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 »

Special thanks to our event partners Cordelta Digital and Synergy Group. Together with IPAA ACT we hosted the Corporate Rebels co-founders Pim de Moree and Joost Minaar at the National Gallery of Australia on 7 August. Since 2016, Pim and Joost have studied progressive organisations and interviewed over one hundred of the world’s best thinkers on alternative ways of working. They joined us for an afternoon's conversation on how to 'shake up' the workplace, make wo..... Read more »

In early July, we held an invitation-only breakfast for some of our members and with experts on social media and Australian law. We discussed recent changes to Australian law relating to the sharing of violent abhorrent material online and what it means for social media managers across the private, non-profit and public sectors. Parliament passed amendments swiftly in response to the live-streaming of the Christchurch terror attack, however some legal advocates have suggested the broad ..... Read more »

It was a packed house for our Communicating Space event at the Shine Dome on Monday, 3 June 2019. We featured a series of presentations on the communication voyage to launch the visual brand for Australia’s first Space Agency. Check out the tweets below for a summary of the event! https://twitter.com/AusSpaceAgency/status/1135373940430295040 IABC Canberra President Alison Senti, Virginia Dove from Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, Head of the Australian Space Agency Dr Me..... Read more »

Mike Kaiser, a Partner at KPMG, shares his insights on PR disasters and managing reputation. Join us for our free Midweek Mingle on 12 June to hear more from Mike on Comms Clusters. Corporate Australia is facing unprecedented challenges to protect its reputation and build trust between government, business and citizens. We’ve seen an explosion of scrutiny, citizen journalism and online activism, alongside a growing number of Royal Commissions. Boards and Executives are realising that repu..... Read more »

Over the past week, our newsfeeds reached 'peak Budget' and at times we were tempted (briefly!) to buy our phones in the veggie patch for a break! If you were feeling the same, here's a summary of what you missed... The ABC live blogged Treasurer Josh Frydenburg's first Budget, then Opposition Leader Bill Shorten's Budget reply two days later. There was a summary of Budget 'winners and losers' on news.com.au, but it was Julie Bishop's blue sequined dress ..... Read more »

The upcoming Federal Election could bring new challenges to organisations which have deployed public affairs/communications strategies to influence policy outcomes. Similar challenges will apply to public servants charged with implementing new policies that will require communication services to ensure effective implementation. Whoever wins the election, the policy platforms of both major parties will require broad based consultation across every business sector in the economy, as well as wi..... Read more »

Sometimes it’s good to choose the unknown, to say ‘yes’ to that opportunity even if you are unsure where it might take you. As I reflect on my first experience at the Global IABC Leadership Institute conference held in Long Beach, California, that’s exactly what’s going through my mind. Long Beach, California About 18 months ago I agreed to be part of the local IABC Canberra chapter board as Treasurer. As a career comms/marketing guy taking on the treasurer role seemed like a da..... Read more »

Happy New Year Canberra communications community, I hope everyone had a chance to recharge their batteries in whatever way works for them – because 2019 is shaping up to be a big year in communication. Whether you are in Government, have your own communication practice or lead a team of communicators there’s plenty in store. The highly-anticipated Federal Election (taking bets now on when it will be); the Brexit deadline coming to a head shortly and other important events in our region, ..... Read more »