Helping organisatons make the right decisions when it comes to communications, marketing, and messaging - especially when it comes to risk and science.

I was a member of Consumer NZ's wine tasting panel from 2007 until the magazine ceased reviewing wines. My interest in wine started in the early 1980s. During those early years I took the opportunity to work part-time in an independent wine/liquor retail outlet to both earn some extra cash and learn more anout wine. Access to a staff discount was an added impetus to start a cellar and, as it turned out, all that extra cash ended up back in the store's till - an excellent investment.My first foray into Bordeaux en primeur was with the 1994 vintage and I've selectively bought from most vintages since.

Marketing, communications and resource planning, development and distribution both internally and externally. An integral role managing advertising, events, brand management, websites, sponsorships, communications and marketing resources.ServiceIQ is the Industry Training Organisation (ITO) for New Zealand's aviation, travel, tourism, museums, hospitality, retail and wholesale sectors. Together, these represent around $27 billion of the nation's GDP (about 13%) and 20% of employment.

Independent full communications (corporate communications, PR and marketing) consultant.

Accountable for leading, directing and managing a team to engage employees so they know what they have to do, how they have to do it and why. We inspire our people to be proud of Vodafone and their part in its success, and in the success of our customers as we help them do their thing better.Scope of responsibility covers all internal communications activities and channels, and across all functions. The small team acts as the internal communications and engagement 'centre of excellence', providing advice to business group managers, helping them to build effective teams.

This position involves all aspects of developing and implementing internal and external communications strategies and projects for TelstraClear (which became part of Vodafone in 2013). The role has particular emphasis on managing the impact to brand and reputation in both traditional and social media. It also requires close involvement with marketing campaigns and operational/infrastructure projects. This position requires close working relationships with all senior leaders and managers, especially the CEO and Leadership Team, as well as acting in the Head of Communications role as required. TelstraClear’s communications principles and approaches delivered audiences messages that they could quickly and easily understand and use. We always ensured that we communicated openly, honestly and transparently and prided ourselves on being New Zealand’s most upfront telecommunications company.

Involved all aspects of developing and implementing communications and marketing strategies and projects for the New Zealand Food Safety Authority. This position involved liaison with key staff in the offices of the Minister for Food Safety, as well as occasional meetings with the Minister. This was a tier three role within the organisation, with extensive periods of acting in the tier two (Director) position. I was also involved in organising and running the trans-Tasman Dr. Peter M. Sandman Risk Communication Masterclass (Melbourne, 2010)

A small company which ran events and other projects, including a highly successful New Year's Eve concert under the sails at Wellington's Queens Wharf.

Involved all aspects of developing and implementing communications and marketing strategies for both the Ministry and the wider justice sector (Police, Courts and Corrections). Work included development of sector-wide strategies to promote and inform about criminal justice in New Zealand, as well as developing and implementing marketing strategies and programmes around specific legislation. This was a senior management position within the Ministry and involved liaison at all levels of the public service and Government, including with government Ministers.

Consultancy involved all aspects of developing and implementing clients’ internal and external communications and research strategies and projects (across both marketing and public relations), as well as sales and marketing of my services to potential clients. It involved working closely with top management and/or Board members of client organisations, as well as with front-line staff. Close liaison with media, client stakeholders and local and central Government officials was also a key requirement.

The role involved developing internal and external communications strategies and guidelines, including marketing the organisation to foreign air traffic controllers working overseas, as well as potential trainees internationally. Among the more strategic work was liaison with airline customers and customer groups, developing internal and external research projects and analysing the results, negotiating and managing sections of the communications budget, and working with the Board chair, CEO and executive team on communications issues and strategies. I also managed external suppliers and one in-house communications assistant. Creating and administering corporate sponsorship policy (and analysing proposals) and responding to media enquiries (including after incidents and accidents) were also key aspects of the job. Other work included creating and distributing ‘pro-active’ media releases and feature articles, providing advice and input into the company’s catastrophe response plans, and arranging and organising shows, conferences and displays. There was also a high degree of creativity required in creating, controlling, developing, writing, photographing, producing and managing print production and distribution of the corporate magazine Airways (sent to clients around the world), the weekly staff newsletter Airsay, the regular customer flier Talkback, as well as annual reports, and international marketing materials for Airways Consulting Services and the joint industry/TradeNZ Aviation Training and Education in New Zealand (ATENZ) project.

Involved developing commercially-viable products from existing resources and materials, and marketing these overseas and within New Zealand. Successful projects included producing and marketing overseas The New Zealand English Journal, producing audio (music and spoken) records and CDs, New Zealand representation of BBC Video World, sales of station management software, the development of In-Store Radio in the UK, and gaining sole New Zealand representation for the products of 'Mr Body Language' Allan Pease, as well as organising and marketing successful Body Language seminars in Auckland and Wellington.

As a producer I developed and organised programme content, control of the live broadcast, setting up and running live overseas broadcasts into New Zealand (America’s Cup, Perth; Australia Day, Sydney; Expo 88 opening and closing weeks, Brisbane; Air New Zealand inaugural Frankfurt service, Frankfurt, Munich and Vienna), programme promotion and publicity, liaison with station managers and senior Head Office management, finding and arranging contributors and interviewees (from national and world leaders through movie stars to ‘ordinary’ New Zealanders). Winner of a Mobil Radio Award, and an Australasian Pater Broadcasting Award. Announcing duties included presenting live programmes, writing and recording commercials, meeting with clients, fronting public events, and developing station and programme promotions (and fronting some). I worked in various locations, with most time as host of the nationwide networked Hot Music Radio Show on Radio New Zealand’s Community Network, and subsequently in Hawke’s Bay.