Kristen is an experienced media professional who has provided strategic media advice to senior executives of major organisations, Ministers and politicians.

She started her career as a journalist including nearly a decade in the Press Gallery at Parliament House, during which time she interviewed CEOs, Ministers and union officials and attended hundreds of doorstops and press conferences.

She now utilises this experience in delivery of training to provide participants with a strong understanding of the mechanics of the media interview and how to maximise performance and outcomes.

Kristen has also worked as a political press officer for a Federal Senator. This included speechwriting, public relations and media liaison. As part of this position, Kristen provided media advice and assistance to Federal and State politicians during two election campaigns.

In addition, Kristen has spent nearly a decade undertaking public relations, media management, strategic planning, workshop facilitation, lobbying, policy development and project management for high profile national organisations and government departments, including the Australian Medical Association.

Her long history in media relations has made Kristen a respected advisor to organisations seeking to increase their media profile, deliver positive key messages about their achievements and manage their public image during times of intense scrutiny.

Since joining Talkforce Media and Communications Strategists as a Partner, Kristen has provided media and communication training to organisations, developed and implemented media strategies to raise client's public profiles, composed marketing plans, written winning submissions and undertaken facilitation of strategic planning workshops.

Kristen holds a BA in Journalism and tertiary qualifications in business management.

Chris spent two decades forging a successful career in communications and media management before joining Talkforce Media and Communications Strategists.

He is an award-winning communicator, with a track record in the design and delivery of integrated national communications campaigns, using his public relations, media management, social media and marketing skills to great effect. He has significant leadership experience, coming to Talkforce Media and Communications Strategists from the Australian War Memorial, where he was Head of Communications and Marketing under Dr Brendan Nelson AM.

He brings to our clients a wealth of knowledge on all aspects of media, public relations and communications strategy, planning and facilitation, including the integration of social media into successful media and communication campaigns.

He began his career as a television journalist with Channel Ten, before branching out into public relations for the ACT’s Emergency Services Agency where he honed his media and PR skills on the frontline of emergency management. Since then, Chris has undertaken roles in criminal and civil justice, national security, mental health and crisis management, working for both the government and not-for-profit sectors. This includes media advisor roles for Federal Ministers as well as senior executive positions in several peak industry bodies.

He now specialises in bringing these skills to our clients; helping them design and develop integrated strategies, build and improve their media liaison and interaction skills, public relations nous and social media management. Chris is an engaging presenter and enjoys sharing his knowledge through training and facilitation.

Chris has a First-Class Honours degree in television journalism from the University of Canberra, and recognised training in leadership, strategic management, public relations, change management and governance. He is also the Deputy Chair of the Canberra Youth Theatre Company Board.

David commenced his career as an on-air radio personality in provincial South Australia. He held a variety of senior management roles, and then became Chief Executive of radio stations in provincial South Australia, Adelaide and Sydney.

He ran large metropolitan stations, 5AA Adelaide and 2DAY FM Sydney and also worked for Kerry Packer’s Consolidated Press for two years, representing the Channel 9 Network and Mr Packer’s stable of radio stations and magazines in Adelaide.

In 1988 he moved to Canberra as General Manager of FM104.7 and 2CA. He became Chief Executive of the Canberra Tourism and Events Corporation in 1994. His responsibilities at the Corporation embraced the promotion of the National Capital both within Australia and overseas, the provision of visitor services to tourists within the city, specialist advice to Government on tourism issues and the management of Canberra’s major events.

He has travelled on official government delegations to China, Hong Kong and Japan, and visited Atlanta three times as chairman of a New South Wales Tourism Olympic committee focusing on driving the benefits of the Games into regional Australia.

In July 2000 David joined his partners in the national training and consultancy company, establishing a Canberra office that ultimately became Talkforce Media and Communication Strategists. The company specialising in ‘advanced communications skills development’ who train the executive teams and staff of some of the biggest corporations in the country.

David also consults to a number of organisations in the field of communications, marketing, public relations and media strategies.

David has a Master of Business Administration and tertiary qualifications in business administration and marketing. He is also a Certificate 4 Trainer, accredited in DISC, ELP and TLP programs, and Emotional Intelligence physiological evaluation. David has just completed a PhD in political communication, focusing on the office of the Prime Minister of Australia and the processes and skills used by John Howard to communicate with the voting public, and coordinate the government's messaging across all agencies.

In 2011 David received an Order of Australia (AM) for services to the community of the ACT, particularly through the promotion of tourism, and in roles with a range of business, charitable and health organisations.