Communication Advisory

Every stakeholder conversation carries risk without strategy. We prepare leaders to anticipate issues early and tailor messages that influence outcomes across every audience.

Senior professionals in a strategy meeting around a boardroom table

Our Approach

Communication strategy that doesn’t stop at key messages.

Most communications planning around an issue focuses only on developing messages and talking points to tell the organisation’s audiences.

We work strategically. We help our clients analyse and map their stakeholders, understand audience motivations and develop narratives that resonate. We assess risks, explore related issues, and plan to protect reputation. Then we build the capability to navigate any complex communication environment.

Our strategic communication advisors and trainers bring real corporate and government expertise and work with you on real issues. Teams learn how to educate, influence and activate audiences and to bring them on the journey, for greater mutual understanding.

The result: less outrage, improved connection and better outcomes.

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150+ years

Combined expertise

Decades of strategic communication expertise across our team of experienced advisors.

6 steps

Stakeholder mapping

A comprehensive, dynamic process for identifying and understanding your key stakeholders.

100%

Confidential

All briefing materials and conversations are kept strictly private.

WHO THIS IS BUILT FOR

Built for leaders whose communication carries organisational weight.

Carefully planned communication before any stakeholder conversation is vital to protect reputation, achieve goals, and build trust. We work across our clients’ organisational structure to ensure consistency and a common voice.

Corporate executives in discussion around a boardroom table

Public sector leaders seated at a table with microphones during a briefing

Communications colleagues applauding a team member in a modern office atrium

Speaker seen from behind addressing a large seated audience

Man in a white lab coat writing on a whiteboard while a colleague looks on

Leadership team working around a table with laptops and a whiteboard behind them

Corporate executives

C-suite and senior leaders who are the face and voice of their organisation, internally and externally.

Government and public sector leaders

Departmental executives and policy leads who represent their organisation across media, parliamentary and public forums.

Corporate Affairs and Communications professionals

Leaders who prepare and advise their organisation’s spokespeople across media, government and stakeholder environments.

Leaders in public-facing industries

Executives in ASX-listed or other high-profile companies, where poor communication carries reputational or financial consequences.

Technical and subject matter experts

Leaders with deep expertise who must communicate complex information to audiences, where clarity determines credibility.

Leaders facing a reputational issue

Organisations preparing to navigate an incident, investigation, or adverse event, who need a robust plan and confident spokespeople.

WHAT WE COVER

Every session is built around your stakeholder environment.

We work with your specific challenges, not just common corporate issues. Our advice and training are carefully calibrated to your circumstances, risk profile and current stakeholder perception.

Strategy and advisory

Assessing your organisation's capability to communicate effectively, positioning your message and identifying core messages when an issue arises. Our expert external eyes discover any communication gaps before they can affect your reputation.

Communication performance and delivery

Managing presence, pace and authority in front of any audience, internal or external. Understanding what lands with different audiences and what will likely stoke outrage.

Live interaction simulation

Camera-recorded practice interactions with professional facilitators across a range of custom-created scenarios. Real-time coaching, replay analysis, and targeted feedback to build confidence and influence.

Statements and responses

Our team creates a comprehensive suite of documents to support your communications – positioning statements, Q&A responses, media holding statements, contact lists and fact sheets.

Hostile and difficult question handling

Recognising tactics such as hypotheticals, speculation, rapid-fire questioning or emotionally charged responses. Responding in ways that protect the organisation's position without escalating the confrontation.

Digital and social context

How a short clip, comment thread or bystander video can shape public perception of an organisation. Understanding that a brief moment taken out of context can create narratives and pull focus from official communications.

HOW IT WORKS

Custom-designed for your organisation.

Every engagement starts with a conversation, not a standard document pack. We design your program around your organisation’s stakeholder environment and leaders.

Fantastic. So knowledgeable and engaging.

Senior Communications Consultant

Department of Transport WA

All very professional, knowledgeable and positive. Amazing attention to detail.

Senior Manager

James Cook University

It was clear to me that the facilitator did a lot of prep work to understand all aspects of the issues we deal with. Good practical tools blended with solid experience.

Deputy CEO

National Indigenous Australians Agency

The trainer was phenomenal, who clearly and effectively communicated concepts in a relevant and applicable format.

Mayor

Sutherland Shire Council

Sadly there are not many (if any) companies that train people to the quality that yours does. Your guidance and experience was valuable at all times and assisted us to get our message out and keep on track with organisational changes. Others would do well to invest into this area of senior roles.

Chief Executive Officer

Ambulance Victoria

Absolutely relevant to my needs and has helped me be much more prepared for what could come my way. Well organised and highly effective.

Principal

Ballarat Clarendon College

Very interactive, well tailored to my needs.

VP Investor Relations

BlueScope

The focus on stakeholders was exactly what we needed. Highly relevant and timely with excellent pace and content. The trainer’s style and knowledge was excellent and this assured a superior exercise and result for us.

CEO

Health Workforce Queensland

The trainer was excellent - very clear, very informative and had clearly done a lot of preparation for the day. I am surprised how much I got out of that. I will be recommending it for others.

Technical Director

AECOM

Well researched for our business, engaging and knowledgeable. I felt very comfortable engaging with the team.

CEO and Managing Director

CDK Stone

The training was completely tailored to what I needed. I’m keeping the trainer on my speed dial for future presentations.

Head of Design

Goodman

The sessions were very well tailored to my needs and the organisation. The practical and the information components blended perfectly together to significantly improve my confidence and readiness for media.

General Manager, Client Services

Dementia Australia

Communication & Media Manoeuvres is highly experienced and skilful and has assisted us in delivering challenging messages to all our stakeholders, in an extremely effective, professional manner. I recommend them to other schools seeking a tactical messaging, media training and/or consulting service.

Headmaster

The Hutchins School

Very useful to practise on a case that’s actually very realistic. Good mix of theory and practice.

CEO

Yarra Trams

Absolutely relevant and created a new skills space. Thanks for the insightful views and recommendations.

Client Manager

Munich Re

Extremely knowledgeable and proficient in this space; genuinely interested in equipping us with valuable skills and want us to gain the benefits in our leadership journey.

Director of Clinical Affairs

Cook Medical

Excellent. Concepts were very helpful and informative.

State General Manager

Westpac

Consummate professionals with a wealth of experience in the field of media training, for general media spokesperson work, subject-specific interviews and complex issues management work.

Communications Officer

Australia Post

Strategy conversation

We understand your audience landscape, likely issues, and the wider context of your organisation and industry before presenting our program recommendation.

Program and plan design

Stakeholder communication plans and training content are specifically created to address your identified risks, issues and capability gaps.

Immersive training

Camera-recorded stakeholder interactions with professional facilitators. Real pressure, real feedback, real capability shift.

Ongoing support

We are your trusted partner in dealing with organisational issues as they arise, major or minor. Available on-call when calm and considered advice is needed.

The outcomes

Connected stakeholders, positive conversations.

25+

Years of experience in communication strategy & advisory, across every sector

100% custom

Programs customised to client context, with no off-the-shelf delivery

6

Expert strategic advisors with backgrounds in senior journalism and communications

Well researched for our business, engaging and knowledgeable. I felt very comfortable engaging with the team.

CEO and Managing Director

CDK Stone

PROGRAM FORMATS

Designed to fit your leaders and your situation.

Strategic communication advisory and training is not one-size-fits-all. We offer programs that match how your organisation is positioned and what your leaders need.

Strategic Communication Program

The full range of stakeholder mapping, key messages, Q&A responses and positioning statements, followed by simulated stakeholder interactions with real-time feedback.

Overhead view of colleagues working with laptops, notes and charts on a table

Executive Program

A concentrated program addressing a single capability or preparing an individual leader, delivered with the same rigour as the comprehensive program.

Facilitator speaking to a small group of seated participants in a workshop

Half Day Targeted Session

Direct planning for a specific upcoming stakeholder engagement or issue. Rapid communications capability-building for one or two executives.

Colleagues applauding during a meeting around a table with a laptop

Executive One-to-One Coaching

Private coaching tailored to a leader preparing for a high-stakes engagement, moving into a more visible role, or building capability at their own pace. The focus adapts with the environment.

Executive seated alone at the end of a long boardroom table with a laptop

On-Call Advisory

Ongoing support when you want a trusted communication partner available as new challenges arise, not just when a training session is scheduled.

Two men in suits shaking hands across a desk

Online Delivery

The same rigour as in-person, adapted for executives who operate remotely. Fully facilitated sessions with real-time discussion, exercises and feedback.

Woman smiling at a desktop screen during a video session

SPEAK WITH US DIRECTLY

Find our nearest office.

GET STARTED

Ready to prepare for the communication that matters?

A confidential conversation with our General Manager. No obligation. We'll listen, ask the right questions, and recommend a path forward only if there's a genuine fit.

Book a strategy call

Empty boardroom with a long wooden table, black leather chairs and shelves on a concrete wall