Member Profiles
IABC Wellington and international members - what drives them and what they have got out of IABC membership.
- Janice Rodenburg: Self-employed contractor (2008 IABC Wellington Professional Development Director)
- World Chair IABC: Todd Hattori, Communication manager for the Washington Department of Information Services
- President of IABC Victoria: Adrian Cropley, head of Cropley Communications
- Lorri Lennon, founder and head of Business Interconnexions, Sydney
- Canberra IABC member: Bob Crawshaw
Janice Rodenburg: self-employed contractor (2008 IABC Wellington Chapter Professional Development Director)
June 2008
What drew you into becoming a professional communicator?
I went into journalism after school visits to The Waikato Times and the local Hamilton radio station sparked my interest in the media. Journalism’s a great career, and I had many interesting and varied assignments. Like many journalists however, I got to the point where I wanted to try something different, and professional communications was an area where I could use my skills and experience.
What areas do you specialise in?
As a self-employed contractor, I’m a jack-of-all-trades, able to turn my hand to everything from developing an organisation-wide communications strategy, to proof-reading the Annual Report. Having worked in Wellington for more years than I care to count, I do have particular expertise in the public sector.
Most interesting assignment?
Where do I start? The great thing about communications professionals is that we get to be involved in all sorts of interesting projects. I’ve been lucky to never have had a job or assignment that I thought was boring, because there’s always something new to understand and communicate. Even subject matter that might look dull on the surface is of interest to someone, and the challenge is to find a way to reach that audience.
What did you have to learn the hard way?
The importance of measuring results and reporting back. Those of us working in communications easily see the point of what we do, but in order to get management support, and budget, for our work, it’s necessary to be able to demonstrate the value for the organisation.
Where the communications role is new, or up for review, it’s particularly important to be able to demonstrate to others how it can make a difference to an organisation. Sometimes that can be as simple as anecdotal feedback, while in other circumstances it may be necessary to undertake formal measurement through research.
Where to from here?
Every time we get involved in a discussion at IABC about social media, I start to feel my age, so for me the next challenge is to fully come to grips with what it all means – you may see me on Facebook yet!
PROFILE: Todd Hattori ABC
November 2007
As the communication manager for the Washington Department of Information Services, Todd manages employee relations, customer relations and web communication strategies to promote technology solutions to state and local government agencies, tribal organisations, and qualified nonprofit organisations throughout the state of Washington.
Todd is world Chair of IABC in 2007-2008. During his 10 years of involvement in IABC, he has held a variety of roles including chair of the ethics committee from 2004-2006 where he successfully led the development and adoption of an executive board conflict of interest policy and an ethics education policy.
What drew you into becoming a professional communicator?
I entered the communication profession by chance. I obtained a Bachelor of Arts from the School of Communication in argumentation and negotiation, with the intent of going to law school. While taking some time off to prepare for my law school exams, I took a job with Salt Lake County, Utah, who had been advised by their board of directors to hire a public relations professional to help improve their image in the community. My employers made the connection that I had studied communication and offered me the job. I immediately enjoyed the challenges that communication involves. That position required that I set up a one-person communication operation for all internal and external communication.
What areas do you specialize in?
Having created and managed a broad range of communication programs, I would say that my greatest strength is communication strategy and measurement.
- Currently working for a technology organization, I have become very interested in how Web 2.0 has redefined communication. I am currently focusing a lot of my time and effort toward helping my and other organizations identify opportunities to use Web 2.0, approaching it strategically, and planning to assess its effectiveness.
- A second area of specialization developed from my two years of service to IABC as the ethics chair. As we have seen in recent events, businesses and individuals decisions and actions are being monitored and publicized – another result of Web 2.0 and easier access to and sharing of information. Communicators play a key role in organizational ethics and accountability and need to reinforce this importance for executives and decision makers. The IABC Research Foundation’s The Business of Truth study shows most professional communicators do not perceive a role in advising their employers on ethics, do not receive the appropriate resources to make and apply ethical choices, and are not sought for advice by executives and decision makers.
Most interesting assignment?
My most interesting professional assignment was being asked to join the teaching faculty at Westminster College, Salt Lake City, Utah. I’ve always valued learning. To be able to share my skills and knowledge with students was just the beginning. I also learned from them … what were their thought processes, what was important to them, how did they see the “real world,” what did they hope to do as future communication leaders? I have a very unique perspective on what is a mentor. In our highly transient and ever changing world, it is rare to find that one inspirational person who could be called a mentor. But as I encounter amazing minds, for even short period, many have influenced my thinking and have helped me continue to grow as a person. Teaching put me in contact with a constant stream of opportunities to challenge and refocus my thinking as a result of my interactions with the professors and students who offered me the gift of mentoring.
What did you have to learn the hard way?
Fortunately, or unfortunately, I’ve learned many lessons the hard way. Years ago, these harsh lessons really discouraged me and caused me to question my ability. Over the years, I learned to take these harsh lessons and figure out how they contribute to my personal and professional growth and development. One of the hardest lessons I had to learn came after many years of being what some would call “the golden child.” I will admit that through my education, I never really had to work hard. Not because I was extremely intelligent, but because I had established early on that I was smart and talented. This reputation helped me gain favor with instructors. When I graduated from college and entered the working world, I quickly learned that my previous golden child title no longer applied. Thankfully, through IABC I found a safe place where I could admit my deficiencies and seek willing advisors from a global community. For a few years, losing golden child status was frightening, but recognizing my limitations and working hard to become informed and skillful has made me a much better person.
What would you never do again?
This will appear to be “Polly Anna,” but I don’t regret anything that I have done in my life. Every experience is an opportunity to learn. For me to return to some activity from the past would be very different because of what I learned. I enjoy challenges, and there are some not-so-pleasant experiences from my past that I wish I could “re-do” because I know that I could manage them much more effectively.
Where to from here?
I’m already living my “where to now.” I recently made a career change from managing communication to managing a business. I was recruited by senior executives to manage the most successful revenue center within my agency. Although I’ve never managed a business, my executives identified the value I bring to this position with my marketing and employee relations expertise. This role has gained me a strategic place at the management table, and has increased recognition of the importance of communication within the organization.
PROFILE: Adrian Cropley
(September 2007)
Adrian Cropley is president of IABC Victoria, head of Cropley Communications in Melbourne, and an infectious grinner. It was his gentle but persistent shoving that helped the members of IABC Wellington’s first Board get off their chuffs and set up the chapter. He has followed through with generous dollops of time and vastly experienced advice, making himself available from the start to help and encourage the chapter in its first crucial months. He was here for our launch event in June, and back again in September with Melissa Dark to run a pair of well-received masterclasses in change management and helping managers be better communicators.
What drew you into becoming a professional communicator?
I have to admit I actually fell into the profession, I was working for Ericsson as the HR Manager in Australia. The CEO and CFO approached me and asked me to take on being head of Internal Communications for Asia Pacific, build a strategy and run the function for the company. When I asked “What is internal communications?” they both replied “no idea, but global have asked us to appoint someone, and you talk a lot, your it!” I quickly added my own flair to the role and built the first strategy, which was subsequently adapted to the Ericsson global strategy… I guess I felt like a bit of a pioneer in the field, which got me hooked. I quickly developed a passion for communications and have been on a crusade to continue to raise the profile of professional communications, within organisations. I just love the profession.
What areas do you specialise in?
I specialise in internal communication and change communication strategy and also in executive/leader coaching. I really enjoy producing and running programs to develop communication skills, both for professionals in the field and leaders. Being able to make a difference within organisations, gives me a buzz! I guess having had to be on a steep learning curve has kept me energised and always eager to tackle the challenges.
Most interesting assignment?
So many! however a stand out for me was working with Ernst & Young managing the relocation of staff to new offices right across Australia. The challenge of change and the importance of good strategy was a stand out.
Any disasters?
And the winner is! Doing a presentation in Washington DC about the culture of surveys. I made a huge mistake in not knowing my audience before the presentation. I started with a creative opening to my talk about Aussie culture, how if you call someone a Bastard, it means you really like them! I thought making some opening statements and a little humour is always a great opening. But when your audience has a number of mid west USA participants… they just don’t appreciate “Profanity unbecoming a professional communicator” Oops big lesson in know your audience, at least the Brits, Canadians & Kiwis got it.
What would you never do again?
I don’t think there is anything I wouldn’t do again, everything I have done has either been enjoyable, or a lesson learnt.. Maybe I would do a few things differently though.
PROFILE: Lorri Lennon ABC
(August 2007)
What drew you into becoming a professional communicator?
In 1985, as a newly-qualified librarian, I was managing the technical library for a Queensland-based mining company. I sent out a zany memo requesting the return of books that had ‘walked out the door’ so I could index them on the new computer database. I used cartoon humour to catch people’s attention. The ploy worked. Hundreds of books came flooding back for cataloguing. This led management to believe I was good at communications. They offered me the job of producing the company’s newsletter. I was quite taken by the idea because I thought it dovetailed with my librarian’s curiosity for information. And I found I had a real passion for it. I lasted only six months as a librarian!
What areas do you specialise in?
I specialise in employee communications, particularly the development and implementation of communications strategies that improve business performance or address specific business issues. I love the analytical and creative process involved in rolling out innovative and effective communications programs.
Most interesting assignment?
There have been many. Probably the highlight was working directly for Brian Gilbertson in Johannesburg to list Billiton on the London Stock Exchange. Gilbertson is an inspirational and visionary leader. I learnt a great deal.
Any disasters?
In 1996, I was organising the official opening of an aluminium smelter in Zululand, South Africa, at which then-President Nelson Mandela was officiating.
I had arranged for the University of Zululand choir to sing the South African National Anthem. Given the political complexities at that time, I sourced the anthem words directly from Mandela’s office.
The day before the official ceremony, the choir was rehearsing in the marquee. Their voices were incredible. They sang with passion, harmony and joy. As I followed the words they were singing on the special programs I had printed, I got goose-bumps.
Then I noticed they weren’t singing the African-language part of the National Anthem correctly. I pointed this out to the choir master. He looked me straight in the eye and firmly said: “Those are ANC words. We don’t sing them.”
My heart stopped. A disaster with huge political consequences loomed. As I raced around trying to resolve the situation, I could imagine the newspaper headlines: “Kiwi triggers civil war”.
Fortunately, everything was sorted out and the ceremony went off without a hitch.
What would you never do again?
I’ve learnt never to say “never”! When I do, it always comes back to bite me. Hard!
Member profile: Bob Crawshaw
(July 2007)
“Belonging to IABC keeps me competitive”: That’s the opinion of Canberra IABC member, Bob Crawshaw, who recently visited Wellington. Bob runs a niche Australian PR agency and regularly uses his IABC membership to keep ahead of global trends in communications.
“It’s handy to be able to use MemberNet, pick up the phone, or send an email to other members and get their thoughts on how to tackle issues”.
Bob began his 15-year communications career as the Australian Army’s first Director of Public Affairs, and after a decade in public and private sector communications started Maine Street Marketing. He was the founding President of the Canberra Chapter of IABC and sits on the IABC’s Asia Pacific Regional Council.