Francesca Bennett Email & Phone Number

Key responsibilities include:• Creating and delivering a vision for best practice communications that increase the visibility of Council services, mitigate risk and protect the organisation’s reputation.• Providing strategic direction to ensure Council communications are well targeted and accessible to all audiences.• Developing, implementing and monitoring integrated internal and external strategies aligned to the Council Plan and other relevant Council goals and objectives.• Championing the needs of customers and the community from non-English and diverse backgrounds to ensure effective and tailored communications and engagement for these groups, across Council.• Working closely with project teams and key internal stakeholders to identify and assess potential issues and develop mitigation strategies to prevent reputational impact.• Identifying and participating in continuous improvement processes driving local area change andinnovation.

Key responsibilities included:• Overseeing the development and delivery of Council’s internal communications including publications, social media and digital communications• Working closely with internal stakeholders from Human Resources and Information & Technology to implement change management and drive digital transformation across Council• Providing strategic advice across the organisation, in particular to the CEO, Executive Management Team and Managers to ensure that Council’s internal communications activities are appropriate, relevant and targeted, and achieve the objectives of the organisation• Developing and maintaining a corporate intranet, including the design, build, system integrations, launch campaign, stakeholder engagement and staff training• Researching, planning, delivering and evaluating strategic communication campaigns to improve staff awareness of Council’s services, facilities, events and activities• Planning and managing events including annual awards evenings and staff Christmas celebrations for more than 500 people

Town Hall Broadmeadows underwent a major redevelopment to transform the 55-year-old building into a premier business, functions and events centre in Melbourne's north. This role drove the development and coordination of external strategic communications, social media, stakeholder engagement, online and digital activities and internal communications. Key responsibilities included:• Delivering a major rebranding campaign to establish the venue’s look and feel, narrative, values and market position to a range of audiences including corporate, wedding, community and private event organisers• Designing, building and writing content for a promotional website, ensuring it integrated with sales and lead generation tools to capture leads and convert customers• Creating and implementing a promotion and sales strategy to relaunch the venue• Leading digital content to support targeted campaigns, including promotional videos and an architectural animation that was viewed more than 120,000 times in a number of days• Contributing to the customer experience design and planning of significant milestones and events, including official openings, community open days and a 350-seat black tie charity ball.

Leading a team of six in the planning, preparation and implementation of Council's external communications, promotions and marketing strategies that enhance the profile of Council and the City. Key responsibilities included:• Coordinating the development and delivery of Council’s external communications including printed publications, website, app and social media presence• Issues management, advocacy and media relations• Researching, writing and editing communications materials for a wide range of mediums and audiences• Creating and implementing strategic communications plans• Campaigns and event promotions• Brand management, advertising and graphic design• Video production and photography

Digital media• Develop a Hume City Council App which allows the community to access information and services, make payments and report issues from their mobile device.• Oversee Council's social media accounts and ensure that relevant, timely and appropriate information is posted, encouraging community participation• Support the organisation to ensure the effective use of social media and digital communications• Develop audio/visual materials and videos to ensure Council information is accessible for the whole community, especially for people who speak a language other than English and people with a disability• Review and update content on Council's internet and intranet to ensure it is timely, appropriate and targeted• Manage the development of Google Business View virtual tours, allowing the community to explore facilities onlineMedia • Write media releases and briefing notes, managing the approval and distribution process, to achieve positive media coverage for Council's services, facilities and activities• Respond to media enquiries in a timely manner• Monitor daily media and social media coverage of Council and the City, and provide timely advice to the media on issues of local significance• Support positive working relationships with journalists and media representativesCampaigns and publications• Develop, implement and evaluate external communication campaigns to positively promote the City, Council and its services, facilities, events and activities• Develop advertising, billboards, noticeboards and brochures to ensure that messages are consistent, coordinated and delivered on time and on budget.• Assist in the production and timely distribution of Council’s printed publications• Research and write speeches or speech notes for the Mayor, Councillors and CEO, ensuring accuracy and appropriateness of messages• Ensure all of Council’s publications are consistent with Council’s corporate identity, strategic objectives and the Hume values.

A temporary contract to fill in while permanent staff were on leave, key responsibilities included:• Media engagement including researching and writing media releases • Speech writing• Annual report writing• Proofreading and editing documents• Writing and editing the staff newsletter• Creating strategic communications plans• Updating the intranet and website• Writing, editing and publishing the fortnightly community newsletter• Managing internal communications campaigns

• Media engagement – responding to media enquiries, writing media releases, liaising with journalists, preparing media backgrounders, developing key messages, briefing MAV spokespeople, identifying proactive media opportunities, reviewing media clippings, writing media reports.• Social media content development, monitoring and support - including the creation of digital content live from MAV events• Writing and editing the weekly MAV Bulletin and policy e-bulletins, distributing via digital networks • Campaign coordination• Coordinating and writing contributions to industry and specialist publications• Editing and proofreading key MAV documents• Writing, editing and publishing website content• Speech editing• Providing communications support for major events and conferences• Undertaking member council communications

• Providing media management support • Writing and editing MAV Bulletin and policy e-bulletins • Providing campaign support• Coordinating and writing MAV contributions to industry and specialist publications• Editing and proofreading MAV documents in accordance with MAV style guide requirements• Providing marketing / editorial support for MAV major events / conferences• Providing member council communications support• Writing, editing and publishing website content• Editing speeches

Bachelor Of Arts (B.A.), Public Relations

Activities and Societies: Vice President of Public Relations society PR@D 2008

Certificate In Engagement

Ignite Leadership Course

Adobe Premiere Pro Course

Adobe Photoshop Course

Adobe Indesign Course

‘Introduction To Dreamweaver’ Web Design Course

High School