RESUME:           ROBYN HOLLAND

   

MOBILE                                 0409 781192

 

EMAIL                                    robyn@robynholland.com.au

WEBSITE                                 www.robynholland.com.au

 

 

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY - AT A GLANCE

 

2009                          Communication Strategist, Gold Coast City Council (www.goldcoastcity.com.au)

                         Tutor, Newswriting & Ethics; Media Relations, Griffith University.

2002 – 2009             Senior journalist, John Campbell Communication & Marketing, Gold Coast. (www.jccm.com.au)

 

2008                           Communications Officer, Public Affairs, Qld Health.

                              Tutor, Media Relations, Griffith University.

     

1997 – 2001             Freelance journalist. Wrote articles, copy and media releases for various Australian magazines, websites, agencies and public relations companies.

                                    My first book, Australians: the people and their stories published by Simon and Schuster in Dec 2000.         

1991- 1996               Media Liaison Officer,  Queensland Police Service,  South Eastern Region.

                                     

1990 - 1991              Freelance journalist (Gold Coast).

           

1988- 1990               Journalist, The Sydney Morning Herald.                     

 

1987 - 1988              Journalist, The Sun, Sydney.

 

1987                           Cadet Journalist, The Sutherland Shire Pictorial News,  Miranda, Sydney.

 

KEY STRENGTHS

 

Effective communicator, both written and spoken 

Self-motivated and self-disciplined  

Excellent interpersonal skills

Experienced Interviewer – able to elicit relevant information 

Reliable, conscientious, enthusiastic and tenacious 

Ability to work to tight deadlines

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE - IN DETAIL 

 

•••As a Communication Strategist (casual) for Gold Coast City Council, I researched and wrote media releases on Council projects and issues, organised photo opportunities, handled daily media enquiries and managed media issues. I also edited copy for a range of Council publications, including fact sheets, websites and brochures. 

•••At Griffith University, I tutored in Newswriting & Ethics in first semester and again in Media Relations in second semester.

••• In the latter half of  2008, I tutored in Media Relations at Griffith University on the Gold Coast. This is a second year course aimed at Communication and Journalism students. In the same year, Queensland Health assigned me to a five-month communications project at the Carrara Health Centre, involving the organisation of a Ministerial opening and a Community Open Day; identifying media opportunities, writing ministerial briefs and media releases. 

 

•••  As a senior journalist for John Campbell Communication and Marketing (www.jccm.com.au) on the Gold Coast, my work includes writing media releases, feature articles, company newsletters, brochure and website copy for a range of clients. These clients have included Bond University, Lismore Council, the New England North West Tourism Organisation in NSW, the Australian Technical College-Gold Coast, the Gold Coast Medical Association, the Tom Roberts Festival, Lismore Herb Festival, the Federal Government, KingÕs College at UQ, Trinity Lutheran College, The Tweed Heads Bowls Club, the Newell Highway Committee and a range of others. Working as part of a team, I am involved in editorial projects, media strategies, publicity campaigns and event and destination marketing.

 

My writing has been published in a wide range of publications, including NSW and QLD newspapers, magazines and websites.

 

On certain jobs, my media releases/stories have been run verbatim, most often those for Tourism New England North West.  

 

••• In 2006, I voluntariily researched and wrote a book for the 125th anniversary of Gilston State School entitled Giiston State School: A Selected History.  Working with a graphic designer, I managed the project from start to finish.

 

The same year a couple of my stories appeared in New Idea magazine. 

 

••• In 2001, my articles appeared in Voyeur (Virgin Blue airlines) magazine and Travelling Life (Ansett airlines) magazine, as well as those magazines mentioned in the next par. I wrote a series of travel articles for the NRMA's travel web site, and again researched and wrote the material for a Where Else But Brisbane supplement.    

 

••• In 2000, I wrote my book "Australians: the people and their stories" which was published by Simon and Schuster in November. I continued writing magazine articles, with my work appearing in: Australian Good Taste (AGT) magazine, Australian Country Experience magazine and Aussie Post.  On a casual  basis, I also researched and wrote material for Amanda Stubbs Communications, a Brisbane-based public relations firm. For this firm, I wrote the entire contents of a newspaper supplement entitled Where Else But Brisbane.

 

•••  In 1999, I spent the year travelling around Australia in a caravan with my husband and two children. It was a working trip, so we sold articles as we travelled, as well as researching for our book.

 

••• In 1998, I wrote primarily for Aussie Post magazine, a national weekly publication about Australian people, places, and issues. It is AustraliaÕs longest running magazine.

            I wrote a number of feature articles for The Associated Press of America, the biggest newspaper wire service in the world. AP provides material to 7,000 newspapers around the globe.

            I also wrote personal profiles for Body Glow magazine, a health and lifestyle journal.

            In 1997, I wrote regular feature articles for For Me, a national womenÕs magazine, published by Pacific Publications; Aussie Post; and

some occasional news stories for The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald.           

            In May/June 1997, I assisted with some editing/rewriting on Lisa CurryÕs health and fitness book Get Up and Go, released in 1998.

            I also wrote on a casual basis for John Campbell Communication and Marketing as mentioned previously.

 

•••     As Media Liaison Officer for the South Eastern Region Police between 1991 and 1996,  I responded to  intense media demands on police in this area. I was the first regionally-based media officer and established new communication systems and protocols between police and journalists on the Gold Coast and in Logan.

            Duties in this position included writing media releases, organising press conferences, handling daily media enquiries, assisting police at major incidents, writing scripts for short television segments, publicising police events, teaching media skills to police, speech writing, organising major police events such as station openings, and dealing with any media related demands on the Gold Coast and Logan Police.

            As a police representative, I also participated on community planning committees for annual events, including Schoolies and Gold Coast Drug Awareness Month.

 

•••    As a freelancer in 1990/91,  I wrote articles for The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and two Gold Coast glossy colour magazines, Gold Coast Business News  and Living in Paradise.  Also did some casual reporting for the Gold CoastÕs major daily newspaper, The Gold Coast Bulletin.

 

•••   On The Sydney Sun,  I covered police rounds and general news, and produced special weekly suburban liftout sections.

 

•••      After completing my journalist cadetship with The Sydney Morning Herald, I reported for general news, police rounds,  and education. Wrote for Agenda - a daily features section,, Metro (Arts and Entertainment), The Guide (Television), Good Living (Lifestyle). Wrote and edited a daily back page gossip column, TodayÕs People; and Column 8 - the daily institution of the SMH.

 

 

EDUCATION

 

1982 then                             Macquarie University.

1984 - 1986                          Bachelor of Arts: Major - English Literature.

                                   

PERSONAL DETAILS

 

 

ADDRESS:                              Gold Coast.

AUSTRALIA

 

                                                Married to Steve Holland, professional news, features and sports photographer. 

Three children.

REFEREES

Amanda Noonan

Manager, Public Affairs, Gold Coast Health Service District

Queensland Health

07 55198733

0414 407103

 

John Campbell

Director, John Campbell Communication & Marketing

07 55611399

 

Dr Jane Johnston

Griffith University, Senior Lecturer

07 5552 8227