GovComms: The Future of Government Communication

What if leadership was less about authority and more about connection? Imagine a young boy in rural Zimbabwe, discovering the world through books borrowed from a modest village library. That boy is Alfred Chidembo, whose love for stories sparked a journey from his village to Australia, where he now serves in the Australian Public Service and leads a literacy charity, Aussie Books for Zim. In this...

As cities around the world grapple with a wave of disinformation, how can they fight back and restore public trust? In this episode of GovComms, David Pembroke sits down with Ika Trijsburg , leader of the Disinformation in the City project, to tackle this urgent question. Ika unveils the Global Response Playbook, a powerful toolkit designed to help cities counter false information at a local level...

What happens when disaster strikes? In this second-part episode of the GovComms Podcast, crisis communication expert Michael Player shares his experiences managing some of New Zealand’s most significant crises, including the Rena oil spill and Pike River mining disaster. Michael gives us a behind-the-scenes look at how he led teams through media storms, community unrest, and logistical challenges...

What does it take to navigate a decades-long career in government communications while navigating ethics, changing media landscapes, and building lasting influence? In this special two-part episode of GovComms, David Pembroke sits down with Michael Player, a communications veteran with nearly five decades experience. From his very first job to his long stint with NZ Police, Michael shares the high...

How can digital communications spark real-world change and drive social impact? In this episode of GovComms, David Pembroke speaks with Nicholas Bruneau, a global leader in digital advocacy and purpose-led marketing. Together, they explore how Nicholas’ AGILE Framework for social impact communications inspires organisations to leverage digital tools, tell compelling stories, and mobilise communiti...

What if small behavioural tweaks could transform government policies and change society for the better? In this exciting episode of GovComms, David Pembroke chats with Sharon Rosenrauch, Principal Behavioural Scientist at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water. They uncover the powerful impact of behavioural science in the public sector, diving into how these insights...

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, Adrian Brown, Executive Director of the Centre for Public Impact, explores the evolving role of government in society and the importance of public legitimacy, trust, and resilience. Adrian discusses how governments can adapt to crises like COVID-19 by becoming more agile and citizen-centered, and highlights the role of innovation in public administration. A...

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke interviews Alison Senti, a strategic communications professional with a career spanning both public and private sectors. Alison shares her journey from hotel management and legal marketing to consulting at KPMG, and various positions within government departments. Alison outlines the role of government communicators during major events,...

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke interviews Bob Jensen, a leading expert in crisis communication with over four decades of experience in emergency and disaster risk management. The episode dives into Jensen's extensive career, including his roles in the US Air Force, the State Department, and FEMA, as well as his work with international organizations like the World Bank...

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke sits down with Stanley Henry, founder and CEO of The Attention Seeker, a New Zealand-based, New York-inspired advertising agency. Stanley shares his fascinating journey from growing up in South Auckland to establishing a successful career in hospitality, which eventually led him to start his own agency. He emphasises the importance of un...

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke speaks with Dr. Nathan Borgford-Parnell, the science lead at the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) Secretariat. Dr. Borgford-Parnell provides an in-depth look at the CCAC's mission to mitigate short-lived climate pollutants (SLCPs), such as methane, black carbon, hydrofluorocarbons, and tropospheric ozone. He emphasises the coalitio...

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke welcomes back Jennifer Muir, a communication professional with over 25 years of experience in the not-for-profit, government, social impact, and civil society sectors. Jennifer, who has recently been appointed to the Global Alliance board for Public Relations and Communication Management, shares insights into the Global Alliance's missio...

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke interviews Tim Gavel, a veteran sports broadcaster who has transitioned into the role of Media Director at Sport Integrity Australia, an Australian Government agency aimed at promoting safe and fair sports. Tim shares insights from his extensive career in media and broadcasting, detailing his journey from a disc jockey in Western Queensl...

In this episode of GovComms, we are joined by Strath Gordon, Head of Public Affairs and Communications at the Australian Olympic Committee. With the 2024 Paris Olympics starting in July, Strath shares insights into the planning involved in preparing for the Olympic games, including the introduction of 460 Australian athletes to the public and the coordination required to manage media coverage for...

In this episode of GovComms, we are joined by Mardi Stewart, the Branch Manager of Campaigns and Strategic Communication at the Department of Social Services. As a leader with extensive experience in strategic communication and public campaigns, Mardi shares insights on creating impactful and award-winning campaigns. From the foundational aspects of embracing a learning mindset to the intricacies...

In this episode of GovComms, we continue our conversation with Bevan Hannan, General Manager of the Communications Division at Services Australia. Bevan delves into the complexities of government communication, drawing on his extensive experience to explore how crises like the Bali bombings have shaped public narratives and the role of media in managing these narratives. Bevan reflects on the huma...

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, we are joined by Bevan Hannan, General Manager of the Communications Division at Services Australia. Bevan shares insights into the nuances of crisis communication during the COVID-19 pandemic, and outlines the strategies and technologies employed by Services Australia to manage public information needs effectively. Bevan also discusses the challenges and s...

In this episode of GovComms, we are joined once again by Stephanie Speck, who is now the Head of Communications for the Green Climate Fund, for a conversation focusing on effective climate change communication. With extensive experience in public sector communication globally, Stephanie shares insights into empowering climate-impacted communities to tell their authentic stories through "Story Sove...

This time on GovComms we are joined by Andrea Garcia, a communication professional with over 15 years’ experience working for various organisations. Andrea shares her stories working in UNICEF, Weber Shandwick and the New York State Court System in the United States and the Canberra Light Rail project, Museum of Australian Democracy (MOAD), and the Canberra Institute of Technology in Canberra, Aus...

In this episode of GovComms Podcast, we are joined by Ruth Dewsbury, a communication strategist with more than 20 years’ experience in government communications in the Australian federal government. Her most recent role was as a Senior Director of Communications at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Along with host David Pembroke, Ruth reflects on the significant...

GovComms Podcast is back with brand new episodes. Our first episode of the season welcomes back Alex Aiken, the Executive Director for Government Communications in the UK, who was our very first guest when the podcast debuted in 2015 as the 'InTransition Podcast'. The landscape of government communication has evolved since then, and this episode dives into the latest developments. Host David Pembr...

This week's episode marks the final episode of Govcomms 'From the Vault'. In this episode, host and CEO of contentgroup, David Pembroke, revisits his conversation with Tim Price, the Acting Director of Strategic Communications and Content at the Australian Federal Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. David begins by exploring where Tim's career began - creating massively successful fan websit...

This week on GovComms 'From the Vault,' we revisit our conversation with a special guest, the CEO of the Open Government Partnership, Sanjay Pradhan. Sanjay joined OGP in May 2016. Prior to joining OGP, he served as the Vice President for Leadership, Learning, and Innovation at the World Bank, as well as the Vice President of the World Bank Institute, and as the Director for Governance. David Pemb...

This week on Govcomms 'From the Vault', we revisit our conversation with Osama Saeed Bhutta, who is currently the Director of Communications, Policy & Campaigns at Shelter UK. At the time of this conversation, he was the Director of Communications at Amnesty International. Osama started out as a volunteer organiser and press officer for the Stop the War movement in the UK, which later landed h...

Are you interested in public health advocacy? This week on Govcomms ‘From the Vault’, we revisit our conversation with Clare and Alice Collins, a mother-daughter duo who run Insight Communications- a multi-award winning agency specialising in communication management for cause, culture, community and health organisations. We highlight the complexities surrounding asbestos awareness, including the...