Crisis Communication Strategy & Advisory

A crisis may be unavoidable, but the damage isn't. We help leaders communicate with authority, protect trust, and minimise the harm of speculation or misinformation.

Leadership team in a meeting around a round  table in an attic-style office

Every organisation is vulnerable to a crisis.

Most crisis communication happens after an incident, when the situation is already out of control. The media has run the story and the only remaining option is defence.

We take a more strategic approach. We help our clients proactively identify potential crises, understand stakeholder motivations and develop crisis communications that resonate. We assess risks, determine spokesperson responsibilities, and plan for reputation recovery. Then we build the capability to navigate communications in any crisis.

Our strategic communication advisors bring real corporate and government expertise and work with you on real issues. Each leader learns their communication role, how to make good strategic decisions under pressure, and when to engage external support.

If a crisis hits your organisation, our advisors immediately spring into action to assist your crisis communication team. Across decades of experience, we have encountered every form of critical incident that might befall an organisation.

The result: reduced reputational risk, more capable leaders, and faster recovery from a crisis.

‍

150+ years
Combined expertise
Strategic communication expertise across our team of experienced advisors.
10 steps
Crisis communication planning
A comprehensive, dynamic process for developing a clear and effective crisis communication plan.
100%
Confidential
All client information is kept strictly private and confidential.

Built for leaders whose responses carry organisational weight.

An organisation may have built its reputation over decades or even centuries, but it can be destroyed in hours or days in a crisis. Carefully planned communication from its leaders is critical to success, ongoing trust, and reputation recovery.

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
Receptionist in glasses taking a phone call at a front desk
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 managing frontline administrative staff
Specialist advice for handling communication with concerned community members or media and supporting senior leadership, if a crisis emerges.

Every session is built around your risk environment.

We work with your specific concerns, not just common corporate incidents. Our advice and training are carefully calibrated to your circumstances, risk profile and current reputation.

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.

Crisis communication plan

Designed exclusively for your organisation; or an expert review of your current plan. The definitive guide to support your leaders, keep your stakeholders informed, and manage reputational risks in a crisis.

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.

Crisis communication framework

We work through the seven action steps in the crisis management playbook. Crisis communication teams learn how to verify and assess incident facts, position the organisation, manage media interest, and more.

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.

Reputation recovery advice

If the worst has already happened. Our advisors lead a communications debrief, then help you repair trust, rebuild staff morale and demonstrate accountability after the crisis.

Custom-designed for your organisation.

Every engagement starts with a conversation, not a templated plan. We design your program around your organisation’s stakeholders 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
1

Scoping conversation

We understand your stakeholder landscape, potential crises, and the wider context of your organisation and industry before presenting our program recommendation.

2

Crisis strategy

The way your organisation communicates in a crisis can be more impactful than the situation. Your team learns the typical pattern of a critical incident, how to respond, and what’s at stake.

3

Plan design

Our team creates a crisis communication plan and supporting documents to address your specific identified risks, stakeholders and capability gaps.

4

Ongoing support

We are your trusted partner in communicating through crises if they arise. Available on-call when calm and considered advice is needed.

A strong crisis response earns credibility.

25+

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

100%

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

6

Expert crisis advisors with backgrounds in senior journalism and communications
Health Workforce Queensland logo
Health Workforce Queensland logo

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

Designed to fit your leaders and your situation.

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

Reputation Management Program

A comprehensive program covering crisis communication strategy, spokesperson preparation and simulation exercises. Delivered across the leadership team before an incident occurs.
Trainer presenting to a seated group with laptops in a bright training room

Crisis Communication Plan

Our advisor creates or reviews your crisis communication plan. We then develop a custom set of supporting messages, media holding statements, Q&A responses and more.
Woman writing notes beside her laptop at a desk while drafting a plan

Frontline Staff Awareness Program

Lift capability in leaders who manage frontline administrative staff and their teams. Covers relevant sections of your communications plan and recommended responses to media and public enquiries.
Staff wearing headsets working at computers in an open-plan office

Live Crisis Support

When a crisis requires immediate attention. We move quickly to advise you on strategy, communications and relationship management.
Two executives in hard hats on a worksite, one pointing ahead

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

Ready to safeguard your organisation’s reputation?

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.

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