I'm a director at a Melbourne-based strategic communications consulting firm and have worked in corporate communications for over 20 years, advising boards and senior leaders from private, public and not-for-profit sectors on their tactical communications requirements. Over my working life, I have acted for dozens of private and ASX-listed companies, state and federal government departments, and industry associations and related stakeholders on issues-rich matters, with a particular focus on transportation, infrastructure, energy & utilities, property development, logistics and manufacturing. Organisations as diverse as 7-Eleven, AAMI, Beaurepaires, Caterpillar, Caydon, Goodyear Tyres, Ford, Jetstar, Kodak, Maxxia, Medibank Private, Moonee Valley Racing Club, Neami National, Shell, TWUSUPER and the Victorian Transport Association are among the notable corporates and brands I have represented. I have a flair for issues, crisis and change management, having advised and media trained groups and individuals on sensitive matters including organisational restructures and factory closures, product health and safety recalls, and state and federal legislative/regulatory changes and Royal Commission recommendations. Deploying these skills has involved regular interaction with state and federal ministers and their ministerial and department staff, industry groups and stakeholders, and journalists and commentators in the media, typically requiring concise and effective written and verbal communication. A chief objective of these interactions has always been to promote, preserve and sometimes defend my client’s reputation.