I keep an active body and mind by walking, yoga and swimming, and spending quality time with my two energetic boys We have a Cavoodle named Curry who loves walks and is a ball of personality
Leila Buchanan
Newcastle,NSW
Summary
Accomplished in elevating brand visibility and stakeholder engagement for the NSW Department of Education, I leverage analytical prowess and exceptional communication skills to drive strategic initiatives. My expertise in Sharepoint and Salesforce Marketing Cloud, coupled with a proven track record in project management and relationship building, has consistently enhanced organizational effectiveness and collaboration.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior School Communications Adviser
NSW Department Of Education
05.2024 - Current
- Coordinated webinars for the Secretary to princpals to foster thought leadership within the industry.
- Developed comprehensive communication plans for schools, resulting in increased community awareness and stakeholder engagement.
- Streamlined internal communication processes, improving team collaboration and productivity.
- Wrote compelling communications content for schools and school networks to deliver complex messages to different audiences within the community and department.
Senior Staff Communication Adviser
NSW Department of Education
06.2023 - 05.2024
- Enhanced customer satisfaction levels by improving responsiveness to and approvals for Staff Noticeboard submissions.
- Implemented quality control measures to ensure consistent excellence delivered to our internal clients.
- Coordinated training in Staff Noticeboard for employees, boosting skillsets across multiple disciplines.
- Streamlined internal communication channels to foster collaboration between departments and increase overall team effectiveness.
- Successfully managed change initiatives throughout the organisation during periods of significant transition and growth.
- Established positive relationships with customers and other staff members.
- Liaised with management and other departments to maintain smooth operations.
Marketing Content Lead
University of New England
12.2019 - 06.2023
- Developed and executed a comprehensive content strategy that positioned the university as a leader in different educational areas, increasing brand recognition and credibility.
- Implemented editorial guidelines and style guides to ensure consistency and quality across all content channels.
- Strengthened content through proofreading and editing.
- Managed competing deadlines with efficiency.
- Built, established and maintained relationships with sources.
- Directed successful catalogue content rewrites - more than 2500 pages of content - focused on improving user experience while maintaining brand and message consistency.
- Conducted thorough research to create accurate and informative content and style guidelines.
- Optimised catalogue content for SEO purposes, resulting in improved search engine rankings.
- Presented regular reports on content performance to senior leadership teams, informing data-driven decision-making processes.
- Established strong relationships with key industry influencers through expertly crafted guest posts and collaborative projects.
- Created targeted content plans tailored to specific customer segments for personalized marketing efforts.
- Pioneered an effective internal communications strategy that kept employees informed about company initiatives and fostered collaboration between departments.
- Streamlined the editorial calendar management process by implementing project management tools and systems.
- Managed a team of writers to produce relevant, timely, and informative content for diverse audiences.
Senior Communications Strategist
University of New England
02.2019 - 12.2019
- Conducted audits on communication systems to identify areas needing improvement or repair.
- Enhanced brand visibility by developing and executing comprehensive communications strategies.
- Evaluated success of campaigns through data analysis, refining strategies for optimal results.
- Built and maintained relationships with marketing, sales and service partners to implement communication plans.
- Strengthened internal communication, streamlining information flow across departments.
- Collaborated with executive leadership on strategic messaging and positioning initiatives.
- Built strong relationships with teams across the university to amplify portfolio messaging.
- Monitored effectiveness of various campaigns and communication strategies.
APAC Senior Communications Advisor
Cardno
11.2017 - 06.2018
- Conducted regular media training sessions with executives and spokespeople to enhance their presentation skills and message delivery.
- Developed key messaging and talking points for executive leadership, ensuring consistent representation of company.
- Monitored effectiveness of various campaigns and communication strategies.
- Developed and implemented social media strategy to increase engagement and reach new audiences.
- Oversaw content development process for corporate publications, ensuring high-quality materials that aligned with brand guidelines.
- Optimized internal employee newsletter structure leading to increased open rates.
Senior Corporate Communications Advisor
Cardno
01.2012 - 11.2017
- Implemented social media strategies (including Cardno's first social media policy) that boosted online engagement rates and amplified brand reach across platforms.
- Streamlined internal communication processes, improving team collaboration and productivity.
- Developed comprehensive communication plans, resulting in increased brand awareness and stakeholder engagement.
- Trained junior team members in effective communication techniques, boosting their professional development and performance.
- Collaborated closely with executive leadership to develop corporate narratives aligned with company objectives and values.
- Copyedited, proofread and revised company advertisements, print materials and press releases before dispersal.
- Maintained corporate website using content management systems and associated plugins.
- Developed ideas and leads for new stories according to industry trends.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications (Journalism Major)
University of Newcastle
Master of Information Studies -
Charles Sturt University
01-2026
Skills
- Analytical and critical thinking
- Managing conflicting priorities
- Critical thinking
- Excellent communication skills
- Stakeholder / relationship building
- Project management
Accomplishments
- Collaborated with team of [Number] in the development of [Project name].
Early work history
Marketing and Communications Specialist, Chartered Accountants ANZ, 2009-2011
Communications Manager, TNS Australia (now Kantar), 2005-2009
Media Officer, NSW Department of Education, 2004-2005
Interests
Timeline
Senior School Communications Adviser
NSW Department Of Education
05.2024 - Current
Senior Staff Communication Adviser
NSW Department of Education
06.2023 - 05.2024
Marketing Content Lead
University of New England
12.2019 - 06.2023
Senior Communications Strategist
University of New England
02.2019 - 12.2019
APAC Senior Communications Advisor
Cardno
11.2017 - 06.2018
Senior Corporate Communications Advisor
Cardno
01.2012 - 11.2017
Bachelor of Arts - Communications (Journalism Major)
University of Newcastle
Master of Information Studies -
Charles Sturt University
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