ACC

In June 2016 ACC was named Government Department of the Year http://business.scoop.co.nz/2016/06/07/trans-tasman-2016-departments-review/. This followed a Public Relations Institute Award for Government PR in May.

Oversight of 23+ staff and contractors providing full set internal and external communication services. Provided strategic communications, marketing and digital communications advice and delivery. Worked successfully to ensure a more positive presence in the mainstream media. Helped resolve public relations difficulties with the ACC 167 claims privacy form and problems from initial errors in the new Vehicle Risk Rating Scheme. Established the Corporation’s social media function in 2014, one of the first in Government to be formed based on a clear strategy. In 2014 ACC’s Corporate Comms team won two International Assn of Business Communicators Awards for it’s levy consultation programme. In 2015 the shapeyouracc interactive web microsite saw the number of levy submissions double.* Sponsorship was also a key component of ACC’s communications and engagement offerings. The portfolio was revised into a tiered approach during Michael’s tenure. Tier One partnerships included the annual Attitude Awards and Paralympics “Road to Rio” programme, tier two involved business awards and tier three provider and profession conference and event support. In 2016 a community event engagement programme was also added.

*N.B. In May 2016 Michael and two of his staff – Laura Barlow and Gemma Bevan won the PRINZ Government PR category award for an entry entitled: ‘Helping New Zealanders play a part in shaping ACC’. In their entry the judges commented: “This entry reports on a well planned and executed project that was conducted professionally and could inspire other government agencies to follow its lead and engage customers in government agency’s decisions.”