Toastmasters is a communications and leadership development programme; a club that meets fortnightly.

Lead role for a volunteer committee of 6 people who are working together to ensure we run effective and enjoyable meetings.

Worlds Masters Games is the largest multi-sport event in the world. During the games some 25,000 athletes compete in 28 sports across 45 venues during a 10-day period. It is considered the largest event New Zealand will host in the next decade.

New government regulation of financial advice meant a major change to the way financial advisers were qualified and how advice is given. This had a direct impact on the 400 advisers at AMP’s adviser businesses. I provided communications to notoriously change averse financial advisers regarding all training and impending regulation changes. I designed the communications plan and issued all communications, using newsletters, weekly updates, websites, briefings and printed material. This plan steered the department through its most significant year.

After an absence of manager for 3 months my first ‘Regulation Survival Kit’ was designed and printed within 2 weeks of the new manager starting. The ‘Kit’ was then hand-delivered to every adviser at the annual conference, changing and creating focus for the conference and providing the necessary ‘call to action’. This pro-active approach had AMP leading the industry in regulation readiness.
Achievements:
• Produced three ‘Regulation Survival Kits’ for advisers which were then endorsed by the Code Committee Chairman and AMP Managing Director. The advisers referred to these as ‘the Bible’.
• Invited to present at adviser businesses professional development days.
• Designed and implemented a call campaign in which we contacted 400 advisers to discuss and book individual training plans. This required solid planning and preparation together with comprehensive processes and tracking systems that proved invaluable. I trained a five person team with role-playing, test calls and ‘user-packs’. Keeping the campaign in-house saved $11,000.
• Created comms that engaged and persuaded an audience who were highly resistant to change, education, self-study and the voice of the ‘parent’ company. Created adoption through stakeholder analysis and by being trusted.
• Annual ‘Adviser Voice Survey’ uncharacteristically commended the communications in regards to AMP’s assistance with Adviser Regulation.

Full organisation of challenges: devising itineraries, arranging all ground operations/flights, compiling contracts & event documentation, providing logistical support to Tour Leaders, presenting ‘briefings’ to participants, developing new destinations, risk analysis, sales to new clients, marketing and public relations, leading treks, on-call duties, introducing new office systems and deputy management.
Achievements:
- The number of challenges doubled in my time at AC. Alone I mangaged the planning and execution of between 20-30 events. I revisted the company one year after leaving. They had entered a partnership (for a cash injection) and there was an increase of around 5 events, yet there was an additional 10 staff managing them. 10 people managing a workload not dissimilar to mine.
- Set up the first ‘mega-event’ with over 100 participants. Successfully designed all documentation.
- Identified new destinations, researched tour providers and devised itineraries ready for sale under tight deadlines.
- Streamlined event documentation whereby status could be viewed at a glance.
- Retained a number of clients due to great relationships.
- Organised numerous events at one time with great attention to detail and working to strict deadlines.
- Led, designed and wrote blog/web articles for the new website.
- Managed tour groups around the world; intense 24/7 role as liason between local tour operators and clients. The role included regular briefings, ensuring clients had necessary access to the event medic, negotiating with local operators, police and embassies, and quick problem-solving in ‘tricky’ situations. I showed great care and patience with my trekkers and assertiveness with my in-country team to ensure quality was delivered.