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Your questions on crisis communication answered.

Covid-19; the words on everyone’s lips. With the rise of this pandemic, we’ve seen leaders worldwide dealing with the crisis in different ways. Our screens and newsfeeds have been filled with international news, detailing global response.

In China we’ve seen very quick and severe action to a downward spiral. In the US we’ve seen Trump deny the virus and cases rise. In New Zealand, we’ve seen Jacinda Ardern stop the virus. These are all completely different approaches, but they are definitive responses.

So why is that in Australia, our leaders have been slow to the action, and indecisive in strategy?

Our Prime Minister, Scott Morrison, has come under much public scrutiny recently for his hesitant response to the pandemic. Is ScoMo killing us in slow-mo?

Australia’s communication issues during the Covid-19 crisis, have led to a lot of discussion about effective crisis management. As we navigate through this conversation, we must consider what plans global and business leaders have in place for the worst-case scenario.

Hear from a thought-leader in crisis communication, in one of the most current leadership podcasts Australia has to offer.

Public affairs and government expert, Alistair Nicholas, joins Marie for a thought-provoking discussion on crisis and leadership. Alistair breaks down the importance of crisis communication. He explains how our leaders can be better prepared in these types of situations.

Alistair is a fountain of knowledge when it comes to dealing with crisis. Bringing over 35 years of experience to the table, he explains the importance of implementing tools for crisis management. Covid-19 has shown us that our leaders need to strategise and plan for even the most unexpected circumstances. Tough conversations about our worst nightmares are key to being prepared.

In times of uncertainty, it’s only normal for us to be looking to our leaders for answers. Alistair reveals the importance of clear communication. He provides an interesting perspective on how our Prime Minister and Premiers have been both failing and succeeding at this. From changing the rules for business owners to inconsistencies with the national lockdown – crisis communication has proven to be no easy task for leaders.

About Alistair Nicholas

Alistair Nicholas is one of Australia’s best public affairs and government experts. He has over 35 years of experience in government and corporate affairs, covering Australia, North America, China, Asia and the Pacific. This includes 20 years in senior advisory roles at Edelman and Weber Shandwick/Powell Tate.

Alistair’s early career included policy research and journalism, international trade policy, diplomacy and providing political advice to Australia’s Federal Coalition.

He has worked for a wide range of reputable companies and organisations, including Global Fortune 500 companies, sovereign wealth funds, Chinese State-Owned Enterprises, national government, embassies, multilateral institutions, small and medium-sized companies and non-government organisations.

Today, Alistair runs his own successful consultancy business. His work includes government relations, reputation management, stakeholder engagement, public relations, media relations, and issues and crisis management.

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Fusing communication expertise and stand-up comedy makes for a unique take on a business podcast, and very easy listening. Commical explores a range of interpersonal, group and mass communication topics through the experiences of my talented guests.

Light in tone, heavy in value – download now from all good podcast apps or listen online now.

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Commical takes a look at the funny side of business and uncovers some nuggets of gold along the way. Hosted by marketing pro, business owner and comedian, Marie El Daghl, Commical delivers weekly bite sized piss takes and monthly in-depth conversations. It’s light business entertainment, not to be taken lightly.

This week’s episode is Commical in Conversation with Tim Burrowes.

How would a marketing expert approach marketing their own business?

That’s what I want to know when I speak with Tim Burrowes. He has long been a leading voice in marketing and media. With extensive experience as an editor and as a marketing journalist, he set up Mumbrella in 2010, one of the leading B2B publications of its time. And sold it in under 9 years. How did he build the brand? What marketing did he employ? Where did he use agencies? He shares all this and more.

And more importantly, Tim shares his vision for Unmade, his latest B2B publishing venture for the marketing and media industry. The business is not yet 1, and already boasts thousands of subscribers. It delivers the smart, insightful, and witty stories Tim is well known for, and puts out an excellent weekly marketing podcast. Their first event is coming up (it’s a corker!) and with many more to follow, Unmade is already making a mark.

In this episode we cover:

Pleasantries and a bit of ass kissing (on my part anyway)
The evolution of Mumbrella
Building a brand
The role of values, and the impact on output
The vision for unmade
Tim’s experience with branding, PR, and SEO
Why people shouldn’t take themselves so seriously

And as promised in the episode, here are the links to:

That hilarious ‘About’ pic: https://www.unmade.media/about

Tickets to the ‘marketing in a cost of living crisis’ panel: https://events.humanitix.com/unmade-marketing-in-a-cost-of-living-crisis

This is Unmade’s first event, and it will take place at Forrester’s in Surry Hills on May 24 at 5pm. It’s covers a critical topic discussed at every level across the country – including households.

Tim will be moderating the panel featuring Optus CMO Melissa Hopkins, GroupM CEO Aimee Buchanan, Macquarie University’s Professor Jana Bowden, a leader in marketing research, and one of his favourite strategists, Shapeshifter founder Al Crawford.

Buy the book – Media Unmade: https://www.booktopia.com.au/media-unmade-tim-burrowes/book/9781743797303.html

Subscribe to Unmade: https://www.unmade.media/

In this business podcast, business owners and marketers alike will learn about brand building from the ground up. And of course, if this is one of your favourite business podcasts Australia, then please let us know by subscribing or leaving a review!

About Tim Burrowes

Tim Burrowes is the editor and founder of media industry analysis newsletter Unmade, which launched In August 2021. He is also the host of Unmade – media & marketing through an Aussie lens, an insightful media and marketing news podcast. And, he is the author of the book Media Unmade, the definitive story of Australia’s media during the disruptive decade of 2010 to 2020.

Previously Tim was the award-winning founder of Australian media and marketing industry publication Mumbrella, which he launched in December 2008. He remained with Mumbrella until the end of 2021.

Working on newspapers, magazines and online, Tim has been a journalist for more than 30 years and has written about the media for the last 20.

He began his career on local and daily newspapers, before his first editorship on specialist B2B magazine Hospital Doctor. He was then editor of Media Week in the UK, followed by the Dubai-based launch editor of Campaign magazine, covering advertising and marketing issues throughout the Middle East. He was twice named Editor of the Year at the British Society of Magazine Editors Awards.

He came to Australia to edit ad industry bible B&T Weekly before launching Mumbrella. Under his editorship, Mumbrella was twice awarded website of the year at the Publishers Australia Awards, and Tim was named business journalist of the year. While Tim was curator of the Mumbrella360 conference, the event was twice named conference of the year at the Australian Event Awards.

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Light in tone, heavy in value – download now from all good podcast apps or listen online now.

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The workplace of the future

What does the future of the workplace hold? Robots might not be taking over (yet), but virtual work sure is.

With over 40% of Australians working from home in some capacity, it’s clear the way we work is changing. And with this, what we expect of our workplace is too. But is the office truly dead, or do we just need to rethink what it looks like?

In this episode of Commical, we’re joined by Angela Ferguson, leading workplace strategist, and Co-founder of Future X Collective, a leading Australian workplace design consultant. She provides insight into the workplace of the future and what it needs to look like to be successful.

Spoiler alert – it’s more than a fake green wall and a fridge full of wine.

Hybrid working, aesthetics, and more.

In this episode, we discuss:

How businesses can start to get people back into the office
The importance of adapting to your team.
The optimum workplace experience – what it is and why it’s important
The role of physical space and aesthetic elements in the workplace
The soft skill trends of the future
And more!

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Your questions on crisis communication answered.

About Alistair Nicholas

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About Tim Burrowes

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The workplace of the future

Hybrid working, aesthetics, and more.

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