About
I am a communications expert with more than twenty years' experience in creating, building and executing on communications strategies.
Beginning my career at a not-for-profit meant I quickly learned the best ways to make maximum impact using minimum spend. The importance of having clear and measurable goals, of building long-term relationships and of knowing how and when to communicate with whom, using what, were key learnings I would take with me right through my career.
When I moved to London in 1998 to "travel", I never imagined I would stay for ten years, nor that I would build a career in financial services. To a starry-eyed university graduate with just 18 months experience in the not-for-profit and government sectors, financial services seemed like a beige and boring place to be. Of course, I couldn't have been more wrong. After a spell working in internal communications for a Lloyd's of London reinsurer, I went on to take the role of "Press & PR Manager" at the International Underwriting Association of London. Little did I know, that in 2001, the insurance industry would be thrust into the limelight following the September 11 terror attacks and that I, in turn, would be thrust into the world of crisis communications - suddenly finding myself a spokesperson for an entire industry. It was in this role I developed some of my strongest relationships with world media and an understanding of why they are so critical to positive media outcomes.
Shortly after, I moved on to work for one of the Association's member companies, GE Insurance Solutions. There I honed my skills in event management and marketing communications before being invited to head media relations in Europe when my strong relationships with key financial journalists were discovered. Adding it my portfolio, I soon became the head of all External Communications and Event Management for Europe. When Swiss Re bought the insurance business from GE in 2005, I chose to move to Genworth Financial (a former GE company) for a role as Director of Communications in Europe. A Senior Leadership position, it provided me an opportunity to completely restructure the function and saw us significantly reduce spend and improve results in the first 12 months. I was soon charged with building an internal communications function from scratch and with launching a new brand for the company. After seeing both tasks through, I found myself back in crisis communications mode as the Global Financial Crisis descended and parts of our business were hit hard.
I returned to Australia at the close of 2008 and took a role at BHP Billiton - my first foray into the resources sector. While being interviewed for a role as 2IC to the Head of Comms, I discovered I was pregnant with my first child and so instead took on a six-month contract focussed on rebuilding their website and assisting the new VP of Communications to restructure the communications function. Upon returning to the market after just over a year's maternity break, I worked regularly as a consultant to BHP managing various communications projects on their behalf. It was from here that I built out my consultancy business, SmallFishBig, and through word of mouth that I was awarded projects with other clients such as Vicinity, University of Melbourne, M&P Partners and the World Psychiatric Association.
It has become apparent to me since starting SmallFishBig that I have something unique to offer the market - simple, tailored and EFFECTIVE communications.
Beginning my career at a not-for-profit meant I quickly learned the best ways to make maximum impact using minimum spend. The importance of having clear and measurable goals, of building long-term relationships and of knowing how and when to communicate with whom, using what, were key learnings I would take with me right through my career.
When I moved to London in 1998 to "travel", I never imagined I would stay for ten years, nor that I would build a career in financial services. To a starry-eyed university graduate with just 18 months experience in the not-for-profit and government sectors, financial services seemed like a beige and boring place to be. Of course, I couldn't have been more wrong. After a spell working in internal communications for a Lloyd's of London reinsurer, I went on to take the role of "Press & PR Manager" at the International Underwriting Association of London. Little did I know, that in 2001, the insurance industry would be thrust into the limelight following the September 11 terror attacks and that I, in turn, would be thrust into the world of crisis communications - suddenly finding myself a spokesperson for an entire industry. It was in this role I developed some of my strongest relationships with world media and an understanding of why they are so critical to positive media outcomes.
Shortly after, I moved on to work for one of the Association's member companies, GE Insurance Solutions. There I honed my skills in event management and marketing communications before being invited to head media relations in Europe when my strong relationships with key financial journalists were discovered. Adding it my portfolio, I soon became the head of all External Communications and Event Management for Europe. When Swiss Re bought the insurance business from GE in 2005, I chose to move to Genworth Financial (a former GE company) for a role as Director of Communications in Europe. A Senior Leadership position, it provided me an opportunity to completely restructure the function and saw us significantly reduce spend and improve results in the first 12 months. I was soon charged with building an internal communications function from scratch and with launching a new brand for the company. After seeing both tasks through, I found myself back in crisis communications mode as the Global Financial Crisis descended and parts of our business were hit hard.
I returned to Australia at the close of 2008 and took a role at BHP Billiton - my first foray into the resources sector. While being interviewed for a role as 2IC to the Head of Comms, I discovered I was pregnant with my first child and so instead took on a six-month contract focussed on rebuilding their website and assisting the new VP of Communications to restructure the communications function. Upon returning to the market after just over a year's maternity break, I worked regularly as a consultant to BHP managing various communications projects on their behalf. It was from here that I built out my consultancy business, SmallFishBig, and through word of mouth that I was awarded projects with other clients such as Vicinity, University of Melbourne, M&P Partners and the World Psychiatric Association.
It has become apparent to me since starting SmallFishBig that I have something unique to offer the market - simple, tailored and EFFECTIVE communications.