Currie Communications

 22 June 2010

In late May, a group of young indigenous musicians created some fantastic rhythms to open the CRC Association’s 2010 conference in Alice Springs with a bang.

The Drum Atweme  group is made up of children from Alice Springs’ town camps. They play Afro-Cuban and Brazilian music, with a unique central Australian flavour. Currie, who works with several CRCs, sponsored the performance.

“The drummers were amazing, and a good metaphor for CRCs,” said Currie’s senior consultant Gabrielle Sheehan who witnessed the show.

“They gave delegates a subtle reminder of what can be achieved when people work hard, in harmony, towards a common goal.”

CRCs pursue solutions to major challenges faced by end users. There are currently around 50 CRCs are set up in diverse sectors such as manufacturing, agriculture, medical science and mining.

The CRC Association’s annual conference brings together researchers, educators and industry people to share information and insights on cooperative research. Gabrielle attended to find out the latest on the Australian Government’s CRC Program, to speak with Currie’s CRC clients and others involved with the program.    

In life-before-Currie, Gabrielle worked for the Dairy CRC so CRCs, with their unique communication challenges and opportunities, are close to her heart. 

Currie has worked with several CRCs including Future Farm Industries, Spatial Information, Bushfire, Sheep Industry Innovation, National Plant Biosecurity, CAST and Australian Biosecurity, and have assisted prospective CRCs with their funding bids.

For the young at heart, Currie has commissioned the Bedroom Philosopher, a local comedian and avid public transport fan to write a parody of one of his most popular songs, Northcote (so hungover).

The song, commissioned on behalf of public transport customer service agency Metlink http://www.metlinkmelbourne.com.au/ is called Hurtsbridge (so sober) and it contains loads of pop culture references and transport gags. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=39VVG29mscU.

Chalk stencils across stations and universities were sprayed to promote the song.

The song and stencils seek to create some buzz and excitement around four customer tools that have been designed by Metlink to help commuters save time across all modes of transport. They are the journey planner, the iPhone app, the mobile departure board and downloadable timetables.

The worldwide public relations network of Currie Communications (www.prgn.com) has announced the election of a new president.

Patricia Pérez of VPE Public Relations in Los Angeles, US, takes over the presidency of the Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) from José Luiz Schiavoni of São Paulo, Brazil-based, PR firm S2 Comunicação Integrada.

More than 1000 clients across six continents depend on the combined resources of the 40 independently-owned agencies in the PRGN network to deliver targeted public relations campaigns in more than 80 markets around the world.

Craig Little, a specialist in corporate affairs and strategic counsel, has joined the Currie team.

Craig has experience in corporate affairs in both the private and government sectors, including consulting to seek.com.au, Cadbury, Bic, Heinz, Visy, Toys “R” Us and Mitre 10.

Craig spent two years managing media and stakeholder relations at Transurban. His work included media and stakeholder management during the Burnley Tunnel accident in April 2007 and stakeholder and government relations for the M1 Freeway upgrade project.

Craig has also worked with State Government Ministers on stakeholder relations and mapping, issues & crisis management strategies, communication audits and formal speechwriting and policy statements across sectors such as infrastructure, motorsport, property and retail.

There are times when Currie’s skills are required to ‘put out fires’ so it’s only fitting that we are now working with the Metropolitan Fire Brigade (MFB)!

This time, however, it’s our expertise in communications auditing that is required. 

The aim of the project is to gain a thorough understanding of the communications tools and tactics in use at MFB and identify if there are any duplications or gaps that need to be addressed. 

With a multitude of education programs from SmokeBUSters to Operation Homesafe, multicultural communications and a growing social media presence, the MFB is delivering messages far and wide.

A new segment on ABC Radio which dissects the narrative from the nation’s political and business leaders features Currie Communications Managing Director, Mark Paterson.

The segment, entitled Blowflies and bulldust, exposes and unravels the public relations strategies and messages behind the stories and people making news headlines in rural Australia.

Click here to hear the recent segment: http://www.abc.net.au/rural/vic/

Currie has won the right to work with the Victorian Government for the next three years.

The Department of Treasury and Finance has chosen Currie as a member of the Marketing Services Panel, a register of approved public relations and advertising firms.

The highly-prized appointment means Currie is eligible to work with government departments and authorities. It is the second time Currie has been appointed to the panel.

In the past Currie’s government work has covered transport, roads, infrastructure, sustainability and environment, primary industries and community development.

Currie has marked 20 years in marketing communications with a gathering of past and present clients and staff at Melbourne’s tallest building, the breathtaking Eureka Tower.

Our first client, International Trucks, was represented by former MD Stefan Schneider and marketing manager Bruce McKee, the recipient of Currie’s ‘first-ever’ pitch.

“Our clients have been our lifeblood and many of them are now personal friends,” said Currie chairman and founder, Derek Jones. “We are proud of having worked for so many leading companies and a host of State, Territory and Federal government departments.”

The global reach of Currie Communications now covers Frankfurt, Germany, and Toronto, Canada.

Joining the ranks of Currie’s international network, Public Relations Global Network (PRGN) (www.prgn.com), are cometis AG, a financial services and corporate communications consultancy, and public relations agency Fantail Communications.

The agencies were admitted to the PRGN following a vote by members, including Currie, in New York.

Currie is the Australian affiliate for the PRGN, a network of 42 owner-operated agencies on six continents, with 800 people, 50 offices and revenues in excess of $US100 million.