Christine Barnwell

Leading the design and delivery of NGM Group's fully integrated SharePoint intranet, a key strategic roadmap project for the business, and key organisational communication project, supporting their 1,600 workforce.

Key responsibilities

• Delivering the fully integrated intranet, by leading strategic communication and engagement, design, and experience planning.
• Providing specialist communication advice and strategic insights to team and stakeholders to contribute to achievement of the broader team and business objectives.
• Supporting all internal stakeholders including the Board of Directors, Group CEO and Executive Team.
• Assisting the redesign of the NGM Group internal channel mix to communicate important Group news across multiple internal channels.
• Supporting key strategic, operational and change activities through the provision of strategical and tactical communication support to ensure timely and effective information that supports employees to feel engaged, informed and involved.

Key achievements

• Successfully implemented a content audit plan for NGM Group's existing two heritage brand intranet platforms to prepare for migration to the fully integrated intranet.
• Designed the structure and content layout of NGM Group's fully integrated intranet to facilitate the organisation's recent merger.

Supported the Head of Group Strategic Communication to design and develop the strategic corporate affairs program across NGM Group to support public affairs; corporate positioning; government relations; and strategic projects.

Key responsibilities

• Development of strategic issues management plans for key programs and facilitate the execution of programs developed, including liaising with the Corporate Communication & Media team for roll-out.
• Thought leadership and CEO / Executive industry profile program for NGM Group and its brands, ensuring alignment with Corporate Affairs and organisational strategy, targeting key customer segments; industry; markets & stakeholders.
• Drafting material for the Head of Group Strategic Communication and Chief Customer & Digital Innovation Officer for presentations to CEO and Board.
• Leading content development for NGM Group's Annual Report and supporting other strategic communication requirements including annual results reporting suite and Annual General Meeting strategic communication activities.

Key achievements

• Successfully developed and delivered NGM Group's inaugural Annual Report, involving sourcing and analysing the results of its newly merged brands, Greater Bank and Newcastle Permanent, with a customer base of over 600,000.
• Contributed to drafting interview and speech notes for NGM Group Directors and Executives at thought leadership interviews and speaking engagements including, Deloitte's Future Fit Board interview, AICD Hunter Directors' Briefing and the COBA Parliamentary Inquiry.

Supported the development and delivery of organisational communication at NGM Group. Produced communication for and represent NGM Group at internal and external events.

Key responsibilities

• Develop and implement communication plans in line with NGM Group's strategy.
• Develop a variety of communication materials, including, briefs, reports, speeches, presentations, media engagement materials, thought leadership, ghost writing, scripts, and digital content for internal and external audiences.
• Manage heritage NGM Group brand intranets, evolve the Group interim intranet and contribute to the successful delivery of the NGM Group fully integrated intranet.
• Deliver communication and represent NGM Group at internal and external events and to stakeholders.

Key achievements

• Designed and built NGM Group's interim intranet platform within a strict one-month deadline to support the launch of the organisations merger and provide a centralised space for content, tools, and resources for the Group's employees.
• Help produce communications in preparation for the merger to create one of Australia's largest customer-owned financial institutions with a 1,600 workforce, which saw a member vote uplift of more than 200%.
• Assisted in representing and managing communications for NGM Group at significant employee engagement and charity events, such as the Excellence Awards, People Forums, and Charitable Foundation Grant Ceremonies.

Provided strategic communications advice; developed and implemented communication strategies to support internal activities and projects; helped manage internal communication channels and maintained an up-to-date communications calendar, ensuring timely distribution of announcements and information. Created engaging content, written and digital for the company intranet and communication channels.

Responsible for overseeing all digital communication platforms for Hunter Sports Group - Newcastle Knights (NRL team) and Newcastle Jets (A- League team). Managed external digital platforms, content creation, reporting, and analysis. Produced news, stories, and scripts, conducted media interviews, press conferences, and monitored media coverage. Also responsible for video editing, corporate presentations, scheduling media advertising and developing strategic marketing plans.

Responsible for creating marketing materials, such as brochures, HTML content, and PDF flyers. Management of content on Hilton's service leaders' social media platform, which I personally designed and developed. I also wrote and edited copy, monitored campaigns, collected market research, and organised events.

Strategically positioned the Hilton portfolio of brands as best in class across the Asia Pacific region, creating a social media platform specifically for frontline employees and overseeing the management of the company's pipeline of of nearly 140 hotels, helping to successfully introduce some of Hilton's award-winning brands into the Asia Pacific market. Additionally, established and nurtured a robust marketing and communications network spanning across 60 hotels in 18 countries.