Experience

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  Allied press limited

  Dec 1986 - Jun 1995

  Journalist

  Worked for the Otago Daily Times, Southland Express, Ensign, Greymouth Evening Star. Additionally took a six-month sabbatical in 2017 and worked in sunny Central Otago as the chief reporter of the Central Otago News, community newspaper.

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  Department of conservation (doc)

  Jan 1995 - Jan 2001

  Communications team leader (west coast conservancy)
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  Canterbury district health board

  Mar 2001 - Jun 2002

  Communications officer
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  New zealand cricket

  Jun 2002 - Sept 2008

  Public affairs manager
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  Hutt valley dhb

  Sept 2008 - Jan 2010

  Director of communications (national projects)
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  Ministerial review group health

  Jun 2009 - Sept 2009

  Report editor/ strategic advsior (short term secondment)
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  Ministry of health new zealand

  Jan 2010 - Dec 2011

  Principal advisor (national health board)
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  Southern district health board (new zealand)

  Dec 2011 - Sept 2015

  Executive director of communications
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  Freelance/contract

  Jan 2014 - now

  Freelance journalist

  Working part-time in Lebanon, Jordan, and Southern Turkey to highlight the plight of Syrian Refugees living in refugee camps close to the Syrian border, for the Otago Daily Times and other New Zealand publications. Work examples on my blog www.humanrightsnewsdaily.com and Steveaddisonjournalist on Facebook.Covering the massacre at Christchurch mosques as a contracted contributor to The National, Abu Dhabi's major English language daily newspaper, and contributing court news and research to the Washington Post.Author of When the Bombs Stopped Falling - a book aimed at teenage readers on the lives of Syrian refugees, living around the Syrian border. Show less

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  Columba college

  Jan 2014 - Jan 2017

  Chair

  Became the chair of the Board of Trustees of a recently integrated former private girls school offering education from Year 1 to 13 and boarding on campus. The school had issues merging the culture of the former private school with the integrated model, which played out in the media with accusations of mgt bullying and a call from teacher unions for the Board to be replaced with a commissioner. On becoming chair worked hard with all stakeholders to agree a strategic plan and a way forward that developed a more positive culture. Was unanimously re-elected to the role as chair three times by the board and then re-elected to the board in the following three yearly parent election. Show less

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  Freelance

  Sept 2015 - now

  Brand and communications professional/ specialist in crisis management

  Focused on strategy, communications, developing brands, media training and crisis management. As a consultant I have provided freelance PR counsel to organisations as diverse as Rocket Lab, Enviro-Mark Solutions, Pegasus Health, Synlait, Cadburys, the Dunedin City Council, Hydroworks, and the Westport flood recovery. I have provided crisis advice and media training in industries as diverse as sport, health, dairying, and conservation. www.addisoncrisismgt.com

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  Anderson lloyd

  Mar 2016 - Jan 2017

  Head of brand, marketing and communications (fixed term contract)

  In-house fixed term contract to develop a brand strategy for Anderson Lloyd including developing a communications and marketing framework and aligning internal communications and organisational culture to the brand.

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  Manaaki whenua - landcare research

  Oct 2017 - Jun 2019

  Communications manager

  Managing communications and leading the communications team for a leading Crown Research Institute focused on the environment and sustainability.

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  Pegasus health

  Mar 2020 - now

  Head of brand communications and digital

  Heading brand, communications, events, and digital, and leading selected strategic projects for a primary care organisation delivering health care to a population of 500 000 people and a range of services to health organisations throughout New Zealand. (Leading 3 direct reports and a wider team of 16).