Bernadette Collins Email & Phone Number

Geelong

Barwon Water is Victoria’s largest regional urban water corporation, servicing an area encompassing Geelong, the Bellarine Peninsula, Surf Coast and Otways. As a senior member of the engagement team, I led the communications and engagement for major strategic projects, including: Water for our Future: Barwon Water's region-wide community and stakeholder engagement initiative to co-design the region's water supply for the next 50 years. The project attracted feedback from more than 5000 people across 25 community and stakeholder events and featured a deliberative community panel of 60 people who met 11 times over 13 months.The project won the environment category of the 2022 IAP2 Values Awards. Regional Renewable Organics Network: Barwon Water's proposal to create a facility to transform organic waste into renewable energy and other valuable resources. I designed a five-year communications and engagement strategy and launched the first round of community engagement, which featured an interactive website and 3D video animation.The digital tools attracted almost 800 people to learn more about the project, in addition to information provided at two webinars and 10 briefings. Community feedback was widely supportive of the project.

Geelong, Victoria, Australia

I provided media and communications advice to the executive leadership team on a range of media issues, as well as coordinating ministerial announcements.I managed the evaluation and reporting of media coverage, which was consistently more than 90% favourable. I worked closely with the executive leadership team and managing director to prepare presentations, speeches, briefing notes and ministerial correspondence, including weekly updates to the Barwon Water board and relevant government departments.I established and managed Barwon Water's first issues management framework to proactively manage reputational risk.

Richmond Town Hall

(Acting April 2013 - September 2014)Yarra City Council is the local government that represents Melbourne’s inner-north-east, including Fitzroy, Collingwood and Richmond. Yarra is a diverse, artistic and socially progressive community comprising about 80,000 people. As a senior member of the Advocacy, Engagement and Media Relations Unit of Council’s Communications team, I was responsible for providing strategic advice across Council’s seven divisions. My role also involved preparing media responses and speeches on behalf of Council’s spokespeople and managing the production of more than 60 printed publications per year, including fact sheets and promotional material. Additionally, I was a member of Yarra Council’s Gender Equity Committee, which aims to promote a respectful and fair workplace for all Yarra employees. Key projects: - Developed and delivered community consultation on the proposed development of the former paper mill site in Alphington. This was one of Melbourne’s biggest urban renewal projects that sought to transform site into a new ‘mini-suburb’ for 5000 residents (March 2015).- Developed the Liveable Yarra project - Yarra Council’s first deliberative engagement process. Liveable Yarra brought together a ‘people’s panel’ comprising 60 members of the community to make recommendations about the Yarra Planning Scheme (July 2015).- Developed a communications and engagement strategy for construction of the North Fitzroy Community Hub, a $14.5 million infrastructure project in Melbourne’s inner-north, comprising a library and maternal and child health centre (2015).- Prepared communications leading up to, and following New Year’s Eve celebrations in the municipality, specifically in regards to a new local law that prohibited alcohol consumption in public places (December 2014/15)

Richmond Town Hall

I was responsible for preparing and implementing communications plans for Council’s event and projects, including extensive consultation on a controversial proposal to construct Yarra’s first separated bicycle lanes (2012).As the editor of Yarra News, Council’s monthly newsletter, I was responsible for sourcing and writing stories, and managing graphic design, print and distribution to 40,000 residential and business addresses. I played a key role in introducing Yarra’s first social media platforms and social media policy to the organisation (2013).I also established a process to manage customer service requests received via social media platforms. I first joined Yarra as a communications assistant and was in this role from June to September 2009.

East Melbourne

The Police Association represents the industrial, legal and professional interests of 14,000 police officers in Victoria. The association is a leading public voice on police and community safety issues and enjoys high media profile. As part of a small communications team, I was responsible for media relations, writing content for member newsletters and the monthly magazine, as well as managing the content and functionality of the public website and intranet. I prepared internal and external communications for the 2007 enterprise bargaining campaign and the police resourcing campaign SOS - Save Our Streets (2008).

South Yarra

Cubit Media Research provides quantitative and qualitative analysis of companies’ media performance.I was responsible for reading and analysing print and broadcast media coverage for national clients including Australia Post and Nissan.Based on my analysis, I prepared reports that provided an overview of media coverage in terms of frequency, tone and equivalent advertising spend.

Edinburgh

The Press Data Bureau monitors media coverage for businesses and government agencies across the UK. My role involved monitoring local and national press in Scotland for more than 200 clients. I also prepared editorial summaries, including content for news website allmediascotland.com.

Certificate Of Engagement

Public Relations, Advertising, And Applied Communication, Public Relations Certificate

Public Relations, Advertising, And Applied Communication

I attended Queen Margaret University College as part of an international exchange scholarship program with La Trobe University.

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Communication And Media Studies

Activities and Societies: Member of Golden Key International Honours Society