The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance and the Walkley Foundation jointly host an annual public affairs program that brings communications professionals together to tackle contentious issues facing our media.

Public Affairs in the Nation's Capital

The landscape of communication is changing, as new digital tools and techniques develop and revolutionise the way we interact with and access information.

The Walkley Foundation brought together some of Australia’s top thinkers and strategists for its annual Public Affairs Conference. This two-day program was an important professional development and networking forum for media advisors, public affairs, and communications and public relations specialists.

For a full rundown of the Public Affairs Conference look at our live blog of the event, click here.

Event Details

Date: 5-6 September

Location: National Press Club (5 September) and National Convention Centre (6 September)

Key Topics
  • The Great Debate: Whose fault is it anyway:  is there a leadership vacuum? And, if so, who should take the blame? We pit pollies against journos to argue the toss.
  • The new public affairs toolbox: the new tools and techniques of communications and how to use them effectively to get your message across.
  • Case Study: Clean Energy Future Campaign
  • Govt 2.0 and the effect of changes to FOI in the public affairs sector.
2011 Speakers
  • Allan Asher, Commonwealth Ombudsman
  • Kate Bradstreet, Senior Director Communications and Public Affairs Branch, Department of Climate Change & Energy Efficiency
  • Tom Burton, Media & Communications Director, ACMA
  • The Hon. Peter Dutton MP, Federal Shadow Minister for Health and Ageing
  • Malcolm Farr, Chief Political Writer, news.com.au
  • Dr. Alan Hawke, former Departmental Secretary
  • David Imber, Account Director, Essential Media Communications
  • Greg Jericho, blogger
  • Chantell Johnson, Digital Marketing and Communications Coordinator, St. Vincent de Paul Society NSW
  • Kylie Johnson, Kylie Johnson Media
  • Hank Jongen, General Manager, Communications, Department of Human Services
  • Senator The Hon. Kate Lundy, Parliamentary Secretary to the Prime Minister and Parliamentary Secretary for Immigration and Citizenship
  • Sandi Logan, National Communications Manager, Department of Immigration and Citizenship
  • Markus Mannheim, Public Sector Informant, The Canberra Times
  • Professor John McMillan, Australian Information Commissioner
  • George Megalogenis, The Australian
  • Yolanda Saiz, Communications Manager, St. Vincent de Paul Society NSW
  • Lenore Taylor, Sydney Morning Herald
  • Craig Thomler, Govt 2.0 advocate
  • Senator The Hon. Penny Wong, Federal Minister for Finance and Deregulation
  • Julie Posetti, Canberra University