Register Here

Public Sector & Government Communications Week Agenda

  • 14 - 16 May 2025
  • Rex Hotel, Canberra
7:30 Registration opens


Aunty Serena Williams
Ngunnawal Elder


Michele Barry
Deputy Chair
IAP2 Australasia

  • Proven strategies for maintaining trust in the digital age
  • Practical approaches to designing targeted campaigns that educate and empower communities to identify credible information and take action
  • Insights into understanding and meeting public expectations during everyday weather and extreme weather events to ensure impactful communication
  • How to leverage diverse communication channels to effectively engage with and support the needs of Australians


Timothy Mclean
General Manager, Communications
Bureau of Meteorology

  • Case study of GBI real’s life crisis response
  • Developing a proactive crisis communications plan before incidents occur
  • Establishing protocols for rapid information dissemination
  • Harnessing social media effectively in providing timely updates to keep the public informed
  • Lessons learned from real-world critical incidents to improve future preparedness


Nelly Miles
Director of Public & Governmental Affairs
Georgia Bureau of Investigation  

  • Adapting to ongoing evolution: Exploring how the public communications function has evolved in response to current trends, and anticipate the disruptions likely to shape the landscape in 2025
  • Significant changes observed in the function’s evolution, key challenges ahead, emerging opportunities, and the strategies and tools needed to address them effectively
  • Communicating in an evolving and fast paced digital age

Panelists:


Cassandra Casey
General Manager Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology  


Lorie Helliwell 
Head of Group Communications
Australian Securities and Investments Commission 


11:00 Morning refreshement

A

Driving organisational change through effective internal communications

  • Practical tools and frameworks to embrace the inevitability of change
  • Tackling talent shortages by strengthening employee engagement, boosting morale, and enhancing retention strategies during uncertain times
  • Integrating mental health and wellbeing initiatives into communication
    strategies to foster a supportive workplace culture amidst ongoing change


Sarah Leong
Change and Communications Manager
Australian Federal Government

  • The importance of branding in public
    sector to build trust, credibility, and
    alignment with new stakeholders
  • Using creative approaches, including the unexpected, to engage employees, attract talent, and cut through a noisy and competitive market
  • Maximising organisational impact through using authenticity, internal messaging, staff experiences and the element of surprise
  • Aligning internal messaging with organisational goals to build discipline, reduce complexity and build confidence in staff


Felicity Spurrett
Assistant Director, Communications and
Governance, Strategic Communications
Australian Safeguards and
Non-Proliferation Office

  • Global trends & their Impact on public sector comms – Learn how emerging trends like AI, personalisation, and mobile-first strategies are shaping workplace communication and what they mean for government agencies
  • Reaching every employee: Multi channel strategies – explore how to effectively engage both frontline and desk-based workers through the right mix of digital and offline channels.
  • Proving impact and securing leadership buy in– Discover how to use data, analytics, and employee insights to refine strategies, demonstrate value, and gain executive support for internal communications


Ramak Salamat
Vice President
Staffbase APJ

1:00 Networking luncheon
  • Strengthening collaboration between communications teams and executive leadership to enhance strategic
    decision-making
  • Aligning communication efforts with leadership priorities to ensure a cohesive organisational vision and measurable outcomes


Panellist:


Holly Jane Badlor
Assistant Director, Strategy
and Engagement – Digital Atlas
of Australia,
Geoscience Australia


Felicity Spurrett
Assistant Director, Communications and
Governance, Strategic Communications
Australian Safeguards and
Non-Proliferation Office


Sadie Tileray
Director, Communications and Engagement
Albury Wodonga Health

  • Building a strong team dynamic with clear roles and responsibilities.
  • Utilising automation tools for repetitive tasks, allowing teams to focus on creative and strategic initiatives
  • Encouraging a learning mindset to embrace failure as a stepping stone to innovation


Sadie Tilleray
Director, Communications
and Engagement
Albury Wodonga Health

B

Strategic approach to external communications in a rapidly changing media and public landscape
  • Practical strategies for crafting engaging and accessible data presentations tailored to diverse audiences
  • Learning methods for transforming raw
    data into compelling narratives understand the importance of audience-specific communication
  • Exploring how Austrade effectively shares data insights through Excel tables, published reports accessible formats, webinars, and LinkedIn posts


Garrett Tyler-Parker
Director Analysis & Insights
Austrade

  • Effectively targeting your audiences through organic and other low cost strategies
  • Focusing on outcomes that provide the greatest value for limited resources
  • Leveraging low-cost digital channels
  • Using feedback mechanisms to gauge
    public and political sentiment and adapt
    accordingly


Nicole Castillo
Community Communication
and Engagement Officer
Blacktown City Council

  • Understanding impact beyond tangible deliverables
  • Emphasising the importance of advocacy, stakeholder engagement and long-term influence over direct service delivery
  • Showcasing the role of thought leadership, policy influence and stakeholder engagement in creating
    meaningful impact
  • Leveraging data as the primary foundation of building a narrative


Erin Glapiak
A/ Executive Director, Strategy and Impact
Queensland Family and Child
Commission

1:00 Networking luncheon
  • Establishing clear mandates and guidelines that define the strategic role of communication function within government while protecting it from politicisation
  • Developing proactive and standardised public communication strategies to drive consistency and impact
  • Ensuring that all communications are transparent, with clear objectives and outcomes


Panellist:

Nicole Castillo
Community Communication and Engagement Officer
Blacktown City Council


Erin Glapiak
A/ Executive Director, Strategy and Impact
Queensland Family and Child Commission

  • Tailoring messaging to respect diverse cultural values, traditions, and experiences
  • Amplifying diverse voices, including Indigenous and multicultural leaders, in public discussions and decision-making processes
  • Partnering with local leaders, organisations, and media outlets to ensure authentic and effective outreach
  • Encouraging open communication to better understand the needs and concerns of multicultural communities


Cassandra Casey
General Manager Communications
& Stakeholder Engagement
Australian Nuclear Science
and Technology

C

Effective use of digital tools and social media to engage the public, enhance transparency, & drive positive outcomes
  • How social media influences public opinion, political discourse, and societal trends, shaping individual and collective
    behaviour
  • Address the rise of misinformation and its consequences on public trust, civic engagement, and the spread of false narratives
  • Tackling potential policies and regulations to balance free expression with accountability, protecting individuals and society from harmful content
  • Promoting digital literacy in empowering individuals to critically engage with social media and navigate its challenges responsibly


Mitchell Dye
Coordinator External Corporate
Communications
City of Greater Geelon

  • Creating effective and impactful short-form content in public communications strategy
  • Leveraging on current viral trends to enhance your agency’s social media presence and reach a wider audience.
  • Using proven tools, strategies, and best practices to craft content that resonates and drives interaction
  • Scheduling and optimisation tools to ensure your content is posted at the ideal times for maximum engagement


Emily Farmer
Social Media Adviser
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

  • Learning when humour is appropriate for government agencies to enhance engagement without compromising
    professionalism.
  • CSIRO’s proven methods for creating effective and funny content
  • Understanding how humour can make serious topics more relatable and memorable
  • Exploring the role of humour in building public and internal trust


Tess Corkish
Social Media Advisor
CSIRO

1:00 Networking luncheon
  • Conducting a comprehensive audit on your digital channels and competitors’ presence to uncover valuable insights
  • Analysing audit data and create clear,actionable reports that highlight key findings and opportunities
  • Presenting audit results and recommendations in a way that aligns and engages key stakeholders with your team’s strategic vision
  • Integrating audit findings into a cohesive marketing strategy that delivers measurable results

Panelist:


Mitchell Dye
Coordinator External Corporate
Communications
City of Greater Geelong

  • Building strong, sustained engagement with audiences across multiple communication channels
  • Having a cohesive and consistent message across all channels, tailored to each platform’s strengths
  • Continuously track engagement metrics across all channels


Cesar Caballero 
Social Media Coordinator
Youth Transportation Safety
Program 

3:00 Afternoon refreshments
3:30 Interactive roundtables
Join the conversation with fellow attendees to explore what’s working, tackle challenges, and share experiences around key topics. Choose one topic and engage in a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights with roundtable members. These session is designed to foster interaction, encourage knowledge sharing, and promote active participation.

1

Roundtable
Top AI tools and use cases for social media

2

Roundtable
Video best practices: Content creation for reels

3

Roundtable Redefining the role of public communication in an evolving information ecosystem

4

Roundtable Effective use of public communication: Key governance pillars

5

Roundtable Evidence-based and data-driven public communication

6

Roundtable Strategies in communicating in an evolving and fast-paced digital age
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive user journey and a robust footprint tracking framework
  • Build powerful reporting dashboards to automate your analytics process
  • Empower all teams with the right data and insights for efficiency and innovation



Daniel Wang
Analyst, Digital Performance Communications & Marketing Division
Austrade

Join us at the end of day one for cocktails and the opportunity to network with your peers, speakers and sponsors.

Join us for an exclusive Networking Dinner on 14th May from 7 PM at The Boat House Canberra and end your day at the Summit with a fine dining experience alongside your peers. Nestled along the scenic banks of Lake Burley Griffin, The Boat House offers more than just a meal it’s a culinary journey in an unforgettable setting.

Seats are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so reserve your spot now to secure this premier networking opportunity!

Dinner add on: $185 + GST
  • The importance of government being open and relationship-driven with public communications
  • Creating meaningful two way engagement through an effective multi-channel approach
  • Giving the public a chance to see their feedback reflected in design and delivery to boost stakeholder satisfaction


Janine Bennett
Assistant Secretary, Engagement Lead – Digital Business and Sector Engagement, Experience
Department of Health and Aged Care

  • Developing a content strategy that satisfies internal stakeholders while actually engaging the community
  • Navigating the challenges of “design by committee” and maintaining creative control
  • Unlocking your team’s creative potential to produce compelling content
  • Managing risk and approvals without stifling innovation


Kendall Masters
Director, Channels and Content
Australian Renewable Energy Agency

  • The importance of government being open and relationship-driven with public communications
  • Creating meaningful two-way engagement through an effective multi-channel approach
  • Giving the public a chance to see their feedback reflected in design and delivery to boost stakeholder satisfaction

Lisa Maksimovic 
Director, Communications
Suburban Rail Loop Authority

  • Many stakeholders have diverse communication needs, often creating barriers in traditional government engagement
  • Inclusive strategies designed for autistic individuals can also benefit CALD communities, the elderly, and people with intellectual disabilities
  • Both the language used and the methods of communication play a crucial role in ensuring accessibility and effectiveness


Emma Goodall
Director Strategic Translational Research
Department of Premier and Cabinet

11:00 Registration opens

A

Strategic communications in a rapidly evolving media and public landscape
  • Ensuring transparent, accurate communication about nuclear technologies while maintaining neutrality
  • Addressing the complexities of updating both new and legacy content in response to political shifts
  • The importance of consulting with multiple stakeholder groups to ensure
  • The benefits of maintaining a dynamic, responsive communication strategy in a rapidly changing political landscape accurate, well-rounded messaging


Susan Bogle
Senior Manager, Science Communications
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation

  • Creating impactful comms through three non-negotiables
  • Preventing crunch time through better planning for writers
  • Increasing buy-in through a rationale for clear communication


Rachel Bastow
Head of Client Solutions
Plain English Foundation

  • Building partner collaboration to achieve shared goals and drive
    engagement
  • Ensuring aligned, consistent messaging across agencies for
    maximum impact
  • Strategic cross-promotion and direct engagement for greater
    reach
  • Leveraging partner and user-generated content to amplify your
    message and promote your vision


Holly Jane Badior
Assistant Director, Strategyand Engagement
Digital Atlas of Australia
Geoscience Australia

1:00 Networking luncheon
  • Understanding how your agency’s mission and values translate into a compelling purpose that resonates with diverse stakeholders
  • Explore how government initiatives, such as environmental
    sustainability and social equity, can align with authentic storytelling to drive community engagement
  • Fostering public trust by ensuring government actions and policies reflect stated values and priorities
  • Proven approaches to crafting and sharing sustainability and
    policy success stories, emphasising measurable outcomes and
    societal benefits


Sharon Kalina
Sharon Kalina, Director, Communications and Engagement
Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission  


Evie Madden
Executive Director, Communications and Engagement Strategic Policy, Science and Engagement
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

  • How effective public communication strengthens Australia’s nation brand and drives international trust and investment
  • Best practices for government and businesses to align communication efforts with the nation brand to boost global influence
  • Key approaches to integrating nation branding into public engagement strategies and accessing available support

 


Emma-Jane Toscan
Director, Strategic Marketing & Communications
Austrade

B

Effective use of digital tools and social media to enagage the public, enhance transparency, & drive positive outcomes
  • Controlling crisis communication through social media channels to get messages across to your community fast
  • Using social listening tools to track conversations and gather insights about public concerns, providing real time situational awareness
  • Empowering communities to be more proactive in crisis situations through training, outreach, and awareness campaigns


Scott Thomsen
Director of Communications
and Public Affairs
Ventura County Fire Department

  • Developing and implementing a robust reputation management strategy to enhance your social media content
  • Building trust with the public and internal teams through a consistent, value-driven tone that fosters engagement
  • Achieving key communication objectives by adapting tone, strategy and means of communication to suit different contexts and audiences effectively


James Milsom
Acting Director – Media and Public Affairs
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

  • Humanising your brand to build genuine connections with your audiences
  • Using emotive imagery and storytelling tactics to engage the public


Sophie Winter
Social Media Manager
Australian Wildlife Conservancy

1:00 Networking luncheon


Jason Kempen
Assistant Director, Social Media
Australian Digital Health Agency

  • Developing a comprehensive approach to managing paid communications that ensures cost –  effectiveness, transparency, and alignment with their broader public engagement objectives
  • Exploring cost-effective strategies for optimising paid campaigns, including the use of digital channels and data-driven targeting
  • Targeting the right audience

Panellists:


Sophie Winter
Social Media Manager
Australian Wildlife Conservancy


Rochelle Burr
Digital Communications Officer
Blacktown City Council

3:00 Afternoon refreshments
  • Creating interactive content to reach and engage your audience
  • Highlight behind-the-scenes content: Share day-to-day operations or team stories to humanise your agency
  • Incorporating user-generated content: Encourage your audience to share their experiences and testimonials for organic engagement.
  • Collaborating with influencers: Partner with relatable and trusted voices to amplify your message


Lisa Maksimovic
Director, Communications
Suburban Rail Loop Authority

  • Equipping leaders with compelling content and support materials to enhance their communication impact and inspire action
  • Leveraging social media platforms to amplify leaders’ expertise, showcasing their vision and positioning them as thought leaders
  • Personalising messages to resonate with diverse individuals by adapting to different personalities, preferences, and communication styles
  • Using authentic and relatable leadership messaging to foster motivation and align the organisation around shared goals

In this workshop, learn how to elevate your social media strategy by mastering the key elements of analytics, sentiment analysis, and reporting. Learn the techniques to engage and connect meaningfully with your audience while driving measurable success. Whether you’re looking to refine your existing strategy or build a stronger foundation, this session will equip you with the tools and insights needed to create campaigns that resonate and deliver results.

By attending the workshop, you’ll learn:

  • Creating impactful campaigns:The tips and techniques of creating impactful campaigns that resonate with your audience
  • Balancing creativity with  strategic planning to manage social accounts like a seasoned professional
  • Building a solid foundation for managing social accounts  that resonate with your audience
  • Crafting endless relevant content ideas and establish clear content pillars to shape your strategy
  • Defining and aligning your social media goals to ensure your efforts contribute to broader organizational success
  • Understanding how clear workflows and processes can simplify your work and make managing social media more enjoyable
Workshop Leader:


Ben Shute
Social, Digital & Content Business Strategy Consultant
Ben Shute Consulting


Amber Hope
Marketing Consultant
Kinship Digital

12:00 Lunch break

As misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly across digital platforms, government communications are crucial in safeguarding public trust and ensuring accurate information is shared. This session will focus on effective strategies for governments to combat false narratives, enhance transparency, and engage citizens meaningfully. By using proactive communication tactics, leveraging technology, and partnering with trusted media, governments can maintain the integrity of public information in the digital era.

By attending the workshop, you’ll learn:
  • Understanding the role of public communicators in fostering public trust and counteracting misinformation and false narratives
  • Prioritising open, accurate, and timely communication to reduce the potential for misinformation
  • Building partnerships with credible media and fact-checking organisations to verify information before it reaches the public
  • Leveraging AI tools and automated systems to identify and combat disinformation in real  time, ensuring quick responses
  • Strengthening public trust by being consistently transparent, responsive, and reliable in communications
  • Encourage and support digital literacy initiatives to empower citizens to critically evaluate the information they encounter online
Workshop Leader:


Ben Shute
Social, Digital & Content Business Strategy Consultant
Ben Shute Consulting

  • 14 - 16 May 2025
  • Rex Hotel, Canberra
7:30 Registration opens


Aunty Serena Williams
Ngunnawal Elder


Michele Barry
Deputy Chair
IAP2 Australasia

  • Proven strategies for maintaining trust in the digital age
  • Practical approaches to designing targeted campaigns that educate and empower communities to identify credible information and take action
  • Insights into understanding and meeting public expectations during everyday weather and extreme weather events to ensure impactful communication
  • How to leverage diverse communication channels to effectively engage with and support the needs of Australians


Timothy Mclean
General Manager, Communications
Bureau of Meteorology

  • Case study of GBI real’s life crisis response
  • Developing a proactive crisis communications plan before incidents occur
  • Establishing protocols for rapid information dissemination
  • Harnessing social media effectively in providing timely updates to keep the public informed
  • Lessons learned from real-world critical incidents to improve future preparedness


Nelly Miles
Director of Public & Governmental Affairs
Georgia Bureau of Investigation  

  • Adapting to ongoing evolution: Exploring how the public communications function has evolved in response to current trends, and anticipate the disruptions likely to shape the landscape in 2025
  • Significant changes observed in the function’s evolution, key challenges ahead, emerging opportunities, and the strategies and tools needed to address them effectively
  • Communicating in an evolving and fast paced digital age

Panelists:


Cassandra Casey
General Manager Communications & Stakeholder Engagement
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology  


Lorie Helliwell 
Head of Group Communications
Australian Securities and Investments Commission 


11:00 Morning refreshement

A

Driving organisational change through effective internal communications

  • Practical tools and frameworks to embrace the inevitability of change
  • Tackling talent shortages by strengthening employee engagement, boosting morale, and enhancing retention strategies during uncertain times
  • Integrating mental health and wellbeing initiatives into communication
    strategies to foster a supportive workplace culture amidst ongoing change


Sarah Leong
Change and Communications Manager
Australian Federal Government

  • The importance of branding in public
    sector to build trust, credibility, and
    alignment with new stakeholders
  • Using creative approaches, including the unexpected, to engage employees, attract talent, and cut through a noisy and competitive market
  • Maximising organisational impact through using authenticity, internal messaging, staff experiences and the element of surprise
  • Aligning internal messaging with organisational goals to build discipline, reduce complexity and build confidence in staff


Felicity Spurrett
Assistant Director, Communications and
Governance, Strategic Communications
Australian Safeguards and
Non-Proliferation Office

  • Global trends & their Impact on public sector comms – Learn how emerging trends like AI, personalisation, and mobile-first strategies are shaping workplace communication and what they mean for government agencies
  • Reaching every employee: Multi channel strategies – explore how to effectively engage both frontline and desk-based workers through the right mix of digital and offline channels.
  • Proving impact and securing leadership buy in– Discover how to use data, analytics, and employee insights to refine strategies, demonstrate value, and gain executive support for internal communications


Ramak Salamat
Vice President
Staffbase APJ

1:00 Networking luncheon
  • Strengthening collaboration between communications teams and executive leadership to enhance strategic
    decision-making
  • Aligning communication efforts with leadership priorities to ensure a cohesive organisational vision and measurable outcomes


Panellist:


Holly Jane Badlor
Assistant Director, Strategy
and Engagement – Digital Atlas
of Australia,
Geoscience Australia


Felicity Spurrett
Assistant Director, Communications and
Governance, Strategic Communications
Australian Safeguards and
Non-Proliferation Office


Sadie Tileray
Director, Communications and Engagement
Albury Wodonga Health

  • Building a strong team dynamic with clear roles and responsibilities.
  • Utilising automation tools for repetitive tasks, allowing teams to focus on creative and strategic initiatives
  • Encouraging a learning mindset to embrace failure as a stepping stone to innovation


Sadie Tilleray
Director, Communications
and Engagement
Albury Wodonga Health

B

Strategic approach to external communications in a rapidly changing media and public landscape
  • Practical strategies for crafting engaging and accessible data presentations tailored to diverse audiences
  • Learning methods for transforming raw
    data into compelling narratives understand the importance of audience-specific communication
  • Exploring how Austrade effectively shares data insights through Excel tables, published reports accessible formats, webinars, and LinkedIn posts


Garrett Tyler-Parker
Director Analysis & Insights
Austrade

  • Effectively targeting your audiences through organic and other low cost strategies
  • Focusing on outcomes that provide the greatest value for limited resources
  • Leveraging low-cost digital channels
  • Using feedback mechanisms to gauge
    public and political sentiment and adapt
    accordingly


Nicole Castillo
Community Communication
and Engagement Officer
Blacktown City Council

  • Understanding impact beyond tangible deliverables
  • Emphasising the importance of advocacy, stakeholder engagement and long-term influence over direct service delivery
  • Showcasing the role of thought leadership, policy influence and stakeholder engagement in creating
    meaningful impact
  • Leveraging data as the primary foundation of building a narrative


Erin Glapiak
A/ Executive Director, Strategy and Impact
Queensland Family and Child
Commission

1:00 Networking luncheon
  • Establishing clear mandates and guidelines that define the strategic role of communication function within government while protecting it from politicisation
  • Developing proactive and standardised public communication strategies to drive consistency and impact
  • Ensuring that all communications are transparent, with clear objectives and outcomes


Panellist:

Nicole Castillo
Community Communication and Engagement Officer
Blacktown City Council


Erin Glapiak
A/ Executive Director, Strategy and Impact
Queensland Family and Child Commission

  • Tailoring messaging to respect diverse cultural values, traditions, and experiences
  • Amplifying diverse voices, including Indigenous and multicultural leaders, in public discussions and decision-making processes
  • Partnering with local leaders, organisations, and media outlets to ensure authentic and effective outreach
  • Encouraging open communication to better understand the needs and concerns of multicultural communities


Cassandra Casey
General Manager Communications
& Stakeholder Engagement
Australian Nuclear Science
and Technology

C

Effective use of digital tools and social media to engage the public, enhance transparency, & drive positive outcomes
  • How social media influences public opinion, political discourse, and societal trends, shaping individual and collective
    behaviour
  • Address the rise of misinformation and its consequences on public trust, civic engagement, and the spread of false narratives
  • Tackling potential policies and regulations to balance free expression with accountability, protecting individuals and society from harmful content
  • Promoting digital literacy in empowering individuals to critically engage with social media and navigate its challenges responsibly


Mitchell Dye
Coordinator External Corporate
Communications
City of Greater Geelon

  • Creating effective and impactful short-form content in public communications strategy
  • Leveraging on current viral trends to enhance your agency’s social media presence and reach a wider audience.
  • Using proven tools, strategies, and best practices to craft content that resonates and drives interaction
  • Scheduling and optimisation tools to ensure your content is posted at the ideal times for maximum engagement


Emily Farmer
Social Media Adviser
Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development

  • Learning when humour is appropriate for government agencies to enhance engagement without compromising
    professionalism.
  • CSIRO’s proven methods for creating effective and funny content
  • Understanding how humour can make serious topics more relatable and memorable
  • Exploring the role of humour in building public and internal trust


Tess Corkish
Social Media Advisor
CSIRO

1:00 Networking luncheon
  • Conducting a comprehensive audit on your digital channels and competitors’ presence to uncover valuable insights
  • Analysing audit data and create clear,actionable reports that highlight key findings and opportunities
  • Presenting audit results and recommendations in a way that aligns and engages key stakeholders with your team’s strategic vision
  • Integrating audit findings into a cohesive marketing strategy that delivers measurable results

Panelist:


Mitchell Dye
Coordinator External Corporate
Communications
City of Greater Geelong

  • Building strong, sustained engagement with audiences across multiple communication channels
  • Having a cohesive and consistent message across all channels, tailored to each platform’s strengths
  • Continuously track engagement metrics across all channels


Cesar Caballero 
Social Media Coordinator
Youth Transportation Safety
Program 

3:00 Afternoon refreshments
3:30 Interactive roundtables
Join the conversation with fellow attendees to explore what’s working, tackle challenges, and share experiences around key topics. Choose one topic and engage in a dynamic exchange of ideas and insights with roundtable members. These session is designed to foster interaction, encourage knowledge sharing, and promote active participation.

1

Roundtable
Top AI tools and use cases for social media

2

Roundtable
Video best practices: Content creation for reels

3

Roundtable Redefining the role of public communication in an evolving information ecosystem

4

Roundtable Effective use of public communication: Key governance pillars

5

Roundtable Evidence-based and data-driven public communication

6

Roundtable Strategies in communicating in an evolving and fast-paced digital age
  • Develop and implement a comprehensive user journey and a robust footprint tracking framework
  • Build powerful reporting dashboards to automate your analytics process
  • Empower all teams with the right data and insights for efficiency and innovation



Daniel Wang
Analyst, Digital Performance Communications & Marketing Division
Austrade

Join us at the end of day one for cocktails and the opportunity to network with your peers, speakers and sponsors.

Join us for an exclusive Networking Dinner on 14th May from 7 PM at The Boat House Canberra and end your day at the Summit with a fine dining experience alongside your peers. Nestled along the scenic banks of Lake Burley Griffin, The Boat House offers more than just a meal it’s a culinary journey in an unforgettable setting.

Seats are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so reserve your spot now to secure this premier networking opportunity!

Dinner add on: $185 + GST
  • The importance of government being open and relationship-driven with public communications
  • Creating meaningful two way engagement through an effective multi-channel approach
  • Giving the public a chance to see their feedback reflected in design and delivery to boost stakeholder satisfaction


Janine Bennett
Assistant Secretary, Engagement Lead – Digital Business and Sector Engagement, Experience
Department of Health and Aged Care

  • Developing a content strategy that satisfies internal stakeholders while actually engaging the community
  • Navigating the challenges of “design by committee” and maintaining creative control
  • Unlocking your team’s creative potential to produce compelling content
  • Managing risk and approvals without stifling innovation


Kendall Masters
Director, Channels and Content
Australian Renewable Energy Agency

  • The importance of government being open and relationship-driven with public communications
  • Creating meaningful two-way engagement through an effective multi-channel approach
  • Giving the public a chance to see their feedback reflected in design and delivery to boost stakeholder satisfaction

Lisa Maksimovic 
Director, Communications
Suburban Rail Loop Authority

  • Many stakeholders have diverse communication needs, often creating barriers in traditional government engagement
  • Inclusive strategies designed for autistic individuals can also benefit CALD communities, the elderly, and people with intellectual disabilities
  • Both the language used and the methods of communication play a crucial role in ensuring accessibility and effectiveness


Emma Goodall
Director Strategic Translational Research
Department of Premier and Cabinet

11:00 Registration opens

A

Strategic communications in a rapidly evolving media and public landscape
  • Ensuring transparent, accurate communication about nuclear technologies while maintaining neutrality
  • Addressing the complexities of updating both new and legacy content in response to political shifts
  • The importance of consulting with multiple stakeholder groups to ensure
  • The benefits of maintaining a dynamic, responsive communication strategy in a rapidly changing political landscape accurate, well-rounded messaging


Susan Bogle
Senior Manager, Science Communications
Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation

  • Creating impactful comms through three non-negotiables
  • Preventing crunch time through better planning for writers
  • Increasing buy-in through a rationale for clear communication


Rachel Bastow
Head of Client Solutions
Plain English Foundation

  • Building partner collaboration to achieve shared goals and drive
    engagement
  • Ensuring aligned, consistent messaging across agencies for
    maximum impact
  • Strategic cross-promotion and direct engagement for greater
    reach
  • Leveraging partner and user-generated content to amplify your
    message and promote your vision


Holly Jane Badior
Assistant Director, Strategyand Engagement
Digital Atlas of Australia
Geoscience Australia

1:00 Networking luncheon
  • Understanding how your agency’s mission and values translate into a compelling purpose that resonates with diverse stakeholders
  • Explore how government initiatives, such as environmental
    sustainability and social equity, can align with authentic storytelling to drive community engagement
  • Fostering public trust by ensuring government actions and policies reflect stated values and priorities
  • Proven approaches to crafting and sharing sustainability and
    policy success stories, emphasising measurable outcomes and
    societal benefits


Sharon Kalina
Sharon Kalina, Director, Communications and Engagement
Victorian Gambling and Casino Control Commission  


Evie Madden
Executive Director, Communications and Engagement Strategic Policy, Science and Engagement
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water

  • How effective public communication strengthens Australia’s nation brand and drives international trust and investment
  • Best practices for government and businesses to align communication efforts with the nation brand to boost global influence
  • Key approaches to integrating nation branding into public engagement strategies and accessing available support

 


Emma-Jane Toscan
Director, Strategic Marketing & Communications
Austrade

B

Effective use of digital tools and social media to enagage the public, enhance transparency, & drive positive outcomes
  • Controlling crisis communication through social media channels to get messages across to your community fast
  • Using social listening tools to track conversations and gather insights about public concerns, providing real time situational awareness
  • Empowering communities to be more proactive in crisis situations through training, outreach, and awareness campaigns


Scott Thomsen
Director of Communications
and Public Affairs
Ventura County Fire Department

  • Developing and implementing a robust reputation management strategy to enhance your social media content
  • Building trust with the public and internal teams through a consistent, value-driven tone that fosters engagement
  • Achieving key communication objectives by adapting tone, strategy and means of communication to suit different contexts and audiences effectively


James Milsom
Acting Director – Media and Public Affairs
Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia

  • Humanising your brand to build genuine connections with your audiences
  • Using emotive imagery and storytelling tactics to engage the public


Sophie Winter
Social Media Manager
Australian Wildlife Conservancy

1:00 Networking luncheon


Jason Kempen
Assistant Director, Social Media
Australian Digital Health Agency

  • Developing a comprehensive approach to managing paid communications that ensures cost –  effectiveness, transparency, and alignment with their broader public engagement objectives
  • Exploring cost-effective strategies for optimising paid campaigns, including the use of digital channels and data-driven targeting
  • Targeting the right audience

Panellists:


Sophie Winter
Social Media Manager
Australian Wildlife Conservancy


Rochelle Burr
Digital Communications Officer
Blacktown City Council

3:00 Afternoon refreshments
  • Creating interactive content to reach and engage your audience
  • Highlight behind-the-scenes content: Share day-to-day operations or team stories to humanise your agency
  • Incorporating user-generated content: Encourage your audience to share their experiences and testimonials for organic engagement.
  • Collaborating with influencers: Partner with relatable and trusted voices to amplify your message


Lisa Maksimovic
Director, Communications
Suburban Rail Loop Authority

  • Equipping leaders with compelling content and support materials to enhance their communication impact and inspire action
  • Leveraging social media platforms to amplify leaders’ expertise, showcasing their vision and positioning them as thought leaders
  • Personalising messages to resonate with diverse individuals by adapting to different personalities, preferences, and communication styles
  • Using authentic and relatable leadership messaging to foster motivation and align the organisation around shared goals

In this workshop, learn how to elevate your social media strategy by mastering the key elements of analytics, sentiment analysis, and reporting. Learn the techniques to engage and connect meaningfully with your audience while driving measurable success. Whether you’re looking to refine your existing strategy or build a stronger foundation, this session will equip you with the tools and insights needed to create campaigns that resonate and deliver results.

By attending the workshop, you’ll learn:

  • Creating impactful campaigns:The tips and techniques of creating impactful campaigns that resonate with your audience
  • Balancing creativity with  strategic planning to manage social accounts like a seasoned professional
  • Building a solid foundation for managing social accounts  that resonate with your audience
  • Crafting endless relevant content ideas and establish clear content pillars to shape your strategy
  • Defining and aligning your social media goals to ensure your efforts contribute to broader organizational success
  • Understanding how clear workflows and processes can simplify your work and make managing social media more enjoyable
Workshop Leader:


Ben Shute
Social, Digital & Content Business Strategy Consultant
Ben Shute Consulting


Amber Hope
Marketing Consultant
Kinship Digital

12:00 Lunch break

As misinformation and disinformation spread rapidly across digital platforms, government communications are crucial in safeguarding public trust and ensuring accurate information is shared. This session will focus on effective strategies for governments to combat false narratives, enhance transparency, and engage citizens meaningfully. By using proactive communication tactics, leveraging technology, and partnering with trusted media, governments can maintain the integrity of public information in the digital era.

By attending the workshop, you’ll learn:
  • Understanding the role of public communicators in fostering public trust and counteracting misinformation and false narratives
  • Prioritising open, accurate, and timely communication to reduce the potential for misinformation
  • Building partnerships with credible media and fact-checking organisations to verify information before it reaches the public
  • Leveraging AI tools and automated systems to identify and combat disinformation in real  time, ensuring quick responses
  • Strengthening public trust by being consistently transparent, responsive, and reliable in communications
  • Encourage and support digital literacy initiatives to empower citizens to critically evaluate the information they encounter online
Workshop Leader:


Ben Shute
Social, Digital & Content Business Strategy Consultant
Ben Shute Consulting

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