Madina Knight
Brisbane,QLD
Summary
Madina Knight is a communications leader with 12+ years' experience helping organisations tell their story, grow funding, and amplify impact.
She has partnered with 50+ organisations, from grassroots groups to global charities across Australia, New Zealand, US and Southeast Asia.
As founder of a not-for-profit communications agency, she led a small team delivering campaigns that exceeded targets, launched brands, and built strong community engagement.
With board experience in New Zealand and Australia, Madina blends practical expertise with strategic vision to drive impact.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Strategic Grants Manager
Bid and Business Writers
01.2024 - Current
- Managed a diverse client portfolio across disability, social enterprise, domestic violence, technology and Aboriginal Corporations, including Fairhaven, Your Own Way and Got Your Back Sista.
- Established systems and processes for this brand-new role.
- Researched funding trends and built multi-year pipelines for sustainability.
- Built strong relationships with funders, government and foundations.
- Led end-to-end grant applications, developing compelling narratives, budgets and project plans.
- Won 20+ grants in less than 12 months.
Director of Communications
Kindtype Communications
01.2017 - 01.2023
- Founded and led a boutique not-for-profit communications agency, managing a team of designers, copywriters, developers and contractors.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive communication strategies to enhance brand visibility and engagement for government, social enterprise and not-for-profit clients
- Developed templates and content libraries for social media, EDMs and digital platforms.
- Delivered marketing and communications workshops for clients such as Tearfund, Mangrove Collective and Xtreme.
- Led national public consultation campaigns across social media for NZ Ministry for the Environment.
- Delivered campaigns for Edmund Hillary Fellowship, NZ Careers Expo, Women's Fund, Family Network and others.
- Developed video and digital content for clients like the NZ Drug Foundation and Ministry for the Environment.
- Oversaw website redesigns for clients like Tautai, Loomio, Optimi and Rethink.
- Developed brands and collateral for clients like Optimi, fair&good and Mangrove Collective.
- Produced annual reports, EDMs, brochures, key messaging documents and press releases.
- Helped Hagar launch its bequest program.
- Wrote articles for Good Magazine and ghost-wrote content for The Contentment Foundation (US) in UC Berkeley's Greater Good Magazine.
- Created a first-of-its-kind e-learning program for families of children with disabilities.
- Created a first-of-its-kind ethical shopping directory in New Zealand.
- Contributed pro-bono services for grassroots organisations like Roskill Together.
- Produced copy for the Ministry for the Environment website encompassing 1000+ pages
- Wrote 30+ pieces on global impact investors and entrepreneurs
- Led all aspects of the NZ Careers Expo creative campaign to attract younger audiences including web, positioning, social, creative, e-marketing, and more
- Helped a client grow their social media following from 20K to 55K in under 3 months
- Managed all creative elements of the Women's Fund awards campaign
Communications and Social Media Officer (contract)
NZ Ministry for the Environment
01.2019 - 01.2021
- Produced 1000+ pages of website content for NZ Ministry for the Environment.
- Led national public consultation campaigns across social media for NZ Ministry for the Environment.
- Directed and scripted video content for social media and digital.
- Worked on the campaign to phase out single use plastic bags.
- Worked with subject-matter experts to write 20+ stories around key environmental issues.
- Developed a social media strategy document for the organisation.
- Analyzed social media metrics to assess campaign effectiveness and inform future content direction.
Communications Strategist
Circuit International
01.2016 - 01.2017
- Developed a marketing and fundraising strategy to launch Circuit International in NZ.
- Oversaw the organisation's website rewrite and redesign.
- Secured $100,000+ in private funding.
- Completed an international development audit, achieving compliance certification.
- Doubled Facebook following within a year.
- Created multimedia content for various platforms, optimizing reach and impact of messaging.
- Enhanced brand visibility by developing and executing comprehensive communications strategies.
Communications Advisor
Manawanui Incharge
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Increased social media following by 74%.
- Produced stories, video and photography showcasing impact across New Zealand.
- Managed website rebrand and digital channels.
- Oversaw email marketing and staff intranet development.
- Produced annual reports, brochures and other collateral.
- Promoted and supported an international disability conference.
- Authored the award-winning application that saw the organisation win the 2016 Westpac Business Award for Excellence in Strategy and Planning.
Media and Communications Officer
Tearfund New Zealand
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Authored a charity cookbook sold nationwide in supermarkets.
- Led celebrity engagement and PR for Live Below the Line.
- Increased year-on-year media coverage.
- Produced collateral for child sponsorship, gifts in wills, fundraising events and international campaigns.
- Managed a team of interns.
- Coordinated disaster communications and travelled to Vanuatu to document Cyclone Pam recovery.
- Coordinated media outreach efforts, building relationships with journalists and influencers in relevant sectors.
- Enhanced brand visibility by developing and implementing strategic communication plans.
- Oversaw crisis communication plans, ensuring timely and accurate dissemination of information during emergencies.
Media and Communications Coordinator
Tearfund New Zealand
01.2012 - 01.2014
- Increased media coverage by 58%.
- Managed Live Below the Line campaigns, exceeding targets by $8,000 and $20,000 across consecutive years.
- Secured coverage in 50+ top NZ media outlets.
- Managed all organisational media relations, including for disasters and campaigns.
- Produced content for EDMs, brochures, direct appeals and websites.
Education
Master of Human Rights (Hons) - Human Rights
Auckland University of Technology
New Zealand01.2016
Bachelor of Communications -
Auckland University of Technology
New Zealand01.2012
Skills
- Communications
- Fundraising
- Digital marketing
- Copywriting
- Grant writing
- Press release writing
- Stakeholder engagement
- Campaign management
- Social media management
- Project management
- Editing
- Brand management
- Creative direction
PORTFOLIO
http://www.madina-knight.com
BOARD ROLES
- Multicultural Communities Connect QLD 2023-2024
- Hagar New Zealand 2018-2022
Certification
Photography Certificate - Whitecliffe College of Arts
Design Thinking - the Interactive Design Foundation
Timeline
Strategic Grants Manager
Bid and Business Writers
01.2024 - Current
Communications and Social Media Officer (contract)
NZ Ministry for the Environment
01.2019 - 01.2021
Director of Communications
Kindtype Communications
01.2017 - 01.2023
Communications Strategist
Circuit International
01.2016 - 01.2017
Communications Advisor
Manawanui Incharge
01.2015 - 01.2017
Media and Communications Officer
Tearfund New Zealand
01.2014 - 01.2015
Media and Communications Coordinator
Tearfund New Zealand
01.2012 - 01.2014
Master of Human Rights (Hons) - Human Rights
Auckland University of Technology
Bachelor of Communications -
Auckland University of Technology