By now most of us are back at work in the capital after what has been an unprecedented summer of disaster and stress. That is, if you weren't called back to work to assist with the immediate crisis response—many communicators at some of our largest government departments were involved in the initial crisis response.  Each of us were either directly or indirectly touched in some way by the events of the last two months, and all of us were robbed of the holiday break or downtime we were..... Read more »

Communicators from government agencies, businesses and volunteer organisations have played an essential role throughout the bushfire crisis, ensuring the public and media have been kept up to date with relevant, timely information and providing reassurance and critical public safety messages. We acknowledge the work of IABC members who are involved in the response in both professional and voluntary capacities. IABC Canberra member Danielle Bevins-Sundvall from KPMG is a Public Affairs..... Read more »

One of the greatest challenges for the modern communicator is how to keep it simple and authentic without getting distracted by the shiny objects of digital media. In 2020, we can expect to see an expanding divide between organisations and leaders who communicate simply, strategically and sustainably, and those who take a scattergun approach for equally patchy returns. Platforms, be it TikTok, YouTube or Facebook, will continue to be important to reach defined audiences. However, the ..... Read more »

Together with our principal partner Isentia, we welcomed our IABC Canberra community to mark another huge 12 months on the communication calendar. And what better way to celebrate than with canapes and drinks at the exclusive QT Lounge, with stunning views over the city? During the evening we had the opportunity to acknowledge the brilliant work of our outgoing president, Alison Senti, and the contributions of our wonderful members. We were thrilled to have Isentia's Vanessa Vartt..... Read more »

We asked our new president Amanda Dennett a couple of questions to find out what comms content she's devouring this summer...  What are you reading? Stories for Work: The Essential Guide to Business Storytelling by Gabrielle Dolan. I was lucky enough to score a free copy of this book when I attended the IABC APAC Fusion Conference in Singapore in 2017, but embarrassingly it has remained on my 'to read' pile of books by the bed since then. I heard Gabrielle spe..... Read more »

It’s been another a busy year for IABC Canberra and the communication community we serve. During 2019 some significant events have shaped the town we live and work in: a ‘miraculous’ federal election result; our most trusted institutions, the major banks, were handed down a damning report card; our rivers and waterways are suffering and so too are our farmers. We’ve seen the rise of the citizen and a new fervor in protesting for climate and rights; shockwaves from across the ditch a..... Read more »

Members and friends enjoyed more than a complimentary drink and chance to catch up at our springtime midweek mingle on 25 September. We were pleased to welcome Isentia's Chief Insights Officer Khali Sakkas to introduce the newly released report, Leadership Index ED3: Leading through crisis. IABC Canberra members mingle at Hotel Kurrajong before the talk. As Khali explained, 'Leadership is never more tested than when it is under stress. When a crisis hits, how a leader acts, beh..... Read more »

As we come to the end of another busy year it’s time to reflect and reset for the year ahead. If you are looking to stretch yourself in 2020 joining the IABC Canberra Board could be just the thing. Serving on the IABC Canberra Board is a great opportunity to grow your professional skills, build your personal network, and have the opportunity to contribute to the communication profession not just in Canberra but across the world.  We are looking for experienced communication profess..... Read more »

It’s time to start turning our attention to the Gold Quill Awards. We’re hoping that you will consider submitting some work that you’ve done this year. There are four Divisions, each with a number of categories under which you can submit your work. While submissions are due on 9 January 2020, it’s a good thing to start early and plan how you will write your submission. Here are our tips from an experienced awards judge on the top three areas that sometimes ‘fall down’ when it ..... Read more »

When it comes time for students to say good-bye to university and embark on a career journey in communications, it helps to be part of a professional network to smooth the path during that transition. Most people who join their professional association are super-busy in both their professional and personal lives and leverage their membership as a means of keeping up to date with what’s going on in their industry or sector. It’s well known that being a member of a professional..... Read more »