THE SHELLOfficial publication of Wells Haslem Strategic Public Affairs I S S U E 5 Autumn 2015

EXPANSION

Wells Haslem Strategic Public Affairs Robert Masters & Associates and InterCaptial Group join forces to expand their comprehensive offerings interstate Welcome to the latest edition of Wells Haslem’s regular magazine, The Shell. It’s hard to believe this is our fifth Wells Haslem: expansion edition, marking more than two-and-a half-years since we Benjamin Haslem, CEO established the business in July 2012. As you will see from our cover story, we have exciting news, with the forging of a partnership with our Melbourne affiliates, Robert Masters + Associates and Inter Capital Group. Our three company partners write about this exciting evolution in our business on page 3. Our relationship with the companies’ founders, Rob Masters and John Kananghinis, dates back to our days at Jackson Wells. We are also excited to welcome another member to our Wells Haslem team here in Sydney, Geoffrey MacDermott. Geoffrey joins us from Charles Sturt University where he just completed his communications degree. Regular readers of The Shell would be familiar with Rob Masters’ article on then newly-appointed Victoria Premier, Denis Napthine, in the magazine’s third edition. 12 months on and Dr Napthine has been relegated to political history, the victim of a rapidly emerging trend in Australian politics: the one-term government. Shortly after the Victoria Coalition government was swept from office, Queensland’s LNP Government led by Campbell Newman suffered the single-biggest swing against a first- term Queensland state government in history, leading to the ALP forming minority government. If opinion polls are any guide, the Tony Abbott-led Federal Government is in serious danger of being a one-term wonder. Gone, it seems, are the days of voters giving a new government a second term. Nick Wright from Luntz Global provides some reasons why in his insightful piece on page6. t has been another terrific six months for Wells The lesson for any organisation or business dealing with I governments is the importance of forging long-term Haslem but one tinged with great sadness. relationships with both sides of politics. You just don’t know In early February our good friend and former work how soon the shadow minister will be occupying a spot on colleague, Kate Breeze, passed away. ‘Breezey’ worked the treasury benches. with John Wells and me at Jackson Wells in the first Not only are voters eager to boot out politicians who fail to half of last decade before moving on to a variety of PR deliver on promises, it seems from Julie Sibraa’s article on roles including at the Sydney Opera House; the pre-polling on page 8, that they are keen to do so at the successful London 2012 Olympic Games bid; APEC earliest opportunity. 2007; and Surf Life Saving Australia. To quote Wellsy: “She was a terrific girl”. The huge turnout at Kate’s While Australian voters are chomping at the bit to exercise funeral in Sydney on 16 February was testament to her their democratic rights, the United States is gearing up for ability to win people’s hearts and forge long-term the 2016 Presidential race. With Barack Obama finishing his friendships across the globe. She will be missed second term, irrespective of which party wins the swipe terribly. card to the Oval Office, there will be a new President inaugurated on the steps of the Capitol on 20 January 2017. On page 11, Isabelle Walker casts her eye across the GOP and Democrat hopefuls seeking their party’s nomination for presidential candidate, including New Jersey Governor, Chris Christie; Former Florida Governor (and brother of ‘Dubya’), Benjamin Haslem Jeb Bush; a woman who needs no introduction, Hillary CEO Rodham Clinton; and Vice President, Joe Biden. Expansion New Partnership brings leadership in communication

Alexandra Mayhew, Benjamin Haslem, John Wells

Wells Haslem Strategic Public Affairs will formalise its Into everyday lives, the media cycle (and rise of media relationship with Melbourne affiliates Robert Masters & convergence and the power of social media) and of course, Associates (RM+A) and Inter Capital Group (ICG), a politics. We determined the increasing speed and partnership that will allow the three firms to seamlessly globalisation of media and politics was a key factor to deliver valued services nationwide. account for in our new business model. Wells Haslem has experienced a rapid growth since its The Partners also assessed client needs. We determined inception in 2012, in no small part because of the solid clients’ preferences can vary from a trusted one-person foundation laid down over 20 years by John Wells as counsel to a large team with broad service offerings. So we structured ourselves in such a way to provide this. We founding partner at one of Australia’s most successful created our core team to undertake the smaller tasks, and independent public relations firms, Jackson Wells. expanded as needed with highly experienced external Benjamin Haslem and Alexandra Mayhew also worked counsel. Our partnership with RM+A and ICG is an Jackson Wells – Ben for nine years, Alexandra for three. extension of this proven successful model. When determining what Wells Haslem’s point of difference In turn, Wells Haslem is an innovative and nimble company would be, it was important to assess the environment that working across many industries and client types – from had been created since the incorporation of the internet small community groups to blue-chip multi-nationals. pg.4|Expansion–Partners

Our found partners are approximately When people can outsource services to seventeen years apart in age. Ben freelancers so easily on the internet, it is Haslem suggested we should have given important to stay abreast of the ourselves an obscure and pretentious changes. While we will always maintain name like 17x3 or 173. Area 51? But traditional values – such as strategy- that’s not us. based engagement and high-quality, value-add solutions – we are very aware Jokes aside, not only did this of the importance of adapting to the era mean our team comprised of in which we work. exceptionally experienced No longer are we just professionals, but also competing with other offered the energy and Sydney-based PR firms. We passion that youth brings. It are competing against firms meant that for every client in India; we are competing there would always be with multinational agencies; unique perspectives, varied we are completing with a outlooks and multiple freelancer with a phone and solutions offered. a laptop and no overheads. It has also led to various arguments, And we plan to stay ahead of especially as we all sit separately on the the curve. political spectrum, but it’s all been in the name of very good business. Our new partnership with RM+A and ICG Importantly, Wells Haslem is a diverse is an example of how we will do just this. team that challenges one-another and By partnering with other experts in the field who also provide specialised thus produces the best solutions for our services, and who are small enough to clients. respond swiftly and efficiently and tailor The team’s approach to clients - of themselves to their environment transparency and intelligent accordingly, we maintain our high- engagement – has proved a successful standards, expand our experience and for the firm. Wells Haslem has continued yet remain competitive. to employ more full-time staff and Wells Haslem will not be having a Kodak engage more specialised consultants. moment. pg.5|Expansion–Partners

InterCaptial Group and Rob Masters + Associates

Robert Masters and John Kananghinis

ICG/RMA is a strategic communications John, in addition to his consultancy and stakeholder engagement experience, has almost 20 years consultancy based in Melbourne. The corporate experience as a General business provides a suite of specialist Manager in Sales, Marketing and Communication within major global communication services including media multinationals such as BMW and Scania. and government relations, brand He is the current President of the communications, crisis and issues Victoria branch of the Advertising management, stakeholder strategy, Institute of Australasia, of which he is media training and public relations. also a Fellow. Under the RM+A banner a specialist The directors are backed by a team rich organisational change and government in communication, journalism, political, to stakeholder practice has been built marketing and corporate experience over three decades, while the ICG ICG/RM+A has assisted in the full range banner offers a broad range of industry of communication tasks. From major knowledge with a particular expertise in industrial, consumer and environmental crises to issues management, internal the automotive sector. and industrial relations, and community Robert Masters and John Kananghinis engagement programs on significant lead the ICG/RM+A team and offer the health, medical research, infrastructure, benefit of a depth of corporate, political road, energy, rail, electricity, education, journalism and consultancy experience. mining, manufacturing and industrial Rob is a former senior political journalist projects. They have devised and having covered federal politics in delivered launch and education programs on new and green automotive Canberra and the State Parliaments of technology, created major sponsorship Queensland, New South Wales and leverage activities, as well as facilitating Victoria. He is a Life Fellow of the Public client representations to, and Relations Institute of Australia and a cooperation with, government at all Past President. levels. Voter volatility Identity, not ideology, moving voters

Photo by Graham Denholm Mr Nicholas Wright, Research & Campaigns Director, Luntz Global

"Political language […] is designed to make lies sound truthful and murder respectable, and to give an appearance of solidity to pure wind." George Orwell

Sitting in an RSL 70 years after it was written, the average Aussie deriding the Prime Minister’s personal performance or in one punter wouldn’t find much to disagree with Orwell. I wonder incredible case, blaming the electorate itself for not ‘toughening what odds you would have secured following the Coalition’s up’. The reality is, the territory the game is played on has changed, thumping Federal election victory in September 2013 on two perhaps for good – and one or two need to update their Liberal-National state governments being thrown out after only a methodologies (…or get a lot quicker at cutting and pasting from single term and the Prime Minister himself being subjected to a others). John Howard remarked to me that a generation ago, leadership spill in the space of less than 18 months? As NSW pollsters and political strategists the world over could count on 40 Premier Mike Baird nervously eyes the latest polls, he would be per cent of ‘rusted-on’ support from reliable political ‘bases’. You hard-pressed not to conclude that Australian voter volatility know the type, ‘I’d vote for a donkey, so long as it was wearing a appears to be at an all-time high. red rosette’. Today, that figure is probably closer to 20 per cent Australia’s over-paid polling and commentariat class struggles to and declines by the day. A kaleidoscope of parties is emerging, in come to terms with the new normal – either some cases defined by devotion to a single issue (e.g. the Greens). pg.7|Voter volatility–Nicholas Wright

Wherever you look around the world So what does this mean for corporate and political types Down Under? Interestingly, these days, new populist movements we found that just as Australian voters tear down the political class in our focus groups abound – smashing up the comfortable night after night, the attribute they most desire from their political leaders is that of certainties of the élites who have ‘statesmanship’. So what are some of the keys to that curious quality – in their eyes? prospered for so long with their lexicons of ‘sensible policies’, ‘Strong Economic Plans’ and the petty narcissism of small differences. In my home country of Authenticity is accountability. Whether it is Julia Gillard knitting or Mitt Britain, UKIP – a party defined by its own Romney awkwardly munching on a KFC, voters now have myriad ways in leader as ‘… an attitude rather than a set which they can spot a fake. Conversely – whether you are a of policies’ – actually won last year’s Communications Director, Chairman or CEO – when you put yourself out European Elections, while the fascist there and they can tell it’s really you – you build a bridge to that most Front Nationale easily overcame priceless of qualities: Trust. President Francois Hollande’s somnolent Socialists in France. Over the Atlantic, disgust with and disdain for Washington elites was the driving factor in the Republicans’ stunning take-back of Candidates are ever-more critical. Think of your company as a campaign. Congress in November. So what’s Yourself as a candidate for high office. When you do this, you realise how behind all this? important it is to inspire those around you if you are to take them with you. It is not enough to set mediocre, managerialist goals. Think of the Some blame the carnage wrought by the best speech, presentation or pitch you’ve ever attended; it is unlikely you’ll 2008-09 Financial Crisis, but how then to remember every word that was said – but you can remember exactly how explain similar phenomena in countries it felt. People may well forget what you say, they will never forget how where economies thrived during that you made them feel. time, such as Sweden or the Netherlands… or Australia for that matter? Recessions and downturns are perennials, so there must be something deeper going on. Part of the explanation is the diffusion of Put yourself in their context, show you get it. It is why our CEO Frank political power itself. The primacy of Luntz advised Tony Abbott to scrap his planned summer holiday at the end markets, globalisation and other of the year, and instead get back among the voters – visually and viscerally transnational phenomena mean that the in their faces, showing that the only thing that matters in straightened nature of the modern democratic state times is delivering measurable results on the things that matter to them. itself is changing… and political power He went on the holiday. structures have changed with it. Yes, Rupert Murdoch might still have his In a world of unprecedented punter unpredictability and personal political power, billions, but the old tyrant is only one intelligent and insightful opinion research matters more than ever. Musing on the Tweeter among millions – and you can increasing awfulness of political discourse, Orwell himself wrote of the ‘drunk who communicate with him directly now. In feels a failure… so drinks more, thus exacerbating his failure’. a landmark piece in The Washington The danger is that different identity groups simply talk past each other, turning up the Post, Fareed Zakaria wrote about the volume ever louder as they go. The question is - who will give us the advice to sober strange mixture of angst and up? assertiveness this breeds, causing people to ask of themselves, ‘who are we… and who are we not?’ In conclusion: More than at any time since we began polling, it is the force of About Luntz Global: For decades, Luntz Global’s team of creative specialists has been identity – not ideology – that is moving using the power of words to move clients forward. It’s about more than what people voters. are saying. It’s about listening to what people are thinking and feeling, and understanding the emotion underneath language. We find the Words that Work, so that you speak the same language that your audience does. Whether it’s for politics or for profit, marketing or messaging – we craft the right message, word for word and phrase by phrase. The rush to the polls The rise and rise of early voting in Australia

1.3m postal 1.9m pre-poll 14.7m registered voters 2013 Federal election .95m 1.55m 14.1m registered voters 2010 Federal election m

0.9m pre-poll 3.8m registered voters 2014 Victorian election 0.5m 3.3m registered voters 2010 Victorian election 0.3m 3m registered voters 2006 Victorian election

25% voted early in person 2014 Victorian election 50% in Napthine’s electorate (South-West Coast) 2014 Victorian election

Julie Sibraa

Two recent State elections threw everything we thought we great deal of attention yet potentially could completely change knew about elections and voting behaviour out the window. the way campaigns are run in the future. That is, the rise of the numbers of Australians who vote before Election Day. The Victorian election in November 2014 proved that contrary to all conventional political wisdom, voters will readily throw While early voting in the form of postal voting has been in out a first term Government. existence for around a century, it is just over recent years that it’s newer form, pre-poll voting has started to grow This was more than reinforced in Queensland in January when exponentially from election to election. voters not only threw out the first term Newman government For example, from the 2010 to the 2013 Federal Elections, the but brought Labor back from an historic loss in 2012, which number of people who voted by pre-poll alone increased by reduced their numbers to a small ineffective rump, to minority nearly one million votes. One million votes. government. At the 2014 Victorian state election, early voting set new The swings were so large in some seats that ABC psephologist records with nearly 340,000 extra pre-poll votes recorded from Antony Green thought something was wrong with his computer the previous election, representing nearly 30% of votes cast software. prior to Election Day. In former Premier Denis Napthine’s seat So with political pundits and experts still shaking their heads of South-West Coast that figure was a staggering 50%. about the fickleness of Australian voters and their capacity to Although Queenslanders are historically slightly less inclined to punish governments who betray their promises, there is vote early, nonetheless in last month’s election a record another growing phenomenon that does not seem to attract a number of electors (200,000) cast their vote early. pg.9|The rush to the polls–Julie Sibraa

Pre-poll votes cast as ordinary vote1 Under most electoral laws pre-poll votes handing out their how-to-votes to are now considered “ordinary votes”, anywhere between a quarter to a third that is, they are treated the same as a of the electorate. vote cast on Election Day itself and If a large percentage of the electorate counted on the night. Previously they has already cast their vote well before were “declaration votes” which meant Election Day, how do parties campaign? they were placed in a special envelope Does this mean they have to have the and counted after all the Election Day 1 majority of their policy announcements AEC Submission to the Joint Standing votes were cast. Committee on Electoral Matters | Election 2013 out with three weeks to go? This of Additionally, pre-poll voting opens 19 course gives their opponents plenty of days before Election Day, or nearly three time to pick the policies and costings weeks. Although the legislation sets out apart – which might be a good thing. the specific circumstances under which a And the even bigger question – what voter is eligible to cast a pre poll vote, happens if a major story breaks in the this is being increasingly subverted by final days of the campaign that has a polling officials who appear to almost major impact on one of the candidates encourage early voting and of course or parties that could have changed the voters themselves who when realising entire course of the election, but there is a pre-poll station open near because such a large percentage of them are often heard to say “I’ll just get voters have already voted it’s too late. it over with”. In other words a large majority of people voting early do so Some would argue that people who vote because it’s more convenient. early either are committed rusted-on While early voting would clearly take voters who have already made up their some of the pressure off election minds or the kind of voters who have little interest and simply vote early to officials on polling day, the rapid rise in get their names ticked off. This may be pre-poll voting is not without its true, but given the increasing volatility problems for the Electoral Commission. of the electorate, a significant revelation It faces the additional costs of ensuring there is adequate staff to officiate at pre could be all it takes to change a vote. polling stations as well as the costs and Finally, can political parties use early logistics of securing more pre-poll voting voting to their advantage? What is to places. It is not unusual these days to stop parties from conducting exit polls come across lengthy pre-poll voting of early voters as they do in the United queues. States, and using the results to change For political parties and candidates it their campaign rhetoric or policies? means they have to find the extra While it’s clear there’s no push from resources and volunteers to be present either the collective Electoral at the pre-polling booth for three weeks. Commissions or the politicians to tighten Clearly for smaller parties, independent the rules around early voting, there’s candidates and even the major parties just one final question – given the operating in difficult political terrain, this diminishing significance of the actual is a real challenge. Yet they cannot Election Day - why bother have afford to miss the opportunity of it at all? Zoo2Zoo Peddling for suicide prevention

Benjamin Haslem

In the dawn light 120 lycra-clad men and women had gathered outside Taronga Zoo for the annual 400km Zoo2Zoo bike ride to Dubbo. While lions roared and monkeys screeched off in the distance, most attention was focused on one rider, local Federal member and Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott. The PM had agreed to turn up at 4.30am on 17 October last year to lead cyclists for the first 25km of the ride, from the zoo to Castle Hill in Sydney’s north-west. It was legendary Australian political journalist, Mungo MacCallum, who named his famous book recounting three years covering the Whitlam Government: Mungo on the Zoo Plane. So perhaps it was apt our current PM should lead off the Zoo2Zoo ride, which concludes at Dubbo’s Western Plains Zoo and raises money for Wells Haslem client, the Black Dog Institute. Since 2009, the Zoo2Zoo has raised in excess of $500,000 for the Institute, a world leader in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mood disorders such as depression and bipolar disorder. pg.11|Zoo2Zoo –Benjamin Haslem

Wells Haslem approached the Prime township of Mt Victoria. Day two takes Minister’s office on behalf of the riders to the National Trust-classified Institute, which we are assisting with township of Molong, where the local RSL efforts to build stronger relationships club hosts a dinner for the cyclists. with state and federal governments. The final day is Molong to Western It seemed an obvious fit, given Mr Plains Zoo, where the riders and support Abbott is almost as famous for his love crew pass 'Animals On Bikes', a 120 of lycra as for his budgie smugglers. kilometre paddock art sculpture trail The PM responded in a flash. His displaying 111 two-metre high presence on the ride helped generate structures (and some smaller national coverage for the Zoo2Zoo letterboxes) on the back road from event. Molong to Dubbo via Cumnock and Ride organiser, Andrew McKay, told the Yeoval. Dubbo Weekender: “We were fortunate The sculptures were created by local to have Prime Minister Tony Abbott ride farmers, farmers wives, men's sheds, the first 25km with us from Taronga Zoo sculptors, preschool kids and playgroup to Castle Hill”. mums. “The publicity that was drawn for the Sydney GP, Nigel Woodhead, who Black Dog Institute from his involvement participated in the 2014 Zoo2Zoo, said was fantastic,” Mr McKay said. Ben’s charity rides he likes “the physical challenge” posed Wells Haslem’s very own Benjamin The Prime Minister told Australian by the 400km ride. Associated Press prior to the ride that Haslem is no stranger to charity bike “I see cycling as my own little mental rides, having completed the Sydney to “mental health is the hidden epidemic in our community”. health outlet and I saw the ride as a the Gong journey five times; Tour de PIF good way to promote that,” Dr “It’s something that’s happening Charity Cycling Challenge twice and the Woodhead said. Bobbin Head Cycle Classic once. everywhere, so often unrecognised and Ben achieved a milestone last year when so often untreated.” He has already signed up for the 2015 he finished in the top-100 fundraisers The first day of the ride finishes at the ride, which rolls out on 16 October. (80th) in the Sydney to the Gong ride, top of the Blue Mountains in the small zoo2zoo.com/sydney-to-dubbo securing $3,135 in donations for MS Australia. 10,000 people registered for the ride. A number of Wells Haslem clients donated generously. Ben rode as part of the Lunarcy Team, which raised $11,140, the most by any team in the Hospitality & Tourism category. Ben is riding in the 104km Bobbin Head Cycle Classic (‘The Bobbo’) on 29 March, which raises money for Lifeline and other charities. You can sponsor Ben at bit.ly/1Ky1Xdn

blackdoginstitute.org.au White House 2016 A form guide

Isabelle Walker Republicans Believe it or not, it has almost been eight years since Obama swept into power on a chorus of “Yes We Can!” The world has changed significantly since then, and so has American politics. Not only has the rise of the Tea Party given birth to the most divisive and obstructive congress since the Civil War, but America has ended two wars, battled a devastating recession, and fronted the attack against a new world terror threat. So who will be the next President of the United States? Isabelle Walker has put together a short list of possible candidates, including outside chances, front runners, and those who could come away surprising everyone. Chris Christie Governor of New Jersey Chris Christie is the Governor of New Jersey and has been touted as a potentially huge player in the 2016 Presidential Campaign. In the aftermath of the devastation left by Super Storm Sandy in the US North East, Christie was praised for his bipartisanship and his ability to work with Barack Obama. But he in turn enraged his GOP colleagues by joining forces with the President to fix the battered Jersey coast line. pg.13|White House 2016– Isabelle Walker

Republicans However in 2014 Christie used his unceremoniously dismissed by HP, resulting political capital to close several lanes of in an instant jump in the company’s stock. the double decker George Washington Though Fiorina was reeling from the Bridge during morning peak hour, dismissal, she has solidified her image as causing chaos for NYC travellers. He did a survivor, remaining in the spotlight this as political revenge aimed at and fighting through the stigma of her Democratic Mayor of Fort Lee, Mark dumping to become a well-respected Sokolich, who refused to endorse authority on business. Christie in his election bid. Though she has never officially held Christie is popular with a traditionally political office, Fiorina has earned her Rand Paul Democratic demographic, which could stripes. Fiorina was an advisor to John prove invaluable for the Republicans in US Senator from Kentucky McCain during the 2008 Presidential the North East. The GW Bridge scandal Rand Paul is a young US Senator with a Campaign and was even being quietly will have left a sour taste in the mouth strong Political pedigree. On Superbowl considered for the Vice Presidential of many New Jerseyans, but if there’s Sunday 2015, he unofficially announced his position. However, her 2010 bid for the one thing American politicians can rely intention to run for President by US Senate has been pointed to as a on, it’s voter amnesia. encouraging his followers to print out their potential challenge moving forward. own ‘paper footballs’. These were quickly Republican strategists labelled the run hashtagged as #libertyballs and were ‘disastrous’, and also named unpaid inscribed with ‘RAND 2016’. campaign debts and her dismissal from Paul is a Member of the Tea Party. Hewlett Packard as key issues to However, his Tea Party affiliation stems overcome. from the fact that he is a staunch libertarian and constitutionalist, rather than his having a penchant for ultra-conservativism and gun-toting religiosity. His father, Ron Paul, ran the 1988 Jeb Bush Libertarian Presidential Campaign against Former Governor of Florida George Bush Sr. as a reaction to Bush’s backflip on raising taxes. Son of the President George Bush Sr., and brother of President George W Though the Tea Party has incredible sway in Bush, John Ellis ‘Jeb’ Bush certainly has the GOP and Washington D.C., it is unlikely Presidential blood coursing through his that Paul’s extreme Libertarianism will sit Ted Cruz well with any moderate Republicans. veins. US Senator from Texas This could be seen as his golden ticket or Ted Cruz is a Republican Senator with the albatross hanging from his neck. strong ties to the Tea Party. A relatively Touted by his father as the golden child, young Presidential candidate at 44, Cruz everyone was surprised when it was is the first Latino Senator from Texas George, not Jeb, who got the first and will thus command a strong vote Presidential Guernsey. Despite being among the vital Latino community. seven years younger than George, it was Born in Canada – a potentially always Jeb’s manifest destiny to reach contentious issue given the hoopla of the heights of the American Executive. Obama’s birth certificate scandal – Cruz The Florida “hanging chad” scandal recently made waves with a Senate clouded Jeb’s Governorship for a time. Carly Fiorina filibuster in which he read out, among Conspiracy theorists on the left were Business Woman other things, a Dr Seuss book, to his convinced that the Florida Electoral Carly Fiorina is worth mentioning in this children at their bedtime, on national College vote of 2004 was rigged by Jeb Republican line-up because of her lack of television. His filibuster was the third to secure his brother’s Presidency. representative political experience. The one longest in the US Senate history. However, Jeb has been lauded as the time candidate for a US Senate seat from Cruz has rallied against Obamacare, front runner of the 2016 campaign. After California (2010) has thrown her hat in the attempting to repeal it several times, Mitt Romney’s early withdrawal from ring off the back of an impressive resume, and was instrumental in the US the race, the Washington Post reported both in business and political advising. Government shutdown of 2013. that Bush is the only GOP candidate with Fiorina was the first woman to head up a Cruz would be attractive to the financial backing robust enough to pull Fortune 20 Company, and in 1998 was Republican Party due to his ability to off a victory. named the ‘most powerful woman in court the Latino vote which has He is well liked among the majority of business.’ After stints with AT&T and generally evaded the GOP. However, his Republicans but has drawn some ire Lucent, Fiorina was named the CEO of grass roots ties to the Tea Party and his from the influential Tea Party for not computing giant Hewlett Packard. After disdain for compromise may prove too being ‘sufficiently conservative’. just under six years, Fiorina was risky for moderate Republicans. Democrats Biden is affable and recognisable, thanks to his tenure as VP. He is likeable, unassuming and Irish Catholic, but having stood next to a maligned President for the last few years, his stock may have lowered. He was 30 when he was elected to the Senate (the minimum age Martin O’Malley required to hold office) and suffered Governor of Maryland, Hillary Rodham Clinton immense tragedy in the weeks after Former: Secretary of State; his election. His wife and young Former Mayor of Baltimore Senator from New York; First Lady daughter were killed in a car accident, Martin O’Malley, as his name would Hillary Clinton is arguably the leaving Biden to look after two sons; suggest, is an Irish Catholic and the Democratic Party’s front runner for he commuted via train from Governor of Maryland with a track record the 2016 Presidential Candidacy. Wilmington in Delaware to of progress and tax reform. He has From her career’s humble beginnings Washington D.C. every day (a one and overseen the legalisation of same-sex as a lawyer in Little Rock, Arkansas, to a half hour trip) to ensure he could be marriage in Maryland, as well as the fronting the Senate Committee during at home every day for his sons. outlawing of Capital Punishment. the Benghazi debacle, Clinton has Biden’s major downfall leading into His national ambitions are considered the continually polarised and impressed. this election will be his age. At 72, he ‘worst kept secret in Maryland’ and in 2013, As First Lady, Clinton was will be an old Candidate and this he admitted he was laying the framework instrumental in formulating health could prove a crucial point of for a Presidential Run. care policy and was known as a heavy contention for many voters. Obama’s His issue will be going up against the big hitter when it came to high ranking choice to endorse either him or hitters in Clinton and Biden with his relative decisions. Hillary Clinton (as is expected) will be inexperience on the national stage. Clinton ran a solid campaign for the a major game changer. Although it is unlikely O’Malley will succeed Democratic nomination in 2008 but in 2016, he should definitely be earmarked was edged out by Barack Obama. She for future elections. was made Secretary of State for the first term of the Obama Government and performed strongly. The Republican Party crucified Clinton for her handling of Benghazi, but the incident in Libya is unlikely to destroy her chances of becoming President. With Clinton in the White House, she brings with her a plethora of Ed Rendell experience in her husband, Bill – Luis Gutierrez arguably one of the most successful Representative from Illinois Former Governor of Pennsylvania, post-war Presidents. An outside chance, Luis Gutierrez has Former Mayor of Philadelphia had an intriguing career as a Ed Rendell spent eight years as the Democratic political figure and Latino Governor of Pennsylvania. His tenure as activist. Of Puerto Rican descent, Governor was highlighted by his ability to Gutierrez has been compared to civil capture traditionally Republican suburbs of rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. Philadelphia, as well as retaining heavily due to his use of non-violent civil Democratic areas (largely due to his disobedience in his advocacy. previous role as Mayor of Philadelphia). Gutierrez is a vocal advocate of After his gubernatorial career ended in workers' rights, LGBT rights and 2011, Ed Rendell returned to his former law gender equality. His heritage will firm, Ballard Spahr. Joe Biden make him popular with the Latino Rendell was touted as a possible running Vice President, former US Senator vote, but his progressiveness may not mate for John Kerry’s 2004 Presidential from Delaware be palatable to the majority of white ticket, and his popularity in Philadelphia No stranger to a Presidential campaign, America. helped the Democrats secure the crucial Vice President Joe Biden is a Democratic It would be unlikely the Democratic swing state of Pennsylvania. veteran. He ran for office in 1988 and Party would endorse such a Rendell has said publicly that if Hillary twenty years later in 2008, and he is set progressive and unknown candidate, Clinton is to forgo her opportunity for a run for another shot at the White House but Gutierrez has certainly earned the at the White House, he would step up. In come 2016. right to throw his hat in the ring. his words: ‘well, why not?’ The celebrity sell

Alexandra Mayhew

Whether out of genuine altruism or just good PR, celebrities gave the HeForShe cause and UN Women the kind of frequently become involved with charities and causes. international exposure PR companies can only dream of. Ms The question is, who gets the benefit – the charity or the Watson’s intelligent, sincere and polished performances at the celebrity? And who is getting it right? UN and Davos have also given her own profile a considerable In the case of the partnership between United Nations (UN) lift in the process. Women and its Goodwill Ambassador, young British actor We’ve also become familiar with the highly effective role Emma Watson, it’s very much a win-win situation. Angelina Jolie has played as a UN Goodwill Ambassador, In her HeForShe speech at the UN headquarters in New York in conducting more than 40 field visits over the last decade and September 2014 Ms Watson spoke out against the labelling of gaining much media attention in the process. Before her there feminism as a dirty word. Her speech gained global media was Audrey Hepburn for UNICEF. coverage and quickly went viral across the web. Importantly, it However many people who work in the charity sector will tell wasn’t a one-off. She has continued her campaign for gender you (off the record) that passionate and powerful ambassadors equality. In January (2015) Ms Watson appeared with several like these three women are hard to come by. Many celebrities world leaders at the annual World Economic Forum in Davos enjoy the title or association that comes with forming a link and later undertook a Twitter session where she responded to with a great cause or charity but apart from appearing at the the public’s tweets regarding feminism. announcement or launch aren’t so willing when it comes to the Again, her response to one tweet (next page) went viral and workload and other expectations. And there are other challenges facing the celebrity equals success formula. Firstly, does the celebrity align with the charity? Many charities choose only celebrities that have a direct connection with the cause. However this can limit choices. Could the celebrity bring the charity into disrepute? One of the more infamous examples recently was the Grant Hackett incident which not only saw the former Olympian experience his own fall from grace, but also saw him potentially damage the charity for which he was an ambassador. In 2012 the Herald Sun ran the story “Olympic swim star Grant Hackett has been dumped as ambassador of a major children's charity in the wake of an alcohol-fuelled meltdown. The Allanah and Madeline Foundation, which aims to protect children from violence, last week informed Hackett's management they were cutting ties with the swim star, before the shocking photos emerged in today’s Sunday Herald Sun.”1 The celebrity’s association with the Charity damages both the Charity and, in the public eye, makes his own behaviour much worse, further damaging his reputation. Sometimes the smaller, less well known charities simply don’t have the profile (or cash) to attract an A- list celebrity. Sometimes the perfect celebrity for a particular cause is already contracted to another charity and may not be permitted to be identified with another cause. However while some may argue the equation does not add up, if the strategy is sound and the celebrity can be obtained, it is a winning formula. For charities that can bring on board A-listers who are not only passionate but intellectual the influence these celebrities can bring is enormous. Choosing the right ambassador goes deeper than value alignment and celebrity status. Emma Watson is successful for UN Women for a variety of reasons: she is an intellectual (studying at Brown University and Oxford University); she is a woman and a feminist; she is well liked by most demographics and both sexes; and she falls within an age bracket where social media appeals to her biggest fans.

While the points in Ms Watson’s UN speech were not new, they were revolutionary to a whole new audience that would not have otherwise engaged in the issue of feminism and equality.

Getting a charity’s message out beyond the ‘converted’ means real growth, support and eventually change. That is the ultimate success of a celebrity- charity alignment. 1 http://bit.ly/16NcsdW The Local Council website A mish-mash of matters or a force for civic engagement?

Benjamin Haslem

We live in an age when WikiLeaks and computer analyst driven through social media platforms such as Facebook and whistleblower, Edward Snowden, have revealed how some Twitter. national governments hide information from their constituents No, it’s being driven by the old humble local government and carry out covert public surveillance on a grand scale. website. The internet has provided the likes of WikiLeaks editor-in-chief At least by those councils which follow some simple rules when Julian Assange and Snowden the freedom and ability to designing and populating their websites. There are many, embarrass governments by providing the general public instant particularly in Australia, which are not. access to reams of information politicians and other It was a growing awareness amongst government of the power government officials wanted hidden from view. of the internet to engage with the public that was behind the However, while the internet was used as a tool to shame and Obama administration in the United States decision to embarrass government behemoths like Snowden’s former prioritised the use of US federal websites to boost government employer, the National Security Agency, it can be used by transparency and citizen input. smaller governments, such as your humble local council, as a At the inaugural Open Government Partnership (OGP) meeting tool for civic engagement. in 2011, President Obama reiterated his belief “that the While the NSA and their like want to keep voters in the dark strongest foundation for human progress lies in open (often for sound national security reasons), local councils are economies, open societies, and in open governments”.2 using the internet to boost residents’ civic engagement: The US worked both domestically and internationally to ensure “knowledge, discussion, interest and participation in public global support for Open Government principles “to promote affairs – in government and politics, policy issues, and the transparency, to fight corruption, to energize civic engagement, 1 community”. and to leverage new technologies in order to strengthen the But this local government revolution isn’t necessarily being foundations of freedom in our own Nation”.3 pg.18|The local council website–Benjamin Haslem

This manifested in the successful launch Organisational information of We the People, the White House Two of the most important petitions platform that gives Americans preconditions for civic engagement are a direct line to voice their concerns to citizen awareness and knowledge of the Administration via online petitions. various aspects of government – what In the first two years, more than 10 government does and who does what. million users generated more than This enables citizens to request services, 270,000 petitions. complain, and share their views The same principles apply at the local regarding community issues and council government level. policies. Three crucial pieces of information are: The development of the internet has We the People, the White House changed dramatically the way 1. Details on the duties and functions petitions platform, gives Americans a government interact with the people. of elected officials; 2. Organisational structure (either as direct line to voice their concerns to the It has provided opportunities for greater a graphic or a central list of Administration via online petitions. political participation, more open and departments); and transparent government, improved 3. A description of the activities of citizens’ access to information and council departments on the main services online and enhanced web page. communication between residents and government via email and blogs. Processes and regulation Knowledge about government processes It has also allowed local councils to is necessary for participation. easily disseminate information about volunteer efforts, neighbourhood Information on processes and regulation groups, or other civic initiatives. should include: • How budgets, capital plans, and It has helped drive civic engagement. laws are made; The University of Illinois at Chicago’s • How citizen initiatives or referenda College of Urban Planning and Public work; Affairs conducted a content analysis • Municipal codes; study of the websites of the 20 largest • Material on council meetings cities in Illinois and the 75 largest cities (agendas, minutes, online videos, in the US and ranked them according to podcasts, background on issues); features that could be expected to • Other current government policies encourage civic engagement. and regulations; and • Information on voting and Each website was scored according to elections. how well each presented the following categories: Neighbourhood information • Contact information Civic engagement often occurs at the • Organizational information neighbourhood level, with local • Processes and regulations residents becoming involved in local • Neighbourhood information schools, or in volunteer efforts in their • Policy & performance documents immediate surroundings. • Offline participation information Councils can encourage residents to • Online interactivity & participation become knowledgeable about their local • Transparency & accessibility area by providing information on neighbourhood characteristics such as Contact information demographic information, local Contacting officials has long been economic condition, business tracked as a form of political information, or maps). participation, and the availability of Further, city websites may feature email and contact information online information on neighbourhood-related has improved the convenience of issues (such as affordable housing and citizen-initiated contacts. safety). pg.19|The local council website–Benjamin Haslem

Policy and performance information Other areas of interactivity include Transparency is an important feature of downloadable forms, online government online. Residents are transactions, citizen surveys, online newsletters or email updates, better prepared to hold government downloadable information, searchable accountable for its actions when they databases, online comment forms or can find information on policies and message boxes, RSS feeds, discussion track government performance. boards, virtual town hall meetings, The University of Illinois researchers Facebook, YouTube and Twitter links. highlight a number of policy and Transparency and accessibility performance documents online that boost transparency including budgets; A Council website can have all the best background information on budgets; information in the world but if it is not press releases; text or video of major easily found it will do little to boost civic speeches by the mayor, manager or engagement. council leadership; capital improvement Information should always be up-to- plans; explanations of the plan; financial date and accessible to people from non- audit reports; and agency annual English-speaking backgrounds and/or performance reports. with disabilities. Unfortunately many Australia local Information for offline participation council websites, while rich in much of Knowledge, discussion, interest and the resources discussed above, are participation in the local community is a poorly designed and cluttered and busy key element of civic engagement and in their presentation, with numerous encouraging volunteering is key. links that are presented in at times Local councils can publicize charity illogical order and priority. events, volunteer opportunities, or the An example of a good Australian local need for donations to charities or non- government website is Penrith City profits. They can highlight local groups Council in Sydney’s outer west. It’s through either information or links to design is clean and simple with the council-sponsored citizen organizations number of links kept to a minimum with and other neighbourhood-oriented drop-down menus. organizations, and non-profits or The most commonly searched for charities. information is presented under six ‘I These can include the development of WANT TO …’ links: community gardens; bush regeneration • Check on my development; programs; or volunteering in council • Search the Library Catalogue libraries or animal shelters. • Hire a Hall • Look for Jobs Online interactivity & participation • Pay my rates or sundry debt The digital space has become an • Find community services important tool through which citizens While I (thankfully) haven’t visited every express their views about politics, policy local government website on the planet, and community. one that has achieved praise in the UK is Twitter and Facebook are crucial Maidstone Borough Council. It borders platforms for such discussions; though it on almost boring for its simplicity but is important the local councils closely wins for its utility. Other councils could monitor activity and respond speedily to do worse than follow its example. queries and criticisms. maidstone.gov.uk

Footnotes 1 Mossberger, K and Jimenez, B. 2009. Can e-government promote civic engagement? A study of local government websites in Illinois and the U.S. University of Illinois at Chicago, College of Urban Planning and Public Affairs. 2 The Open Government Partnership – Second Open Government National Action Plan For The United States Of America: A Preview Report, October 2013, The White House 3 Ibid BLOG SPOT Blog Spot wellshaslem.com.au/blog wellshaslem.com.au/blog #1 #2 #3 Social media hath 10 ways popular Can fury when a vegan culture wrongly digital media scorned depicts the PR industry influence justice?

21 November 2014- Benjamin Haslem 6 January 2015 - Benjamin Haslem 6 February 2015 – Isabelle Walker

The owner of a Hunter Valley Interesting piece by Kayla Matthews on On February 6 2015 in Baltimore hamburger restaurant has learned the PR Daily about how the PR industry is County, Maryland, USA, a young man hard way about the dangers of social portrayed in popular culture. who had spent nearly half his life in media. This depiction may feed into journalists' prison had his first hope of an appeal His tale of woe is a salutary reminder to perception of the industry, though since his conviction 15 years ago. all businesses that while social media is obviously the media's own regular Adnan Syad was convicted of the a useful marketing tool, it can cause interaction with PR professionals murder of his ex-girlfriend, Hae Min Lee, massive harm if used incorrectly. colours its view. on 25 February 2000, following her 13 Mark Clews, part-owner of Tuk Tuk in Many of my former journalist colleagues January disappearance and subsequent the Tempus Two winery complex about think we spend most of our days writing murder. Her body was found in a two-hours north of Sydney, made the media releases and phoning journalists. shallow grave on February 9 1999. mistake of ridiculing a vegan, as you can Why wouldn't they; that forms the bulk In what was for the state an open and see from the top screenshot at left. of their experience interfacing with PR shut case of jealousy, pride and fatal As the Newcastle Herald reports: "... the professionals. obsession, Adnan was given a life restaurant's Facebook page ha[s] been While this may be true if you're an in- sentence for the crime, despite swamped with more than 900 one-star house media manager or politician's consistently protesting his innocence. reviews… In screenshots of posts, Mr press secretary, the craft of PR is far In 2014, former Baltimore Sun Clews refuses to apologise and labels more complicated than that. journalist, Sarah Koenig was approached detractors 'vegan Nazis'," the paper Communicating with stakeholders (any by a family friend of Adnan’s. She was reports (click on bottom screenshot at person who has a stake in an issue, charged with the task of delving deeper left). event, policy etc that you are dealing into the case; interviewing numerous Mr Clews said angry social media users with) involves numerous channels, be it friends, family and teachers of both Hae tracked down his mobile phone number via the media; through social media; and Adnan to investigate areas of the and "made threatening phone calls up newsletters; e-mail; snail mail; websites; case that had previously been left until midnight". conferences; community meetings; untouched. The Tempus Two winery has distanced focus groups; personal phone calls; F2F What has followed is the podcast Serial, itself from the fracas: "We would like to calls, so on and so forth. produced by Koenig, which has reached advise that [these] comments and views Before even communicating, it is over 68 million people so far. It had 12 are not supported by Tempus Two, and necessary to analyse each stakeholder episodes in its first season, and it we in no way condone this behaviour by and stakeholder group: documents areas of the case Koenig has explored and thoroughly research in her Tuk Tuk Hunter Valley". o What is their interest in what our capacity as an investigative journalist. Mr Clews later told the Newcastle client is doing? Herald he would apologise to the o What is their expectation? How do It was the opinion of Adnan’s family and customer if she came back. they think they should be treated? friends that the case had been severely botched at trial by a defence attorney A new Facebook page – "Tuk Tuk Hunter o What is their level of influence (now deceased) who had made Valley Honest Reviews" – has since been over other stakeholders? deliberate oversights in order to get a created by critics where comments o What is tactically the best way to conviction and a subsequent appeal, to posted on the Tuk Tuk Facebook page - engage with them? increase her fee. but later deleted - are posted. Once you've figured that out, you can Koenig uncovered several flaws in the The yarn has created a great deal of start thinking about the actual act of state case, a convincing alibi for Adnan, media interest, being picked up by the communicating. and numerous other holes in the case. Kyle and Jackie O show and Channel… Not exactly how it's portrayed in popular culture… As mentioned above, he has just last… Keep reading: bit.ly/1KGFevy Keep reading: bit.ly/197uqJD Keep reading: bit.ly/1viepFf #4 #5 #6 The passing of Missed Where is the Hon Gough the China and Whitlam AC QC target where’s It Going?

22 October 2014 - Eric Sidoti 7 October 2014 – Isabelle Walker 30 October 2014 – Alexandra Mayhew

A message from Eric Sidoti, Director of Yesterday saw one of Australia's biggest Our lives have been impacted by the the Whitlam Institute retailers make a rookie error - its tremendous growth of China over the While Gough Whitlam will be website crashed following the launch of past 50 years. The question is: what do remembered well beyond today, the a much advertised product. Was it poor we have ahead of us? days ahead will be particularly special tech planning or simply naivety about Daniel H. Rosen, Jack Wadsworth times for remembering and for sharing the popularity of online shopping? Fellow, Asia Society Policy stories. They will be times of reflection Popular for its cheap prices and staple Institute, addressed these questions on the man Gough Whitlam. The Leader. clothing and home wares, Target has today at the Asia Society Policy Institute The intellectual. The visionary. come under fire for poor planning in the Australian launch of the Institute’s first wake of its launch of Italian design As one former Whitlam minister put it report: “Avoiding the Blind Alley: China’s house, Missoni. to me this morning after news of Economic Overhaul and its Global Gough's death, 'the memories are The company website crashed yesterday Implications”. crashing over me like the waves on when it was overwhelmed by the sheer China’s growth from 2000 to 2012 has Bondi Beach.' volume of online shoppers wanting to been unprecedented. This growth was be the first to snap up the cheap Gough Whitlam will be remembered in championed by Deng Xiaoping, who designer clothing, kitchen, dining and many ways, but after this time of opened up China to the world from living items. personal memories and recollections, 1992. Gough Whitlam will be remembered as Easily avoidable, and definitely The sheer number of people in China the reforming leader who willed a foreseeable, shoppers are coming down moving into the urbanised workforce modern Australia into being. His legacy hard on the company saying the crash is made a tremendous contribution. is woven into the very fabric of our daily not a ‘badge of honour but a failure to However the impact of the one child lives. forecast’. policy means China’s labour force is His achievements are not simply a Savvy eBay users then took advantage destined to shrink — at least for the matter for history - they are embedded of the site’s crash to on-sell their shop- foreseeable future. Education can make in the living memory of our nation. bought items at a hugely inflated up for this shortfall to a point; however Gough Whitlam catapulted Australia price. It was reported that “A Missoni it will not fill the deficit. into the modern world. He claimed a for Target Multi-Wave A5 Set of Interestingly, the 2000s are referred to place for us in the region and in Notebooks [was] selling for $45 on eBay as a lost decade for China, in regards to international affairs. He educated a versus $30 at Target online; a beach lost productivity. Reform here is key. generation: funding schools on the basis towel for $129.99 versus $40 online at President Xi Jinping will not weather the of their need and opening our Target; and a hand towel for $69.99 next ten years without a crisis unless he universities to all on the basis of their versus $20 on Target’s website.” does something drastic to change the merit. He established universal health Online shoppers were livid at the site road China is on. That is, he must take care and for the first time, committed crash, insisting that management should bold steps to institute a new model if the national government to developing have been prepared for the the nation is to avoid crisis. the outer suburbs of our cities as well as unprecedented volume, especially in Mr Rosen evaluated China’s GDP regional Australia. He sought to right the light of the fact the same thing had outlook and concluded that in the best- wrongs of Aboriginal dispossession and happened during the launch of Missoni case scenario – a soft landing through he sought a place for all in this land we for Target in the United States. 2020 – reforms permit the share. He transformed our country and By 10.30pm, the site was still down and redeployment of capital from wasteful the way we saw ourselves. Just as he set many had given up. One only imagines uses to high-return sectors, so capital out to, he 'uplifted the horizons of the the sales Target missed out on during stock growth and TFP improvements Australian people'… this time and whether there could… deliver a combined GDP growth rate of… Keep reading: bit.ly/16RrhfE Keep reading: bit.ly/1DgCD9r Keep reading: bit.ly/1ybXzrC Victorian Government: ALP Queensland Government: ALP Daniel Andrews Annastacia Palaszczuk New Premier Premier & Minister for the Arts Leader of the Labor Party Government Ministry Acting Minister for Regional Jackie Trad Development Deputy Premier Minister for Transport Lists James Merlino Minister for Infrastructure, Local Deputy Premier Government & Planning Since our last edition of The Shell Minister for Education Minister for Trade Deputy Leader of the Labor Party Gavin Jennings Curtis Pitt Special Minister of State Treasurer Commonwealth Government: LP/NAT Northern Territory reshuffle: CLP Leader of the Government in the Minister for Employment & Industrial Legislative Council Relations Tony Abbott Adam Giles Minister for Aboriginal & Torres Strait Prime Minister Premier Martin Pakula Islander Partnerships Minister for Tourism Attorney-General Warren Truss Minister for Northern and Central Minister for Racing Cameron Dick Deputy Prime Minister Australia Minister for Health & Minister for Minister for Infrastructure & Regional Natalie Hutchins Minister for Economic Development Minister for Aboriginal Affairs Ambulance Services Development and Major Projects Minister for Local Government Kate Jones (Leader of the Nationals) Minister for Indigenous Affairs Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Education Julie Bishop John Elferink Jaala Pulford Minister for Tourism, Major Events, Minister for Foreign Affairs Attorney-General and Minister for Minister for Agriculture Small Business & the Commonwealth (Deputy Leader of the Liberal Party) Justice Minister for Regional Development Games Minister for Children and Families Deputy Leader of the Government in Eric Abetz Anthony Lynham Minister for Health the Legislative Council Minister for Employment Minister for State Development Minister for Disability Services Minister Assisting the Prime Minister Jill Hennessy Minister for Natural Resources & Minister for Mental Health Services for the Public Service Minister for Ambulance Services Mines (Leader of the Government in the Minister for Correctional Services Minister for Health Yvette D’Ath Senate) David Tollner Jane Garrett Attorney-General Treasurer Minister for Emergency Services George Brandis Minister for Justice Minister for Lands and Planning Minister for Consumer Affairs, Gaming Attorney-General Minister for Training & Skills Minister for the Arts Minister for Mines and Energy & Liquor Regulation Jo-Ann Miller (Deputy Leader of the Government in Peter Chandler Wade Noonan Minister for Police, Fire & Emergency the Senate) Minister for Police, Fire and Minister for Corrections Services (Vice-President of the Executive Emergency Services Minister for Police Minister for Corrective Services Council) Minister for Education Martin Foley Joe Hockey Minister for Transport Minister for Mental Health Bill Byrne Treasurer Minister for Infrastructure Minister for Housing, Disability & Ageing Minister for Agriculture & Fisheries The Hon Barnaby Joyce MP Minister for Veterans Support Minister for Creative Industries Minister for Sport & Racing Minister for Agriculture Minister for Equality Mark Bailey (Deputy Leader of the Nationals) Jacinta Allan Minister for Main Roads, Road Safety Minister for Employment & Ports Christopher Pyne South Australia reshuffle: ALP Minister for Public Transport Minister for Energy & Water Supply Minister for Education & Training Manager, Government Business (Assembly) (Leader of the House) Susan Close Steven Miles Senator the Hon Nigel Scullion Minister for Education and Child Lily D’Ambrosio Minister for Environment & Heritage Minister for Indigenous Affairs Development Minister for Energy & Resources Protection (Leader of the Nationals in the Senate) Minister for the Public Sector Minister for Industry Minister for National Parks & the Lisa Neville John Rau Great Barrier Reef Ian Macfarlane Minister for Environment, Climate Deputy Premier Minister for Industry & Science Change & Water Attorney-General Leeanne Enoch Scott Morrison Minister for Justice Reform Jenny Mikakos Minister for Housing & Public Works Minister for Social Services Minister for Planning Minister for Families & Children Minister for Science & Innovation The Hon Malcolm Turnbull MP Minister for Housing and Urban Minister for Youth Affairs Shannon Fentiman Minister for Communications Development Robin Scott Minister for Communities, Women & Sussan Ley Minister for Industrial Relations Minister for Finance Youth, Minister for Health Minister for Child Protection Reform Minister for Multicultural Affairs Minister for Child Safety Minister for Sport Kyam Maher Richard Wynne Minister for Multicultural Affairs Minister for Planning Bruce Billson Minister for Manufacturing and Coralee O’Rourke Minister for Small Business Innovation Luke Donnellan Minister for Disability Services, The Hon Andrew Robb AO MP Minister for Automotive Minister for Ports Minister for Seniors Minister for Trade & Investment Transformation Minister for Roads & Road Safety Minister Assisting the Premier on Minister for Aboriginal Affairs and Adem Somyurek North Queensland Kevin Andrews Reconciliation Minister for Small Business, Innovation & Trade Minister for Defence Stirling Hinchliffe Ian Hunter John Eren Assistant Minister of State Assisting Greg Hunt Minister for Sustainability, Minister for Sport the Premier Minister for the Environment Environment and Conservation Minister for Tourism & Major Events Minister for Water and the River Minister for Veterans' Affairs Peter Dutton Murray Minister for Immigration & Border Fiona Richardson Minister for Climate Change Protection Minister forthe Prevention of Family Violence Katrine Hilyard Minister for Women Mathias Cormann Parliamentary Secretary to the Steve Herbert Minister for Finance Premier Minister for Training & Skills Wells Haslem Team

Kerry Sibraa AO Special Counsel Benjamin Haslem Isabelle Walker Geoff MacDermott CEO Julie Sibraa Account Executive John Wells Alexandra Mayhew Kerry’s career has Account Executive Special Counsel Chairman Partner embraced the Benjamin has 20 highest levels of Isabelle completed Geoffrey is a Julie has 20 years’ For the past 21 years’ experience Alexandra has over Australian political a Bachelor of Arts recent Graduate of experience in Years John was a in the media. seven years’ life and the cutting (Government and Charles Sturt public policy in founding partner Ben worked at experience in the edge of business International University with a both the and senior Jackson Wells for public relations development. He Relations) at the Bachelor of government and consultant in one nine years, where industry and a was an ALP University of Communication private sectors. of Australia’s he managed and communications Senator for NSW Sydney. Her (Public Relations leading public worked on degree from for 19 years, She began her passion for US and Business relations complex projects Charles Sturt including President roles in politics prompted Studies). His companies, and became a University. of the Australian government during her to take degree has given the Hawke/Keating numerous courses him an in-depth Jackson Wells. Director and CEO. Alexandra Senate from 1987 era, working with at the university’s understanding of Prior to that John’s Ben possesses an previously: was an until retiring from Federal innovative United strategic public career embraced acute Account Manager Parliament in 1994 parliamentarians States Studies relations. journalism at the understanding of at Jackson Wells; to become including the Centre – where most senior levels mainstream media, headed up Australia’s High His work Health Minister Wells Haslem’s in Australia and having spent the marketing and Commissioner to experience and where she had Michael Baume overseas. He has best part of a media at a sports Zimbabwe and six internships across responsibility for was a Board extensive decade working for publishing other southern local government, drug policy, mental Member. Here she experience in The Australian company; and African nations. corporate health and was invited to join media newspaper in worked with a He is a former communications women’s health. a round table Sydney, Canberra consumer public director of firms, and management in discussion about both television and and Melbourne. relations Zimbabwe She later worked consumer public for NSW Minister US-Australian relations firms radio, has provided Ben has lectured consultancy. Platinum Mines John Della Bosca, affairs with the US have given him policy advice to students from the Alexandra is and World IT. for nine years, the Assistant Secretary insights into Federal political City University of involved in the From 2003 to 2010 office of the of State for the various industries leaders and offers Hong Kong on United Nations he served the Premier of NSW, Asia Pacific. and their public affairs public relations Association of Government of the and was COS to the Isabelle works requirements. consulting. and government Australia Young Republic of NSW Treasurer. across a range of affairs. Professionals. Mozambique as In 2009 was the Wells Haslem Immediately their Honorary Deputy Chief of clients providing before joining Consul-General in Staff to the Federal intelligent Jackson Wells, Ben Australia. Minister for direction and was The Australian In 1996, he was Employment support. newspaper’s High awarded an Order Participation. Court of Australia. correspondent and Julie spent nearly regularly acted as two years as Chief-of-Staff at National Policy the Sydney Bureau. Manager for From 1999-2002, Infrastructure he was based in Partnerships the Parliamentary Australia. press gallery in Canberra. pg.24|Team

Robert Masters & Associates & ICG Team Melbourne

ChristopherGalloway Maria Vampatella Alexander Corne Academic Associate Senior Consultant Kate Adamson Associate John Kananghinis Angus Nicholls Dr Galloway PR & media Director Senior Associate specialises in Maria has worked Robert Masters Alexander has Kate is a senior issues, crisis and in communication Director John has close to Angus has in more than two consultant and risk for over 25 years 30 years’ excess of 15 years’ decades of former journalist communication, with major Robert Masters & experience in experience of experience as a and public affairs with a focus on international and Associates (RMA) is strategic working with, in, journalist and PR manager with reputation risk national a strategic communication and around all practitioner, more than 15 management. consultancies with communication planning and levels of principally within specific expertise years’ experience and stakeholder implementation Government in the motor Before launching in media relations in journalism and engagement both as a Australia, in roles industry. an academic and strategic ministerial and consultancy. consultant and as a ranging from Alexander has career, Dr communication. government Since its inception, senior executive lobbying, to edited major Galloway was a relations. senior corporate She has assisted in its approach to within highly advising a Federal motoring She has worked affairs executive, developing strategic successful multi- Minister, and as an publications. both nationally working for effective communication national elected His experience and internationally organisations partnerships at a programs, companies. representative of covers work in on a range of including Telecom national and community John has been his local Council. Australia the UK industry and New Zealand, the international level consultation and Managing Director He was an Adviser and South Africa. with health government stakeholder New Zealand Meat of a leading and Acting Chief of He has developed organisations, projects, including engagement Board and Public Australasian Staff to a former and implemented education, justice, finance, processes have Trust. communication Federal Minister. communication government and environment, earned it a He has a PhD consultancy and Complementing strategies for community groups health, education, reputation of being (Monash), Master has almost two Angus’ major covering strategic technology and at the leading edge of Management decades of senior government multinational communication agribusiness. of communication [Communication corporate experience is his corporations. planning, Kate provides management for experience commercial trading Management] corporate and In addition to invaluable media over 30 years. through his roles background, (Distinction), government executing media insight and Rob’s services and as General having run one of Massey University integration, and campaigns for knowledge in what clients cover the Manager of the nation’s largest New Zealand, strategic alliances passenger and is a rapidly energy sector (oil, Marketing & seafood wholesale 2000; a Master of with policy makers heavy commercial changing media gas, coal), Communications and commercial Communications and leaders. vehicle clients, landscape with a electricity, for BMW Australia fishing operations (Merit), Victoria Alexander has focus on tangible forestry, and Sales & out of Melbourne. University of managed major results. government Marketing Director Wellington, 1997; custom (federal, state, for Scania APR - Accredited in publications in local) water, Australia. Public Relations, both a business-to- finance, Public Relations John studied law at business and automotive, health Institute of New Victoria University, consumer and health Zealand, 1991; and Wellington and is environment. research, also holds a a Bachelor of Arts pharmaceutical, Diploma in (University of education, Business Auckland), 1971 transport (road Communications and rail), from Massey information University in New technology, Zealand. primary industry, environment and retail. pg.25|Team

Affiliates and Counsel

Ron Edwards Dr Trevor Cook Western Australia Digital Counsel Ron is one of WA’s Michael most respected Baume AO government Special Counsel relations (Emeritus) specialists, enjoying an Michael is a former excellent working diplomat, front- relationship with bench federal all sides of politics. politician, consultant, From 1983-1993, journalist, public he was Federal MP company director, for the Perth stockbroker, TV electorate of panellist and Stirling. Prior to commentator, leaving parliament, author and public Ron was Deputy speaker. Speaker. He is Deputy In 2006 he was Chairman of the awarded a PhD in American Education from the Australian University of WA, Association Ltd, a which investigated member of the factors that Sydney Symphony promote social Orchestra Council inclusion. and a former Ron is a keen AFL board-member of fan and in 1994 the United States helped established Studies Centre at The Graham (Polly) Sydney University. Farmer He is a contributor Foundation. He has to the Spectator been a Board Magazine and a member since its former regular inception. columnist in the Ron, who has Australian extensive Financial Review. experience in the fisheries and mining sectors, assists Wells Haslem clients communicate with the WA State Government and Federal MPs and Senators based in WA. L-R: WHSPA Christmas Party 2014: Nicholas Booth & Josh Fett; Geoffrey Ronald Robertson QC with Kerry & Julie Sibraa; Mosman Councillor Simon Menzies

CONTACT Wells Haslem Strategic Public Affairs +61 2 9033 8667 [email protected] wellshaslem.com.au Level 1, 50 Yeo St (PO Box 223) Neutral Bay NSW 2089 Twitter: @WellsHaslem Find us on: Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+

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