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.