Hear from Attendees
From the IABC Wellington President: Make Wellington your own kind of cool
Click here to hear from IABC Wellington President & Chair of the FUSION20 Conference Committee, Chris Dutton.
About the Regional Conference
FUSION is a conference organised by IABC APAC for business communicators in the Asia Pacific region, one of the most culturally and geographically diverse regions in IABC. Our goal is to connect communicators across APAC and the world to inspire, create connections, foster best practices, and promote leadership in the communications profession.
Why should you attend #Fusion20?
There are three compelling reasons why attending #Fusion20 is the right move for you. They apply whether you’re at the beginning of your career or a seasoned senior leader. Click here to learn more.
Business Case Letter
Click here for a letter that outlines the business case for attending the IABC APAC FUSION20 Conference. It is designed to assist you with requesting funding from an employer to help you attend. Simply tailor the information to fit your needs!
Keynote Speakers
Real Communication – Why we need it more than ever
In this opening keynote Gabrielle Dolan will explore our addiction to jargon and acronyms in business. She will discuss why we use them and the consequences it has on effective communication, including reduced audience engagement and retention. As communication professionals, Gabrielle will invite and sometimes beg the audience to become part of the solution in fighting this addiction…because if we can’t do it, no one can.
In this highly entertaining session, Gabrielle will also be covering:
- The four trends impacting on the way we communicate
- The hidden consequences of using jargon and unnecessary acronyms
- The role professional communicators play in the drive towards real communication
About The Speaker
Gabrielle Dolan is an International keynote speaker and best-selling author of 5 books, including Real Communication, a 2019 finalist for the Australian leadership book of the year.
A highly sought-afer keynote speaker, educator and author, Gabrielle has worked with thousands of high-profile leaders from around the world and helped countless of Australia’s top 50 companies and multinationals to humanise their communications – Telstra, EY, Accenture, VISA, Australia Post, National Australia Bank, ANZ, Vodafone and the Obama Foundation to name drop a few.
Bringing humanity to the way business people communicate isn’t just a career, it’s a calling. The ultimate expression of her passion for the cause is her Jargon Free Fridays movement/ global movement (jargonfreefridays.com).
In Craft We Trust
The rules have changed in today’s fast-moving, hyperactive, attention-deficit, socially-wired world. Today, more than ever, it’s about what you do, and how that shapes what they say. Matt Jones will join the dots between theory and practice, sharing his views on what makes for successful brand-building and communications in the 21st Century, and then showing how those principles have helped make Four Pillars Gin the world’s leading craft gin brand.
About The Speaker
Matt Jones is one of Australia’s leading strategists and storytellers when it comes to the intersections of the brand, business, leadership, experience, culture, technology, human behaviour and storytelling.
Matt has an eclectic background, combining economics, politics, brand experience and gin. From 2001 to 2005, Matt was Chief Political Adviser to the UK Conservative Party (the youngest person in the party’s history to hold that role).
In 2012, Matt founded his own consultancy, focused on applying creative strategy, storytelling and experience design to brand and business challenges for corporate, craft, start-up and social businesses. In 2013, Matt co-founded Four Pillars Gin, a craft gin business based in Healesville in Australia’s Yarra Valley. Matt takes the lead on building the Four Pillars brand and customer experience and has helped Four Pillars Gin become one of Australia’s fastest-growing and most admired craft businesses. In 2019, Four Pillars joined forces with Lion Australia and was also named International Gin Producer of the Year at the 2019 International Wine & Spirits Competition in London, the Oscars of the spirits industry.
Dining in the Dark: Exploring the Disability Employment Landscape
Dining in the Dark is a learning experience designed to help participants identify and mitigate unconscious bias and build inclusive leadership skills through practical application and facilitated discussion. The program begins with an overview of the disability community and the employment landscape. Participants then partner up and each have the opportunity to experience what it is like to be blind and to serve as a sighted guide during the course of a meal.
About The Speaker
Abigail is a communications manager for the Global Office of Culture, Diversity and Inclusion (CDI) for Walmart, where CDI’s mission is to create an inclusive culture for all associates, as well as customers in the store.
Culture + Reputation – The Challenge For Modern Communicators
The link between leadership, culture, change and reputation is strong and will only get stronger in coming years. How can an engaged workforce really help your reputation? Why do leaks happen? How can leaders help or hinder? This presentation will explore these questions, using the Four Rooms of Change® as the theoretical base, along with examples from across our region. It will pose questions for the audience to consider in the context of their own organisation.
About The Speaker
Angela Scaffidi is Head of Change at SenateSHJ, and she designs, implements and measures change programs for clients in the public and private sectors. She is an accredited user of the Four Rooms of Change®. She works with the methodology to help individuals, teams and organisations to understand and own their change experience and to take the steps required to achieve sustainable change.
She is co-chair of PROI Worldwide’s Asia Pacific region. She brings experience in management consulting, cultural change and reputation management.
The Politics of Community
The rise of social media has changed politics completely. Increased partisanship, prejudice and fear. Join Linda Clark as she cuts through the political turmoil, instability and uncertainty to discuss how New Zealand is managing the maelstrom.
About The Speaker
Linda is a Partner in the Kensington Swan government and regulatory and dispute resolution teams, with particular expertise in public law, regulatory issues, media law and defamation.
Linda was formerly a leading political journalist and she has an in-depth understanding of the New Zealand political environment. Linda is a board member of the New Zealand Book Council and the Wellington College board of trustees and a member of the NZ Police Independent Risk Assurance Committee.
How to survive, thrive and get your message out in the new world of work
Technology has and will continue to impact on the communications industry and communications professionals. Being prepared to maximise the opportunities change brings will be critical to future career success. This session will provide practical advice about how to survive and thrive in the next decade of work.
About The Speaker
EARS, HEART, MIND- Communications for a New Decade
As the disruption of industries and the tension around global issues like climate and conflict escalates, professional trajectories, traditional alliances and personal values are coming to a head for many across the globe. With these factors at play, ‘crisis’ conversations are entering the fray of daily life at work and at home. Sharing insights from a career in PR and Crisis Communications for institutions as diverse as airlines, high schools, prisons, telecommunications operators, police departments and think tanks, this presentation takes you through a fresh look at powerful communication where it matters.
About The Speaker
With an extensive background in media and crisis communications, Mahima is obsessed with bringing bright people together to find solutions to complex problems. Over the years she has worked in publicity and crisis communications for government, multilateral, private and non-profit organizations in a wide range of sectors in several countries in Asia, Europe and North America.
Her work portfolio ranges from commercial brands to social reform projects, think tanks, individual activists and institutions within the criminal justice system. This diversity in her work portfolio has given her unique insight into what it takes for people to put aside differences, overcome traumatic history and find a way to move forward individually and collectively.
Through her training programs she addresses the well-tested power of authentic communication when the stakes are high and outcomes matter. She has a special passion for working with social businesses as well as young people with the desire and potential to be changemakers within their families, communities, organizations and countries.
General Speakers
As speaker submissions are approved, detailed speaker information will be added to the section below.
Danielle Bond
Brand, Marketing & Communications Leader, Aurecon
AUSTRALIA
Courtney Lock
External Communications Lead, Aurecon
AUSTRALIA
Subhamoy Das
Marketing & Communications Leader
INDIA
Jessica Billimoria
Director, Diverse Audience Strategy, CultureVerse
AUSTRALIA
Loc Trinh
Director, Diverse Audience Engagement, CultureVerse
AUSTRALIA
Melissa Lee, MP
Member of Parliament
NEW ZEALAND
Guled Mire
Co-founder, Third Culture Minds
NEW ZEALAND
Loren Savage
Senior Engagement Advisor
WELLINGTON
Chlöe Swarbrick, MP
Member of Parliament
NEW ZEALAND
Ngaire Crawford
Insights Director, Isentia
NEW ZEALAND
Arrun Soma
Snr Comms & Engagement Professional
NEW ZEALAND
Aniisu Verghese
Director - Corporate Communications, Sabre Global Development Center
INDIA
Ross Monaghan
Lecturer, Deakin University
AUSTRALIA
Rhys Hurd
Manager, Channel Engagement, ACC NZ
NEW ZEALAND
Shaun Jones
Manager, External Engagement, ACC NZ
NEW ZEALAND
Maria Robertson
Deputy Chief Executive, Dept of Internal Affairs
NEW ZEALAND
Mark Stephens
Communication & Brand Positioning Strategist
NEW ZEALAND
Stuart Howie
Comms Strategist & Award-winning Author
AUSTRALIA
Mel Kettle
Strategic Communication Expert, Podcast Host & Author
AUSTRALIA
Alexis Chuah
Director, Dreamvast
MALAYSIA
Katherine MacGregor
Programme Manager, China New Zealand Year of Tourism, Ministry of Business, Innovation & Employment
Mairi Barton
Chief Executive, Pinch Yourself Communication
AUSTRALIA
Dr. Rijula Das
Plain Language Consultant, Write Ltd
NEW ZEALAND
Trevor Young
Principal Consultant, Digital Citizen Group
AUSTRALIA
Michelle Low
Marketing & Comms, Aurecon
SINGAPORE
Shane Hatton
Author, Trainer & Speaker
AUSTRALIA
Jane Kneebone
Head of Comms & Media for Diabetes Victoria
AUSTRALIA
Daniel Munslow
CEO, MCC Consulting
SOUTH AFRICA
Daniel Posavac
CEO, Bonsey Jaden
SINGAPORE
Sia Papageorgiou
Director, Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence
AUSTRALIA
Adrian Cropley
Director, Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence
AUSTRALIA
Jo Cribb
Consultant
NEW ZEALAND
Kent Lewis
President & Founder, Anvil Media
USA
Chris Saxby
Marketing & Comms, Aurecon
AUSTRALIA
Masterclass Sessions
Get Video Smart – The Business Video (R)evolution Is Here
Video is the missing communication skill of 2020 but outsourcing video is so 20th century! It’s time to get video smart. Agile, inexpensive DIY video is in. Revolutionise your relationship to video with 21st century strategies that use a smartphone and a smile to win trust and stop your organisation turning invisible in the digital age.
That 20th-century video – just standing behind the camera – is dead. 21st-century video for business is a seamless dance from behind to in front of the camera. You’ll learn that it’s nowhere near as hard as you imagined
The world is hungry for truth, feed it. In 2020, people tune into purpose and tune out to polish. Authentic videos made by authentic people with lumps and bumps and wrinkles are in demand.
Video is NOT the secret sauce, YOU are. If you teach, train, sell or serve in any capacity, video can help you reach your desired outcomes faster because it leads with your strongest asset … you.
Stop! Before you spend money on expensive cameras understand that the future of video is computational and the leaders in this new video are not traditional camera manufacturers, it’s the companies that make your smartphones.
About The Speaker
Julian Mather has seen the world through many lenses. Through a telescopic sight as an army sniper. Through the TV lens as a globe-trotting videographer for ABCTV, National Geographic and BBC. Through smoke and mirrors as a professional magician. He’s traveled far but his longest journeys have been from behind the camera to in front of it. From public servant to solo-preneur. From stutterer to professional speaker. He now helps people on their journey to creating 21st-century video: an essential business skills for the coming decade.
How to find and build your enterprise social muscles
Working ‘out loud’ is at the heart of the future of work. An enterprise social network can help, but simply turning it on is not a recipe for success. Like weight training in the gym, building enterprise social muscle requires a long-term commitment before you’ll see results. Rita will demonstrate practical steps communicators can take to help their organisations find their enterprise social muscles and deliver real business value through a social way of working.
Learn:
- why finding and using enterprise social muscle is about mindset and behaviour, not technology;
- the case for a social way of working, including identify business use cases beyond communications;
- how to apply Rita’s ‘social business cycle’ model in your organisation to help people build a social habit; and
- how to measure value and demonstrate return on investment through enterprise social.
About The Speaker
Rita is an experienced corporate communications practitioner and social media advisor, focused on helping organisations and their leaders be the most open, social and collaborative they can be
Event Tickets
Tickets are not currently on sale
Conference
Speakers
Please enter the password on the ticket page to see the special flat-rate speaker pricing (learn how). Speaker tickets include:
- Full 2 Days Conference Access
- 1x Welcome Reception Cocktails
- 1x Gala Dinner
Members of Affiliated Partners
A$ 999
- Affiliate / ProPartners rate
- Full 2 Days Conference Access
- Welcome Reception Cocktails
- Silver Quill Awards Gala Dinner
Masterclasses
IABC Members
A$ 325 for one class
A$ 585 for both classes
(Saver rate)
Members of Affiliated Partners
A$ 370 for one class
A$ 666 for both classes
(ProPartners Saver rate)
Standard Rate
A$ 482 for each class
Ticket Cancellation, Substitutions & Refund Terms
Members of partner / affiliated organisations require a password in order to qualify for special pricing on the ticket selling page. Registration rates are in Australian dollars. Please note Floktu payment processing fees apply. Registration will be confirmed by email when payment is made in full. If you require an invoice, please request by emailing us at iabcasiapacific@gmail.com.
What Attendees Have Said
Lol. You know it was an epic brainfood conference when folk are still tweeting it at midnight. Massive kudos @IABCAPAC and @iabcvic and all involved in #Fusion18. So. Many. Ideas. pic.twitter.com/fJdv9AjURL
— Jonathan Champ (@meaningbusiness) September 11, 2018
Day 1 of the #IABC #fusion18 Communicators’ Conference done and it was a cracker! Great speakers, great insights and a real challenge of communicators to build trust through leadership, diversity, listening, and good strategy. #IABCAPAC #IABCNSW #inspiringstuff pic.twitter.com/GcaBluw8Ne
— kerrie mcvicker (@kerriem) September 10, 2018
Absolutely compelling presentation from @GregsAnne on the dark side of the machine - we need to start a conversation if we are to serve society. @IABCAPAC #FUSION18 #BlackMirror compulsory viewing #ethics @IABC
— Jennifer Andrewes (@JAndrewesNZ) September 10, 2018
Fabulous first half of THE communicators conference here at #FUSION18 #createconnection #iabc @IABCAPAC @IABCNSW @iabcvic pic.twitter.com/JkfTUFtI8J
— Kieran McCann (@flat_caps) September 10, 2018
Venue & Accomodation
Conference Venue
Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
The Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa is New Zealand’s national museum, located in Wellington. Known as Te Papa, or ‘Our Place’, it opened in 1998 after the merging of the National Museum and the National Art Gallery.
55 Cable Street, Wellington – Directions & Location Map
Phone: +64 (04) 381 7000