Summary
Overview
Work History
Education
Skills
Accomplishments
Interests
Work Preference
Work Availability
Timeline
Generic

Siobhan Catherine

Communication
Canberra,ACT

Summary

I’m a dynamic leader with 16 years’ experience specialising in providing pivotal communication advice to Government Executive. I have proven success in empowering teams to use their strengths to achieve outstanding business outcomes.

Overview

16
16
years of professional experience

Work History

Director Strategic Communications

ACT Government
01.2023 - 06.2025
  • Led the One Government, One Voice (OGOV) program to embed whole-of-government communication best practice.
  • Supported Executive through new funding arrangements resulting in effective funding of priority campaigns including Occupational Violence and Make Your Next Choice Electric.
  • Improved communication forecasting and campaign delivery through leading business improvement at the divisional and whole of government levels, including a new government campaign development process.
  • In collaboration with communication colleagues, developed the whole of government Communication and Engagement Plans (Snapshots) for financial years 2023-24 and 2024-25.
  • Influenced the shape of the future of engagement model, presented by Executive to the Chief Minister’s office, endorsed and transformed into an election commitment.

Communication Manager (contract)

Regional Investment Corporation
05.2022 - 01.2023
  • I scoped, researched, developed and delivered communication strategies to inform internal and external audiences about: RIC loans interest rate rise; Farm business definition change making more farm businesses eligible for loans; short-term evaluation of the Drought Loan. Outcomes were neutral or positive media coverage.
  • Developed presentations for the CEO to attend farm business events including the 2022 NSW Farmers’ Conference and Growing SA Conference. Accurate, timely messages about RIC Loan availability reached the target audience.
  • Supported the team through change by supporting colleagues and our Director with clear, empathetic messaging; three team members were made redundant and our manager resigned.
  • Encouraged and guided my team member to develop an internal communication survey to determine staff communication preferences and information needs. Results informed a revised internal communication approach at the RIC.

Senior Communication Consultant

RD Consulting
07.2021 - 05.2022
  • As Project Lead I scoped, researched, developed and delivered the communication strategy to support the Land Force Support Capability Review. I collaborated with visual designers for Corps Conference presentations including identifying audience-preferred communication channels, risks and mitigations, and executing the communication plan.
  • Led and managed five communication client contracts, including the project of an Army video to assist with induction of new employees to the Unit. The high quality induction product led to future business.
  • Using Agile methodology including scrums and sprints, led a specialist team to create the Army-ERP SharePoint site, brand and its application to advertisements and articles.
  • Reinvigorated the team to provide coherent support for Space Centre Australia client. Used high level interpersonal and organisational skills to develop a forward work plan outlining communication milestones and regular client reporting.

Senior Communication Consultant

1 and One Consulting
04.2021 - 06.2021
  • Conducted project scoping including identifying perceptions of change and effective communication channels. Developed the initial work plan including deliverables, resourcing and timeframes.
  • Developed, presented and implemented the high-level communication strategy to effectively inform affected staff about the change using best practice change communication approaches. Tactics included talking points for Executive, the Working Group and presentations used at the town hall meeting about structural change. Staff referred to the change as an opportunity to influence how work is done.
  • I supported a team member with no prior public sector experience to effectively perform their role.

Assistant Director, Engagement and Communications Branch

National Bushfire Recovery Agency
06.2020 - 04.2021
  • Led my team to produce issues of the external newsletter, Bushfire Recovery News, to deadline.
  • Led and facilitated procurement for HarperCollins and News Corp contract to develop and produce the Fighting Spirit bushfire recovery book. Drafted and guided the Prime Minister’s brief for the book foreword.
  • Promoted the callout for community photo submissions as part of the bushfire recovery book development. Media coverage of the grabs were targeted to local and community radio. Wrote and implemented the promotion plan for the closure of the Kids News Bushfire Poetry Competition, in partnership with News Corp, HarperCollins and Executive.
  • Drafted and implemented the communication strategy for Journey to Recovery, the national bushfire recovery plan which achieved the communication objectives of informing key recovery stakeholders about the availability of the plan and limited media coverage.
  • Supported the NBRA and Resilience NSW to encourage bushfire affected communities to apply for grants under the Bushfire Community Resilience and Recovery Fund - Disaster Recovery Funding Arrangements. Communication material (media release; table of projects being funded) reached the Minister’s Office, backbenchers and councils, to deadline.

Assistant Director, Communications Division

Department of Human Services
09.2018 - 01.2020
  • Led the announcement of disaster recovery payments and allowances during the 2019-20 bushfires. This included guiding my team to call local media to inform them that their community was eligible to receive payments. Led this team while managing media accounts for Medicare, freedom of information, the National Redress Scheme and rural audiences.
  • Liaised with Deputy Secretaries and other Executive as required to respond to media enquiries to deadline including from the Sydney Morning Herald and the Canberra Times.
  • Represented the department at the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet’s Drought Summit.
  • Negotiated with colleagues to improve an inefficient translation process of 20 steps to 9. The suite of guidance material enhanced account managers’ responsiveness to business areas. This business improvement enabled our team to focus on high value strategic communication.

A/g Director, Communications Division

Department of Human Services
02.2018 - 09.2018
  • Negotiated a mutually beneficial governance arrangement with Delivery Modernisation colleagues. Identified business objectives, sought the position of other parties, and articulated common ground.
  • Built team capability in content development for Virtual Assistants.
  • Communicated effectively with team members about and supported them through change including Average Staffing Level targets and a restructure in the context of a smaller government workforce.
  • Developed the division’s first section APS Census action plan developed through active consultation with team members.
  • Supported team members through difficult personal circumstances and resolved inappropriate corporate behaviour.
  • Established a new campaign advertising process for the division following consultation with the Department of Finance.

Assistant Director, Communications Division

Department of Human Services
05.2017 - 02.2018
  • Led the communication support for the independent review of health providers’ access to Medicare card details. The communication strategy achieved the Secretariat’s objective of targeted consultation and neutral media and social media sentiment. Media coverage reached 619,525. Web statistics show news articles drove health professionals to information about the consultation and review.
  • Introduced a culture of evaluation using Google Analytics and other social media tools. Regular analysis led to enhanced trust in and reliance on our team’s skills by business areas.
  • Improved cross-department collaboration by introducing account managers to the Communication Cross Agency Network (ComCAN).

A/g Assistant Manager, Strategic Communication

Murray-Darling Basin Authority
01.2017 - 05.2017
  • Created the communication strategy to promote the ‘River Stories’ website. The website was created to resolve lack of public trust in the organisation, a complex problem that a website alone could not solve. My strategy included River Stories as a tactic. By taking a strategic approach, the audience engaged with stories of the Basin rather than the political debate.
  • Strengthened the strategic communication function by improving processes and building capability. Coached team members to develop confidence in their communication skills. Business areas contacted Communications to seek professional advice on how to engage the audience, rather than focusing on ordering products.

A/g Assistant Manager, Strategic Communication

Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
06.2015 - 01.2017
  • Managed the development of the communication strategy to support the Industry Growth Centres Initiative and two successful Ministerial launches.
  • Managed the initial briefing for the National Innovation and Science Agenda communication campaign (Ministerial brief; letter to Special Minister of State; evaluation market research; creative) and procurement for the evaluation market research component.
  • Managed drafting of evaluation market research brief and procurement documentation for the Country of Origin Labelling communication campaign.

Education

Graduate Certificate in Applied Coaching -

APAC
09-2026

Agile Project Management - undefined

RMIT
12.2019

Lean Six Sigma Whitebelt - undefined

UTS
12.2019

BA - Communication

University of Technology Sydney
01.2007

Skills

  • Strategic communication
  • Leadership
  • Negotiation
  • Business improvement
  • Issues management
  • Research and critical analysis

Accomplishments

Delegation Media Liaison Officer, G20 Leaders’ Summit; Finance & Trade Ministers meetings, 2014

Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet/The Treasury

Interests

  • Running
  • French language
  • Podcast host

Work Preference

Work Type

Full TimePart TimeContract Work

Work Location

RemoteHybridOn-Site

Important To Me

Company CultureFlexible work hoursWork from home option

Work Availability

monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Timeline

Director Strategic Communications

ACT Government
01.2023 - 06.2025

Communication Manager (contract)

Regional Investment Corporation
05.2022 - 01.2023

Senior Communication Consultant

RD Consulting
07.2021 - 05.2022

Senior Communication Consultant

1 and One Consulting
04.2021 - 06.2021

Assistant Director, Engagement and Communications Branch

National Bushfire Recovery Agency
06.2020 - 04.2021

Assistant Director, Communications Division

Department of Human Services
09.2018 - 01.2020

A/g Director, Communications Division

Department of Human Services
02.2018 - 09.2018

Assistant Director, Communications Division

Department of Human Services
05.2017 - 02.2018

A/g Assistant Manager, Strategic Communication

Murray-Darling Basin Authority
01.2017 - 05.2017

A/g Assistant Manager, Strategic Communication

Department of Industry, Innovation and Science
06.2015 - 01.2017

Agile Project Management - undefined

RMIT

Lean Six Sigma Whitebelt - undefined

UTS

BA - Communication

University of Technology Sydney

Graduate Certificate in Applied Coaching -

APAC

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