social media and digital channel updates• Creating media briefings for RPH staff appearances on TVNZ and Radio NZ• Leading internal communications for RPH during a prolonged public health response for a fatigued workforce. • Leading communications and media in response to urgent public health issues such as: winter illness (2021 RSV outbreak), rheumatic fever and various contamination events• Creation and publication of social media and digital channel content• Filming and editing video content to promote our people alongside our community.

Auckland, New Zealand

Experience as a scriptwriter, creative lead, producer and marketer for professional theatre production. Leveraging partnering and sponsoring opportunities to take theatre shows from concept through to full production. Achievements include: • Securing significant levels of arts funding for various shows• Successful production of 'Dog' - including BYO Dog shows - in Auckland• NZ Comedy Festival - Billy T James award nominee.

Dunedin

People leadership role, responsible for the overall customer experience at ORC. During my time I delivered an audit of the current state of customer experience which led to creating ORC's Customer Experience Strategy.

Dunedin

Communications lead for regional water portfolio. Responsiblities include: • Engaging with rural community about reducing the water taken from rivers for irrigation, a contentious and highly politicised space. These permits were expiring and to re-new a permit it had to be done through a new resource consent model with a 2021 deadline• Media management - responding to media enquiries and creating proactive media releases• Coordinating response to bacteria and toxic algae alerts in freshwater and coastal swimming sites over summer• Media management and writing proactive media releases on water policy and associated public consultation events and broader engagement• Event management for consultation sessions and conference exhibitions• Article and web content creation.

Dunedin

Manager for Customer Services which includes front-line customer service representatives and a written comms channel.

Work for Auckland Council as part of the Written Communications team.

Master Of Arts, Creative Writing

Bachelor Of Arts, English, Theatre Studies

Activities and Societies: OCOM, Capping Show, Allen Hall Theatre