For four days, we forgot to be angry
Something shifted in our social feeds this week. Instead of looking down, gazing at our navels, we looked up. Algorithms, usually relentless in serving conflict, division and noise, made room for something…
The 3 ‘OClock Roadblock
While the 3 a.m. police checkpoint that inspired Bob Marley’s song on police harassment in Jamaica in no way compares to my experiences, the strain and tension of being awake at this…
Gas critics should target emissions, not words.
Santos’ recent greenwashing win in the Federal Court is being discussed as a turning point for climate disclosures. From a reputation perspective, it’s something slightly different: a signal about how companies can…
How AI is Transforming Public Affairs: The Strategy Shift Leaders Can’t Ignore
I hosted an event a few years ago for senior public affairs practitioners; a handful were experimenting with AI, but most were not, or worked for organisations that hadn’t yet allowed it….
Reputation, Revenue, and Rebellion: The Beckham Brand Crisis
How a meticulously managed global brand unravels when one of its own breaks formation. “I do not want to reconcile with my family. I’m not being controlled, I’m standing up for…
We Forgive, But Do We Forget? Optus and the Fragile Currency of Trust
The vacant chatter of colleagues echoed across the office floor. Nothing unusual for a regular morning, a few minutes shy of nine, as the last of the wanderers – frazzled parents and…
Stakeholders need to be listened to
Stakeholders are often seen by companies as a problem, a group of individuals to be dealt with or placated to achieve a business objective. I was once tasked with coming up with…
Corporate Communications and Investor Relations Working as One
Maybe 20 years ago, I was handed a booklet about all of the different functional roles within the Communications and External Affairs team at the company I was working for. From Media…
Thank God You’re Here
Communicating in a crisis or at pivotal moment for a company is never something to take lightly. It demands skill, experience, and above all deep trust and confidence in the people standing…
Visible Leadership in Safety: More Than Just a Site Visit
Visible leadership is an activity that many companies have been using as a mechanism to improve safety. However too often, the concept of visible leadership in safety is reduced to a calendar entry, converting…
Trust me, trust matters.
For every organisation, trust is important. From its employees, from its customers, from its regulators and political stakeholders. In essence, anyone who has an interest in you. It is after all the…
Public Affairs Strategy: What’s next?
If business leaders are wondering whether their Corporate or Public Affairs function is addressing its biggest challenges, it’s probably because it isn’t. That’s a hard reality, however this function like any part…