EP#108: Let’s Talk Crisis Communications – with Tess Salmon

On this episode of the GovComms Podcast, contentgroup CEO David Pembroke speaks to a highly experienced media adviser and communications professional, Tess Salmon.

Tess is currently the General Manager of External Affairs and Communication at Western Sydney Airport. Before this she had roles as the Director of Media and Communication to Deputy Prime Minister Michael McCormack and Media Manager for the NSW Police Force.

In this conversation David and Tess discuss best practice communications during a crisis. Telling the story of how she responded on the spot to the Martin Place siege, where she was a media adviser at the time. Here she explains how it is important to stay calm and use your communications skills to instill confidence in other people.

Tess also explains in detail how the day of the siege played out and how this moment has impacted her and given her lessons that she has taken into her career.

Following on from this, Tess chats to David about her small business that she used to run, AUBE Communications, and what caused her to move from roles working in crisis communications to strategic communications instead.

In this episode Tess also discusses her previous work as a journalist and how she utilises her skills in this field in her work today.

David and Tess finish off their conversation looking at the work Tess is completing in the preparation for the new Western Sydney airport. How do you communicate the importance of this airport to such a wide audience?

Discussed in this episode:

• What can everyday communicators learn from crisis communications?
• How can communicators learn from journalists?
• The importance of learning from every experience within your career.

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