Michelle Cunnington
Melbourne,VIC
Summary
High-performing stakeholder relations and communications professional with substantial experience in governmental communications. Skilled at creating positive relationships with stakeholders, clients and team members. Strategic and committed to delivering organisational values and objectives. Offering global experience with excellent written and verbal communication skills.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Manager, Communications and Engagement
Department of Transport and Planning
01.2020 - Current
- Applying advanced managerial and specialist skills to identify key strategic challenges and opportunities for the organisation and Government
- Managing the development and implementation of strategic communication plans to ensure organisational objectives are met
- Providing advice to internal stakeholders to guide external communications, build positive relationships and develop innovative solutions to complex problems
- Building relationships with external stakeholders to earn trust and negotiate positive outcomes for Government and the organisation
- Keeping abreast of current affairs and effectively responding to critical issues that impact on projects and program delivery, stakeholder expectations, and external reputation
- Effectively leading, motivating and developing employees to drive initiatives that support technical and professional capability development
- Providing Government and political stakeholders with accurate, timely and concise information and advice that is subject to public scrutiny.
Communications and Engagement Manager – Active Transport
Department of Transport and Planning
- Responsible for managing stakeholder engagement activities for active transport projects developed and delivered throughout Victoria
- Developing and advising on active transport policies in line with the Government and organisation’s strategic vision
- Seeking opportunities for positive media for the organisation and Government by collaborating with external stakeholders to understand broader policy and localised issues
- Providing expert communications advice on active transport to senior stakeholders and developing innovative solutions to complex problems
- Proactively supporting emerging communication and engagement priorities with an agility to shift work to respond to reactive issues and risks
- Leading research and analysis activities to understand and respond to critical issues for active transport to enable policies to be improved or created
- Developing strategic reports and conducting key stakeholder briefings on high-risk issues to enhance the reputation of the organisation and Government
- Coaching and managing team members on communications best practice, risk mitigation and day to day project lifecycles.
Communications and Engagement Manager - Pop-up Bike Lanes Program
Department of Transport and Planning
Communications Lead
Department of Transport and Planning
Communications Executive
Transport for London
- Owning, planning and implementing large scale communications and engagement projects, including behaviour change campaigns and the annual employee survey
- Managing communications for the TfL volunteer programme for large public events, including major incidents and disruption scenarios
- Writing and producing multi-channel communications to target specific audiences
- This ranged from online (intranets, social platforms) to senior leadership updates
- Working with internal and external stakeholders to ensure communications created are accurate, consistent, timely and within budget
- Collaborating and liaising with other teams around the business and external stakeholders to deliver politically sensitive communications
- Facilitating employee training for best practice communications.
Senior Stakeholder Relations and Communications Advisor (various roles during employment period)
Level Crossing Removal Project
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Creating and implementing strategies to support all stages of project delivery
- Preparing briefings and responses to ministerial and stakeholder correspondence
- Providing stakeholder management services to project teams while embedded on the delivery of a project
- Producing and overseeing all external multi-channel communications for projects
- Leading and organising monthly Stakeholder Liaison meetings with MPs and senior stakeholders
- Supporting the Deputy Premier’s office with any requests in relation to the project
- Acting as main point of contact for the local community and key stakeholders
- Working with local authorities and community associations to inform, engage and collaborate
- Liaising daily with project teams to ensure clear, concise and accurate communications of project activities and effective management of stakeholder risks
- Managing and developing communication advisors within LXRP to ensure all communication and engagement for the project is a success.
Engagement Specialist – Local Communities and Partnerships
Transport for London
01.2014 - 01.2019
- Building and maintaining strong meaningful relationships with key stakeholders and local communities, including Councils and Members of Parliament
- Developing and implementing integrated engagement strategies which manage reputational risk and support business objectives
- Collaborating internally on key integrated TfL projects to negotiate issues, achieve mutual outcomes, gain understanding and generate advocacy
- Organising events and visits for political and senior stakeholders across London
- Conducting effective external engagement (of an appropriate scale and complexity) with key stakeholders on policy proposals, major construction and transport changes
- Anticipating potential project risks with innovative ideas and risk mitigations
- Producing high quality written briefings, speeches and correspondence, often to short deadlines, for the Commissioner, Mayor of London and other senior stakeholders.
UK Stations Communication Co-ordinator/ Shift Leader and Customer Services Team Member
Eurostar International, Ltd.
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Producing and delivering a variety of communications in French and English
- Creating and implementing events to engage with employees and customers
- Liaising between management and operational employees
- Managing stakeholders to deliver effective campaigns for staff and customers
- Working under pressure to ensure communications are timely and accurate, especially in times of disruption
- Focusing on customer and operational needs for an exceptional travel experience
- Managing a team of up to 30 to ensure the operation runs smoothly
- Promoting and marketing products related to the company
- Communicating and liaising with stakeholders in both French and English
- Following and creating specific policies required by Eurostar
- Working to a strict time schedule to facilitate business needs
- Dealing with challenging conversations and conflict management
- Mentoring and training team members within the terminal.
Animatrice d’anglais
Le Bus Bilingue
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Teacher of English and Teaching Assistant
Trademarks Assistant and Records Clerk
Field Fisher Waterhouse Law Firm
01.2006 - 01.2009
Education
Master’s Degree - Intercultural Communication for Business and Professions
Birkbeck, University of London
Degree - French and Linguistics
Queen Mary University of London
Skills
- Stakeholder and communications management
- Negotiation and conflict resolution
- People and leadership management
- Briefing and report writing
- Crisis communications
- Media relations
- Event planning
- Critical thinking
- Policy implementation
Accreditations
International Association for Public Participations (IAP2) accreditation
Volunteer Experience
- Communications Manager, WICE, Paris, 01/01/18, 01/01/18
- Travel Ambassador, TfL, London, 01/01/13, 01/01/19
Languages
French
Professional Working
Timeline
Senior Manager, Communications and Engagement
Department of Transport and Planning
01.2020 - Current
Senior Stakeholder Relations and Communications Advisor (various roles during employment period)
Level Crossing Removal Project
01.2019 - 01.2020
Engagement Specialist – Local Communities and Partnerships
Transport for London
01.2014 - 01.2019
UK Stations Communication Co-ordinator/ Shift Leader and Customer Services Team Member
Eurostar International, Ltd.
01.2011 - 01.2014
Animatrice d’anglais
Le Bus Bilingue
01.2009 - 01.2011
Trademarks Assistant and Records Clerk
Field Fisher Waterhouse Law Firm
01.2006 - 01.2009
Communications and Engagement Manager – Active Transport
Department of Transport and Planning
Communications and Engagement Manager - Pop-up Bike Lanes Program
Department of Transport and Planning
Communications Lead
Department of Transport and Planning
Communications Executive
Transport for London
Master’s Degree - Intercultural Communication for Business and Professions
Birkbeck, University of London
Degree - French and Linguistics
Queen Mary University of London
Similar Profiles
Abhinav PradhanAbhinav Pradhan
Senior Road Investment Planner at Transport Assets, Department of Transport and PlanningSenior Road Investment Planner at Transport Assets, Department of Transport and Planning
Rita PetrosRita Petros
Court Officer at department of transport and planningCourt Officer at department of transport and planning
Thomas MorrisThomas Morris
Administration Officer at Department of Transport and PlanningAdministration Officer at Department of Transport and Planning
Guoxi LuGuoxi Lu
Data Science Intern at Department of Transport and PlanningData Science Intern at Department of Transport and Planning
Chase WallisChase Wallis
Customer Service/Sales Administrator at Emerson CoachingCustomer Service/Sales Administrator at Emerson Coaching