Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
References
Volunteer Experience
Key Highlights
Timeline
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Kate Jones

Sydney,NSW

Summary

Results-driven leader with over 15 years of experience in governmental and corporate environments. Proficient in operational leadership, managing diverse responsibilities, and providing strategic advice to executives. Skilled in developing communication plans with measurable objectives and fostering strong stakeholder relationships through collaboration and engagement. Proven success in leading projects, navigating regulations, and enhancing compliance through effective governance frameworks.

Overview

19
19
years of professional experience

Work History

Partnerships Manager

Transport for NSW
01.2021 - Current
  • Spearhead government partnerships by negotiating high-level agreements and managing executive escalations with precision.
  • Cultivate and maintain strategic stakeholder relationships while enforcing rigorous governance and quality assurance frameworks.
  • Advise senior leadership with actionable insights on risk mitigation and issue resolution, ensuring alignment with organisational and policy directives.
  • Direct cross-functional teams to deliver critical program milestones, demonstrating project leadership and problem-solving capabilities.
  • Establish and enforce robust performance monitoring systems for service partners, driving operational efficiency and mitigating risk.
  • Lead stakeholder engagement through clear communication, strategic negotiation, and alignment with long-term partnership objectives.
  • Manage agreements with partner agencies to achieve complex program goals, ensuring strict adherence to governance, compliance, and performance metrics.
  • Translate technical content into accessible communications for varied audiences; oversee high-stakes correspondence and interdepartmental knowledge sharing.

Manager Stakeholder Engagement - Industry

Transport for NSW
01.2019 - 01.2021
  • Facilitated high-impact industry forums and hosted quarterly sector-wide meetings, fostering cross-sector collaboration and facilitating meaningful, results-driven dialogue across light and commercial vehicle industries.
  • Delivered expert regulatory advice and strategic support to industry stakeholders, navigating complex legislative frameworks and enhancing compliance outcomes.
  • Led the development and execution of robust communication and engagement strategies, promoting transparency, stakeholder alignment, and program clarity.
  • Served as a trusted advisor to senior executives, preparing detailed briefing materials and ensuring consistent, clear, and compliant communication.
  • Acted as keynote speaker at industry events, strengthening agency presence and delivering key policy and road safety messages to diverse audiences.
  • Directed a high-performing team, ensuring adherence to governance, quality, and regulatory standards—delivering key projects on time and within budget.
  • Successfully managed multi-stakeholder consultations and negotiations, balancing diverse interests while maintaining program integrity and meeting critical milestones.

Media Liaison Officer

Blacktown City Council
05.2011 - 09.2019
  • Delivered strategic communications plans for corporate and community projects, aligning with organisational mission, vision, and goals—resulting in significant media coverage and increased engagement.
  • Evaluated return on investment through data analytics, including website traffic, event attendance, and article placement, to derive actionable insights and identify communication trends.
  • Created a diverse range of media materials to support the launch of corporate initiatives, services, and products.
  • Collaborated closely with executive leadership to ensure message consistency and accuracy across all communication materials.
  • Fostered strong internal and external relationships, providing high-level communication and media advice to the executive leadership team.
  • Delivered extensive media relations and crisis communication efforts, managing local, state, and national media with measurable impact.
  • Cultivated key media relationships to amplify organisational visibility across print, broadcast, and digital channels.
  • Led the implementation of media briefing sessions to promote accurate, transparent reporting on complex local government matters.
  • Prepared spokespeople for media engagements by facilitating mock interviews and crafting strategic talking points.
  • Presented as Keynote Speaker at the Western Sydney Regional Organisation of Councils Communications Panel, showcasing the Council’s Festival Communications Strategy.
  • Oversaw corporate sponsorships, advertising initiatives, social media engagement, and editorial planning for Council publications.
  • Mentored junior staff, contributing to their professional development and capacity-building.
  • Introduced the Council’s first stakeholder focus group initiative, building strong engagement opportunities and enabling direct community input on projects and initiatives.
  • Managed a $250,000 rebranding initiative, achieving an average annual cost saving of 10% through strategic budgeting and procurement oversight.
  • Secured high-value media exposure—over $300,000 worth—for the Council’s flagship event, the Medieval Fayre.
  • Named a finalist for the 2018 Blacktown City Council Inspirational Woman of the Year Award.
  • Received a Mayoral Commendation in 2017 for the successful delivery of the Community Calendar.

Public Relations Account Manager

SenoirSenior Agency Australia
01.2007 - 01.2011
  • I demonstrated excellence in a multifaceted role consistently surpassing KPIs.
  • I crafted dynamic communication and marketing strategies, excelling in media relations and negotiating partnerships with major outlets.
  • Beyond traditional PR, I managed events, led re-branding, and executed diverse marketing campaigns, showcasing adaptability and strategic thinking.
  • Developed and executed communication and marketing strategies for a diverse client portfolio, leveraging a keen understanding of client needs and market dynamics.
  • Coordinated proactive and reactive media interactions with national, metropolitan, and suburban outlets, establishing strong relationships and securing valuable media coverage.
  • Negotiated media partnerships with major Australian metropolitan and local media outlets, enhancing brand visibility and positioning clients as industry leaders.
  • Managed a range of successful events for clients, ensuring maximum publicity, brand exposure, and increased lead generation, showcasing organisational and logistical prowess.
  • Led re-branding projects, oversaw collateral and logo redesign, and played a key role in implementing the new brand identity across the organisation.
  • Developed and implemented diverse marketing campaigns, including direct mail, electronic direct mail, social media, search engine optimisation, and website development.

Internship/Office Executive

Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA)
01.2006 - 01.2007
  • Provided support in organising industry events, aided in recruitment efforts and Direct Mail (DM) and Electronic Direct Mail (EDM) tasks for the Membership Officer.
  • Assisted the Finance Officer with accounting administration and performed general office duties.

Voluntary Internship

Mango Communications
01.2007
  • I supported Account Managers in media pitching, mailouts, and newspaper coverage reviews, while also handling general office duties.

Education

Certificate IV - Project Management

Monarch Institute
11.2023

B.A. - Public Relations

University of Western Sydney
Australia
05.2004

Higher School Certificate -

Erskine Park High School
Sydney, Australia
11.2000

Skills

  • Operational leadership
  • Partnership development & negotiation
  • Stakeholder engagement
  • Performance management
  • Strategic communication
  • Negotiation
  • Conflict resolution
  • Agreements
  • Budgeting and oversight
  • Risk management
  • Governance frameworks
  • Process improvement
  • Team management
  • Regulatory compliance

References

  • Steven Tonkes, Director Customer Operations- Transport for NSW, 0418664028
  • Lyn Johnson, Senior Manager Partnerships- Transport for NSW, 0418 122 863
  • David Powell, Group Coordinator- Blacktown City Council, 0428 085 822
  • Vanessa Parkes, Manager of Environment, Blacktown City Council, 0416 135 456
  • Dr Gwyneth Howell, Associate Professor at the University of Western Sydney- Study of Communications, 0407 034 040

Volunteer Experience

  • Guest Lecturer, University of Western Sydney, 2015, Delivered a 50-minute lecture to 500 communication students, followed by a 10-minute Q&A session.
  • Volunteer, The Wash House, 2014-2015, Served as Secretary on the Board of Directors, contributing to internal and external communication and public relations initiatives.

Key Highlights

  • Operational Leadership: Demonstrated leadership managing the relationship between the largest government partner agency and the Road Safety Regulation Branch within Transport for NSW. This includes leading process optimisation, performance management, developing and managing governance frameworks, establishing and negotiating agreements, problem solving and decision making, risk management, team development and leadership and cross functional collaboration.
  • Strategic Stakeholder Engagement Expertise: Demonstrated hands-on leadership experience organising and leading joint agency steering committees, industry forums, providing regulatory guidance, and executing comprehensive communication strategies.
  • Project Management: A proven track record of successfully managing complex projects and programs, including overseeing teams, monitoring service delivery, and providing evidence-based project planning and strategic recommendations for optimal business outcomes.
  • Strategic Communication Specialist: proven success in developing and delivering a diverse range of communication and engagement strategies that deliver substantial results. Adept in crafting concise, engaging and impactful messaging that is aligned to an organisations overall objectives, geared towards specific target audiences and are supported by data and analytics to make risk based, informed decisions.
  • Regulatory Compliance: Exhibited proficiency in managing critical regulatory relationships, establishing and overseeing effective governance mechanisms, and ensuring compliance with best practices, policies, agreements and statutory requirements.
  • Results-Driven Achievements: Recognised achievements include being a finalist for the 2018 Blacktown City Council Inspirational Woman of the Year Award, securing media coverage valued at over $300,000 for a major event, and effectively managing a $250,000 rebranding budget with consistent cost savings.

Timeline

Partnerships Manager

Transport for NSW
01.2021 - Current

Manager Stakeholder Engagement - Industry

Transport for NSW
01.2019 - 01.2021

Media Liaison Officer

Blacktown City Council
05.2011 - 09.2019

Public Relations Account Manager

SenoirSenior Agency Australia
01.2007 - 01.2011

Voluntary Internship

Mango Communications
01.2007

Internship/Office Executive

Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA)
01.2006 - 01.2007

Certificate IV - Project Management

Monarch Institute

B.A. - Public Relations

University of Western Sydney

Higher School Certificate -

Erskine Park High School
Kate Jones