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GovComms Institute Team

GovComms Ep 170 Alfred & David

A podcast by contentgroup, GovComms explores our industry through conversation with industry greats, experts and innovators from around the world. Hosted by our Founder and CEO David Pembroke, we share with you insights from our years of experience and through the vast knowledge of our guests. Whether you’re an industry professional or just starting out, this podcast is a must listen.

EP#153: Climate Communication, Empowering Storytellers and Overcoming Misinformation

In this episode of GovComms, we are joined once again by Stephanie Speck, who is now the Head of Communications for the Green Climate Fund, for a conversation focusing on effective climate change communication.

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EP#152: Marketing Communication Careers, Stakeholder Engagement And Impactful Campaigns

This time on GovComms Podcast, we are joined by Andrea Garcia, a communication professional with over 15 years’ experience working for various organisations.

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EP#151: Climate Communication, Community Engagement and Strategic Storytelling

In this episode of GovComms Podcast, we are joined by Ruth Dewsbury, a communication strategist with more than 20 years’ experience in government communications in the Australian federal government. Her most recent role was as a Senior Director of Communications at the Department of Climate Change, ...

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EP#150: UK Government Communication Tactics, Disinformation and the Ukraine War

GovComms Podcast is back with brand new episodes. Our first episode of the season welcomes back Alex Aiken, the Executive Director for Government Communications in the UK, who was our very first guest when the podcast debuted in 2015 as the 'InTransition Podcast'. The landscape of government ...

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Digital Storytelling to Captivate Audiences with Tim Price (2022)

This week's episode marks the final episode of Govcomms 'From the Vault'. In this episode, host and CEO of contentgroup, David Pembroke, revisits his conversation with Tim Price, the Acting Director of Strategic Communications and Content at the Australian Federal Department of Prime Minister and ...

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Strengthening Democracy and Citizen Engagement with Sanjay Pradhan (2022)

This week on GovComms 'From the Vault,' we revisit our conversation with a special guest, the CEO of the Open Government Partnership, Sanjay Pradhan. Sanjay joined OGP in May 2016. Prior to joining OGP, he served as the Vice President for Leadership, Learning, and Innovation at the World Bank, as ...

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Communicating Humanitarian Crises with Osama Saeed Bhutta (2017)

This week on Govcomms 'From the Vault', we revisit our conversation with Osama Saeed Bhutta, who is currently the Director of Communications, Policy & Campaigns at Shelter UK. At the time of this conversation, he was the Director of Communications at Amnesty International.

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Communicating Public Health Risks with Clare and Alice Collins (2015)

Are you interested in public health advocacy? This week on Govcomms ‘From the Vault’, we revisit our conversation with Clare and Alice Collins, a mother-daughter duo who run Insight Communications- a multi-award winning agency specialising in communication management for cause, culture, community ...

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The UK Government Communication Service with Russell Grossman (2015)

Russell Grossman wears many hats; he was, and still is the Director of Communications at the Office of Rail and Road, an Executive Committee member and adviser to the Board.

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EP#173: Public Sector Content: Effective Strategies and Storytelling Tips

Buckle up for an episode packed with creativity, innovation, and a bit of storytelling magic! In this first GovComms Podcast of 2025, David Pembroke sits down with Andrew Parsons, a communication powerhouse with a knack for turning challenges into storytelling gold. From his humble beginnings as a ...

Read more

EP#172: The unmissable moments of 2024

What did 2024 teach us about communicating better? In this special 'Year in Review' episode, David Pembroke takes us through the stories, lessons, and ideas that made this year unforgettable. From LinkedIn storytelling tips with Stanley Henry to tackling climate anxiety with Ruth Dewsbury, this ...

Read more

EP#171: The AI Revolution in Comms

AI is shaking up the world of communications—are you ready? In this episode of GovComms, David Pembroke sits down with PR expert Stephen Waddington to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work. From streamlining tasks to offering new ways to tackle big challenges, Stephen ...

Read more

EP#170: Ubuntu and Storytelling: Building Relationships in the Public Service

What if leadership was less about authority and more about connection? Imagine a young boy in rural Zimbabwe, discovering the world through books borrowed from a modest village library. That boy is Alfred Chidembo, whose love for stories sparked a journey from his village to Australia, where he now ...

Read more

EP#169: Fighting Disinformation in Cities: Insights from the Global Response Playbook

As cities around the world grapple with a wave of disinformation, how can they fight back and restore public trust? In this episode of GovComms, David Pembroke sits down with Ika Trijsburg, leader of the Disinformation in the City project, to tackle this urgent question. Ika unveils the Global ...

Read more

EP#168: From Disaster to Dialogue: Crisis, Community, and Communication

What happens when disaster strikes? In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, crisis communication expert Michael Player shares his experiences managing some of New Zealand’s most significant crises, including the Rena oil spill and Pike River mining disaster. Michael gives us a behind-the-scenes ...

Read more

EP#167: Comms unlocked: insights on influence, ethics and a lasting career in Government

What does it take to navigate a decades-long career in government communications while navigating ethics, changing media landscapes, and building lasting influence? In this special two-part episode of GovComms, David Pembroke sits down with Michael Player, a communications veteran with nearly five ...

Read more

EP#166: The AGILE approach to digital advocacy: transforming communications

How can digital communication drive real-world social impact? In this episode of GovComms, host David Pembroke sits down with Nicholas Bruneau, a leader in digital advocacy and purpose-driven marketing. Nicholas reflects on how effective digital strategies can rally support and create change, ...

Read more

EP#165: Applying Behavioural Science to Fight Misinformation and Sustain Change

What does it take to change public behaviour and create lasting impact? In this episode of GovComms, David Pembroke explores this question with Sharon Rosenrauch, Principal Behavioural Scientist at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water. Sharon shares how small ...

Read more

EP#164: Building Trust and Enhancing Government Resilience

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, Adrian Brown, Executive Director of the Centre for Public Impact, shares his insights on the evolving role of government today. The conversation begins with an exploration of how governments are increasingly expected to be agile, responsive, and centered on ...

Read more

EP#163: Managing High-Stakes Events and Data Driven Government Communication

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke interviews Alison Senti, a strategic communications professional with a career spanning both public and private sectors. Alison shares her journey from hotel management and legal marketing to consulting at KPMG, and various positions ...

Read more

EP#162: Navigating Crises and Pre-bunking Disinformation

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke sits down with Bob Jensen, an expert in crisis communication with extensive experience managing major US disasters. Jensen shares insights from his personal and professional journey, highlighting how his background in chemical ...

Read more

EP#161: LinkedIn mastery, storytelling secrets and the key to social media success

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke interviews Stanley Henry, the founder and CEO of The Attention Seeker, a New Zealand-based content creation agency. Stanley shares his journey from growing up in South Auckland, working in hospitality across the globe, to leveraging ...

Read more

EP#160: Climate Science and the Danger of Making Comms Too Simple

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke interviews Dr. Nathan Borgford-Parnell, the science lead at the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

Read more

EP#159: The Evolving Communication Profession and Human-Centred Approach to A.I.

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke welcomes back Jennifer Muir, a communication professional with over 25 years of experience in the field.

Read more

EP#158: Managing Sports Integrity, Media Transparency and Stakeholder Engagement

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke interviews Tim Gavel, a veteran sports broadcaster who has transitioned into the role of Media Director at Sport Integrity Australia, an Australian Government agency aimed at promoting safe and fair sports.

Read more

EP#157: Olympic Communications, Preparing for Paris 2024 and Lessons from Tokyo 2020

In this episode of GovComms, we are joined by Strath Gordon, Head of Public Affairs and Communications at the Australian Olympic Committee.

Read more

EP#156: Mastering Public Communication Strategies, Leadership and Campaigns

In this episode of GovComms, we are joined by Mardi Stewart, the Branch Manager of Campaigns and Strategic Communication at the Department of Social Services.

Read more

EP#155: Part 2 - Managing Crises, Building Media Capability and A.I. in Service Delivery

In this episode of GovComms, we continue our conversation with Bevan Hannan, General Manager of the Communications Division at Services Australia.

Read more

EP#173: Public Sector Content: Effective Strategies and Storytelling Tips

Buckle up for an episode packed with creativity, innovation, and a bit of storytelling magic! In this first GovComms Podcast of 2025, David Pembroke sits down with Andrew Parsons, a communication powerhouse with a knack for turning challenges into storytelling gold. From his humble beginnings as a ...

Read more

EP#172: The unmissable moments of 2024

What did 2024 teach us about communicating better? In this special 'Year in Review' episode, David Pembroke takes us through the stories, lessons, and ideas that made this year unforgettable. From LinkedIn storytelling tips with Stanley Henry to tackling climate anxiety with Ruth Dewsbury, this ...

Read more

EP#171: The AI Revolution in Comms

AI is shaking up the world of communications—are you ready? In this episode of GovComms, David Pembroke sits down with PR expert Stephen Waddington to explore how artificial intelligence is transforming the way we work. From streamlining tasks to offering new ways to tackle big challenges, Stephen ...

Read more

EP#170: Ubuntu and Storytelling: Building Relationships in the Public Service

What if leadership was less about authority and more about connection? Imagine a young boy in rural Zimbabwe, discovering the world through books borrowed from a modest village library. That boy is Alfred Chidembo, whose love for stories sparked a journey from his village to Australia, where he now ...

Read more

EP#169: Fighting Disinformation in Cities: Insights from the Global Response Playbook

As cities around the world grapple with a wave of disinformation, how can they fight back and restore public trust? In this episode of GovComms, David Pembroke sits down with Ika Trijsburg, leader of the Disinformation in the City project, to tackle this urgent question. Ika unveils the Global ...

Read more

EP#168: From Disaster to Dialogue: Crisis, Community, and Communication

What happens when disaster strikes? In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, crisis communication expert Michael Player shares his experiences managing some of New Zealand’s most significant crises, including the Rena oil spill and Pike River mining disaster. Michael gives us a behind-the-scenes ...

Read more

EP#167: Comms unlocked: insights on influence, ethics and a lasting career in Government

What does it take to navigate a decades-long career in government communications while navigating ethics, changing media landscapes, and building lasting influence? In this special two-part episode of GovComms, David Pembroke sits down with Michael Player, a communications veteran with nearly five ...

Read more

EP#166: The AGILE approach to digital advocacy: transforming communications

How can digital communication drive real-world social impact? In this episode of GovComms, host David Pembroke sits down with Nicholas Bruneau, a leader in digital advocacy and purpose-driven marketing. Nicholas reflects on how effective digital strategies can rally support and create change, ...

Read more

EP#165: Applying Behavioural Science to Fight Misinformation and Sustain Change

What does it take to change public behaviour and create lasting impact? In this episode of GovComms, David Pembroke explores this question with Sharon Rosenrauch, Principal Behavioural Scientist at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water. Sharon shares how small ...

Read more

EP#164: Building Trust and Enhancing Government Resilience

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, Adrian Brown, Executive Director of the Centre for Public Impact, shares his insights on the evolving role of government today. The conversation begins with an exploration of how governments are increasingly expected to be agile, responsive, and centered on ...

Read more

EP#163: Managing High-Stakes Events and Data Driven Government Communication

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke interviews Alison Senti, a strategic communications professional with a career spanning both public and private sectors. Alison shares her journey from hotel management and legal marketing to consulting at KPMG, and various positions ...

Read more

EP#162: Navigating Crises and Pre-bunking Disinformation

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke sits down with Bob Jensen, an expert in crisis communication with extensive experience managing major US disasters. Jensen shares insights from his personal and professional journey, highlighting how his background in chemical ...

Read more

EP#161: LinkedIn mastery, storytelling secrets and the key to social media success

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke interviews Stanley Henry, the founder and CEO of The Attention Seeker, a New Zealand-based content creation agency. Stanley shares his journey from growing up in South Auckland, working in hospitality across the globe, to leveraging ...

Read more

EP#160: Climate Science and the Danger of Making Comms Too Simple

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke interviews Dr. Nathan Borgford-Parnell, the science lead at the Climate and Clean Air Coalition (CCAC).

Read more

EP#159: The Evolving Communication Profession and Human-Centred Approach to A.I.

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke welcomes back Jennifer Muir, a communication professional with over 25 years of experience in the field.

Read more

EP#158: Managing Sports Integrity, Media Transparency and Stakeholder Engagement

In this episode of the GovComms Podcast, host David Pembroke interviews Tim Gavel, a veteran sports broadcaster who has transitioned into the role of Media Director at Sport Integrity Australia, an Australian Government agency aimed at promoting safe and fair sports.

Read more

EP#157: Olympic Communications, Preparing for Paris 2024 and Lessons from Tokyo 2020

In this episode of GovComms, we are joined by Strath Gordon, Head of Public Affairs and Communications at the Australian Olympic Committee.

Read more

EP#156: Mastering Public Communication Strategies, Leadership and Campaigns

In this episode of GovComms, we are joined by Mardi Stewart, the Branch Manager of Campaigns and Strategic Communication at the Department of Social Services.

Read more

EP#155: Part 2 - Managing Crises, Building Media Capability and A.I. in Service Delivery

In this episode of GovComms, we continue our conversation with Bevan Hannan, General Manager of the Communications Division at Services Australia.

Read more