Geoff Barbaro
My CV, Thoughts and Information
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Communication Roles

 

Specialist Communication Roles

Between January 1994 and December 2000, I held a number of specialist communications and public relations roles. I became a full member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia having passed accreditation exams and portfolio submission in 1996.

 
 
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The Roles

I was a Media Adviser for the City of Melbourne from December 1998 until December 2000 reporting to the Media Director

I was the Acting Media Adviser to the Lord Mayor of Melbourne from January until July 1999 (Lord Mayor Deveson, Lord Mayor Costigan) and again for August until September 2000 (Lord Mayor Costigan) reporting directly to the Lord Mayor (this was in addition to my City of Melbourne Media Adviser role)

I was the Communication Coordinator for the Victorian Department of Natural Resources & Environment from September 1997 until November 1998

I was the Public Relations Officer at the City of Yarra from December 1995 until September 1997

I was the Media and Community Liaison Worker for the Federation of Community Legal Centres from January 1994 until January 1995 (I then went back into legal practice until taking the role at the City of Yarra)

 
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Responsibilities

Across these roles, I became a true communications generalist, taking responsibility for almost every aspect of communications roles (other than investor relations), including:

  • Relationship and Reputation Management
  • Stakeholder, employee and partner relationships and communications, including change management and communications
  • Community Engagement and Media Liaison
  • Communication strategies, media relations and releases, and event support
  • Issues and Crisis Management
  • City, State and organisation marketing and promotion
  • Development and implementation of communications policies
  • Lobbying of Federal and State Governments and other bodies
  • Business Planning for the Media Office
  • Public Relations writing and production
 
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Notable Achievements

There were many achievements during these years, most of which don't make the cut here, which is only a selected sample

  • Developed and implemented media strategies on illegal drug use in the City of Melbourne
    • Promoted and participated in the development of the City of Melbourne Illicit Drug Strategy
    • This work led to the publication of my peer reviewed article in Journal of Communication Management, Volume 10, 2006, called “Defining realities: why community consultation needs to start with the problem, not the solution”
  • Provided media support for the City of Melbourne’s involvement in the 2000 Olympic Games, World Cup Cricket Parade (1999), AFL Grand Final Parades and Premiership presentations, and Melbourne Cricket Ground updates
  • Highly commended, 1997 Golden Target Awards (National and State) for Issues/Crisis Management for the City of Yarra Elm Leaf Beetle Campaign as part of the team led by Michelle Adams
  • Developed the first NRE Corporate Communication Strategy for 1998/99, including the internal communications plan, approved by the Executive Management Team in April 1998
  • Produced and wrote the change management supporting materials and videos for the NRE Business Improvement Process and City of Yarra Best Value program
  • Completed the best value agreement, business planning and risk management strategy for the City of Melbourne media office signed off by the CEO in February 2000
  • Provided full issues and crisis management support relating to Melbourne Safe City Program including on-street cameras, Australia Day, the future of Flinders Street, Indigenous issues and the City Link development
  • Evaluated tender bid submission for the Cities of Yarra and Melbourne, and the NRE
  • Developed the External Consultants tender documentation for the City of Yarra and provided oversight of tender processes, the tender being formally approved by Council in April 1997
  • Provided communications support for Corporate Identity and Branding programs at the City of Yarra and NRE, including presenting at the NRE Road Show at regional offices throughout Victoria
  • Communication strategy for the Victorian Resources Online web site, including launch, video and ongoing promotion
  • Project management of the creation and implementation of the Corporate Identity for the Private Forestry Council Victoria
  • Development of practical communication standards for government communicators (in conjunction with the PRIA)
  • Web theme coordinator for the NRE Internet site
  • Development of approved communication strategies for Electronic Information Services and Library & Information Services
  • Developed and implemented the City of Yarra’s first coordinated advertising policy and NRE’s first sponsorship policy
  • Coordinated, edited and wrote copy for Annual Reports at NRE and the City of Yarra
  • Provided communication support for public education campaigns including campaigns on illicit drugs, creating safer cities, victim impact statements, crimes compensation, police powers and changes to Legal Aid
  • Writer and presenter for the LocalVision Yarra Community News program on community television
  • Designed and implemented the multicultural communications policy and communications at the City of Yarra, including a community radio program in multiple languages