Your Board

IABC Victoria – Board Members

The Victoria Chapter is managed by a dedicated team of volunteers, who are communication professionals from a cross section of disciplines, backgrounds and talents. The board manages the day to day operations and administration and financials of the Chapter, representing the IABC at a local level.

The board consists of nine elected members voted by the members of the chapter annually. The board works very closely with the association across Australia, the Asia Pacific Region and at an international level, ensuring that our members get the most out of their membership.

There are also a number of volunteers who work with the board offering their time and energy on the many projects within the chapter, delivering greater benefits with belonging to an international association on a local level. Contact a board member

Meet your team of volunteers below.

Introducing:

Mirella Manganaro

President

Mirella is the IABC Victoria Chapter President for 2009-10. Mirella is employed as an internal communications manager for the Telstra Corporation and has been working as a communications professional for the last 14 years. Mirella is passionate about internal communication and has worked in many different aspects of the field including employee and change communication, strategic communication and security awareness. Mirella was also recently the chair of the Security Awareness Network Group – an industry forum involving members from a variety of Australia’s top 100 companies who come together to discuss communication and learning and development ideas within the corporate security industry.

Helen Taylor

Immediate Past President

Helen is the Immediate Past President of the Victoria Chapter having held the role of President during 2008-09. Helen has been working in the communications profession for the last nine years, working across communications disciplines and across industry, with the last six years focusing on Employee and Change communications where her main passion lies. This is notwithstanding the passion for the development and growth of the IABC Victorian Chapter with determination and focus to add more value to current members.

Julia Stokes

Treasurer

Julia is the 2009 IABC Victorian Chapter Treasurer and Communications Consultant for Shell Logistics, the Distribution subsidiary of Shell Australia. Julia has been in the communications profession for the last four years and has worked in other business disciplines both within Shell and the telecommunications and the advertising industry. Julia looks forward to forming a close working relationship with the Executive Board to develop and grow the association here in Victoria.

Jennifer Frahm (PhD)

Vice President

Jennifer has over 18 years experience in change management, communications and marketing in both the public and private sectors. She is the director of her own boutique consultancy (Jennifer Frahm Collaborations) that provides change management and communication services, as well as coaching and executive development programs. She is widely published as an author on change management and continues to lecture at local universities. Jennifer is a very keen volunteer with the IABC and will take on the role of Chapter President in 2010-11.

Jen Quilty

Professional Development

Jen is currently the communications advisor for the intranet at one of the big four banks, having also worked for top-tier law firms and financial services organisations. After working for professional associations, Jen Quilty knows that without volunteers, running these kinds of organisations becomes a very difficult exercise and expensive to members. By getting involved behind-the-scenes was one way to not only 'give back' but also share best-practice ideas and meet people with a common interest - communications!

Stacey Buchanan

Member Communications Chair

Stacey is an Internal Communications Manager for a Victorian Government Department. She is passionate about her 10 year career in government which has involved a variety of roles in IT support, training coordination, employee and crisis communication. During 2006 – 07 Stacey completed a Graduate Diploma of Public Relations at Deakin University and began volunteering on the IABC Board. She is thoroughly enjoying the role of member communications for IABC Victoria, ensuring members are aware of the benefits of their local and international membership with the IABC.

Pauline McGinnes

Membership Chair

Pauline is a Change and Communications Analyst. Pauline also has extensive knowledge in the sphere of information and knowledge management - gathered through a number of years in the information industry.

Elise Olney

Education Chair

Elise is the Internal Communications Manager at WorkSafe Victoria. With a diverse workforce operating from 13 offices around the state, employees are united in the organisation’s vision: Victorian workers returning home safe every day. Elise has worked in communications for over 15 years in a range of industries including advertising, health and insurance, in Australia and overseas. Her experience spans internal and external communications, in both the private and public sectors, and not for profit. Elise is passionate about strategic communications, in particular its role in engaging employees and managing change successfully in line with the organisation’s values.

Kate O’Donnell

Branding & PR Chair

Kate is an Account Executive for a boutique communications agency, Earth Visual Communications. After studying a Bachelor of Commerce (Marketing, Management, E-Commerce Management) at Deakin University, Kate packed her bags and headed to Europe to travel. After working for a multinational financial markets company in London, she realised her forte lay in marketing communications (not finance) and returned to Australia. Kate is thrilled to be a part of the IABC board and is excited at the prospect of further developing the Victorian Chapter of the IABC.

Rachel Edginton

Administration Chair

Rachael is a corporate communication professional with more than 15 years experience managing integrated communication functions for high-profile organisations. In 2006 Rachael founded PLUM Communication, a boutique agency providing traditional communication consulting services, as well as placing and coaching contractors within major communication projects. Earlier in her career, Rachael worked as a journalist for the Courier Mail, ABC TV and regional radio. Rachael then honed her skills as a professional communicator primarily within the FMCG, financial services and government sectors.

Non-Board Volunteers

Richard Roach

Brand & PR Volunteer

Richard manages internal communication for the Australian operations of Golder Associates Pty Ltd – a global group of consulting companies – reporting to the Managing Director and representing communication for the Asia/Australasia region. He has 16 years experience and has previously worked with organisations such as KPMG and Mercer. Richard is passionate about best practice employee and corporate communication, with a particular interest in the financial and professional services industries. He is a member of the IABC, Public Relations Institute of Australia and the Australian Institute of Management.

Paula Hurley

JobSpot Coordinator

Paula has a wide ranging background in marketing and business communications across various industry sectors, including book publishing, management consulting, IT, telecommunications and banking. Her current focus is on developing, implementing and managing corporate alumni programs. As someone who recognises the value of networking to identify work opportunities, she is pleased to be helping the IABC Victoria Board with a section on the website that promotes communications jobs available for members.

Jo Curkpatrick (ABC)

Public Officer

Jo has been active in IABC since the establishment of the first Australian Chapter in the mid 1990s. She is a former Chapter President, international Gold Quill Blue Ribbon Panel Chair and Excel Awards Chair, and has coordinated Asia Pacific Gold Quill Judging on a number of occasions. Jo is principal of Span Communication (Australia) Pty Ltd a business communication consultancy based in regional Victoria with a particular interest in rural and regional affairs, agriculture, environment and natural resource management. She is passionate about the value of communication to businesses large and small, and credits IABC and fellow IABC'ers for the professional development opportunities, knowledge and experience she is able to offer her clients.

Chris Dvoracek (ABC)

Accreditation Coordinator

Chris is the Director of Transform Consulting. She has 20 years’ experience as a communications consultant, specialising in internal communications and superannuation and employee benefits communications. Her expertise spans marketing, communication, HR consulting and change management – an unusual but effective combination. Chris is passionate about using a research-based approach and delivering measurable results. She is a four-time Gold Quill winner, 2007 Gold Quill blue ribbon panel judge and Accredited Business Communicator (ABC). Chris joined the Board because she shares IABC’s commitment to professional development and because it’s a great opportunity to work with and for like-minded professionals.

Bianca Smith

Events Volunteer

Bianca has many years experience across most areas of communications, recently working with membership organisations and research in not for profits in the financial services industry. She is a newcomer to the IABC and using her multi-disciplinary background to help the Board across all areas. In 2009, she completed RMIT’s Graduate Diploma in Public Relations and is moving straight into a Master of Communications with Griffith University.

Angela Boundy

Membership Volunteer

John Kenyon

Communications Volunteer

Warren Taylor

Finance Volunteer

IABC Victoria – International Representatives

Adrian Cropley (ABC)

Director IABC Executive Board (International)

Adrian is a Director on the International Executive Board of the IABC and on the editorial board of a number of industry publications. He was the 2007 Victoria Chapter President and is the Principal Consultant for Cropley Communications Pty Ltd. He has been very active in the Communications profession for the last 10 years. Adrian is a specialist in Internal Communication and Change Communication, and consults globally to number of major companies as well as being a sought after speaker facilitator & Author. He has served on a number of IABC committees globally and was named IABC Volunteer Chapter Leader of the Year in 2008.

Jacqui Rudd

Global Development Team - Pacific

Jacqui is Communications Director and partner in Idaho Design & Communication – a boutique creative design and communications agency that has been established in Victoria for 10 years – consulting in corporate and employee communications, internet strategy, PR, corporate social responsibility and, more recently, social media and website communications strategy. Jacqui has more than 20 years experience across the broad spectrum of corporate communication in both Australia and Asia and a strong command of the Japanese language. She has a Bachelor of Asian Studies from ANU, is a qualified fitness trainer, a passionate supporter of the Collingwood Football Club and a keen racehorse owner. She is also a member of AIM and AICD.

Melissa Dark

Asia Pacific Gold Quill Awards Coordinator, 2010 International Gold Quill Awards Vice Chair, 2010 World Conference Advisory Committee

Melissa is the Asia Pacific Coordinator for the Gold Quill Awards and this year is the Vice Chair of the awards at the international level. A past IABC Victoria Chapter President, she has 17 years experience in communication in organisations in the public and private sector. Melissa is the CEO of Melissa Dark and Associates, a consultancy specialising in internal communication and has presented at many conferences and other events in Australia and overseas. She is passionate about the development of young communication practitioners and has lectured at RMIT at both the undergraduate and postgraduate level.

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