Upcoming Events
Wine & Insights: Whose Crisis Is It Anyway?
Join us in our interactive crisis comms workshop and learn the secrets from the experts in this exclusive event presented by IABC Victoria and FTI Consulting, and with the participation of DLA Piper.
Third-party breaches and incidents are among the most complicated and most common crises organisations face today. FTI Consulting and DLA Piper have worked together on some of the most complex real-world incidents, and one thing is always clear: every incident response requires a village. Legal, comms, tech and ops all bring different lenses to the problem, and it's those perspectives in tension that help organisations make the right call.
This event will cover:
What does an effective incident response actually look like, and who's really in charge?
How do legal, communications, technology and operations teams work together under pressure?
What makes third-party breaches so uniquely complex and so common?
What should you do if you are the third-party provider managing your customers' concerns?
How can you better prepare your organisation before a crisis hits?
Ticket costs:
Free for IABC members
25% off for IABC Victoria Lite members
$70 for non-members
*(All prices exclude Eventbrite fees)
Members can bring a friend for free!
To access this offer, simply register via Eventbrite using your IABC registered email address as promo code, then select 2 tickets under the "IABC Vic Member" option.
Spaces are limited. Register for your spot today!
SPEAKERS:
India Bednell, Senior Director, Strategic Communications, FTI Consulting
India specialises in Crisis, Cyber, and Corporate Reputation communications, providing strategic counsel to organisations looking to protect and grow their operations and increase influence. Over the past 10 years, she has worked with a wide range of multinationals, ASX-listed companies, Australian startups, public sector and industry organisations. With core expertise in media relations and strategic communications, India brings deep experience in crisis management and preparedness, cybersecurity and data privacy incident response, and media and presentation training.
Sarah Birkett, Privacy, Data and Cyber Security Lawyer, DLA Piper
Sarah is a senior member of the privacy, data and cyber-security team at DLA Piper. Originally from the UK and based in Australia since 2011, she regularly advises clients on the application of Australian privacy laws across a wide range of scenarios — from startups and overseas entities establishing operations in Australia, to complex data storage and transfer arrangements and privacy risk management. Sarah also assists clients with the management of cyber incidents and data breaches, including advice on the notifiable data breach regime and broader cybersecurity obligations. She is part of DLA Piper's global data protection team, regularly working with colleagues to design and implement multi-jurisdictional compliance programs.
Accessing your IABC Victoria member discount:
To access the member discount on Eventbrite:
Access the Eventbrite page
Click 'Get Tickets'
In the 'Promo code' field, enter the email address associated with your IABC membership
Select the correct ticket price and finalise your purchase
Please contact events@iabcvic.com.au if you need assistance.
Behind the scenes: Lessons from comms leaders
When Former Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne, Sally Capp AO, was invited to deliver IABC Victoria's 2025 Deb Ganderton Oration, she brought three of her most trusted communications advisors with her. You told us you wanted to hear more from their experiences and to dig deeper into their lessons learned ‘behind the scenes’, so we've invited them back for a breakfast panel!
Whether you’ve attended last year’s event or not, this event is open to all and will include fresh insights and perspectives from comms leaders at the top of their game.
We’re delighted to welcome back:
Rebecca Skelton, Chief Customer Experience and Communications Officer, City of Melbourne
Ben Hart, Founder & Managing Director, Fireside Agency (Former Chief of Staff to Former Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne Sally Capp AO)
Stephanie Waters, Founder & Director, Mulberry Marketing (Former Communications Advisor to Former Lord Mayor of the City of Melbourne Sally Capp AO).
This session will offer practical insights and bold ideas to help all communication leaders, including:
how to leverage social media to build a movement
building a leader's brand and their confidence in finding their voice, and
implementing big election promises.
Proudly presented by IABC Victoria in partnership with Hope & Glory.
This is a complimentary event but you must register as places are strictly limited.
IABC Victoria presents End-of-Year Mingle & Quills in partnership with Workvivo by Zoom
Join IABC Victoria for our End-of-Year Mingle & Quills, proudly presented in partnership with WorkVivo by Zoom. Celebrate a year of connection, growth, and communication excellence with peers from across the industry. Enjoy drinks and canapés as we toast to the wins of 2025 and honour the Victorian Quill Award winners.
2025 IABC Victoria Deb Ganderton Oration
We look forward to welcoming our Orator, Sally Capp AO, and to seeing the IABC Victoria community gather together to honour once more the life and legacy of Deb Ganderton.
Power Hour: Rethinking Internal Communication Leadership
IABC Victoria, in partnership with Staffbase is pleased to present an online Power Hour on rethinking internal communication leadership. This panel discussion will explore how internal communication can be elevated to a boardroom priority, reshaping how organisations engage, inform and inspire their people.
IABC Winter Mingle
Join us this July for the IABC Winter Mingle, an evening of connection, conversation, and community.
Whether you're a seasoned communicator or new to the industry, this is your chance to meet friends and expand your network while enjoying a cozy winter gathering with fellow communications professionals.
WEBINAR: Crucial Lessons from the TikTok Election
Join Shannon Walker, Managing Director at FTI Consulting and David Imber, former IABC Victoria President and regular ABC Spin Doctors commentators, for a post-election Power Hour webinar to discuss the must-know insights for communications professionals from the 2025 Federal Election campaign - Australia’s first “TikTok election”.
Wine & Insights: The Power and Potential of a Minority Government
Critical insights for communications and corporate affairs leaders.
End-of-Year Mingle and Quills
A night of celebration and connection with the IABC community and communication professionals across the sector, presented by IABC Victoria and Streem.
Senior Leaders Panel: The Future of Comms
Keep your finger on the pulse and join us for an exclusive IABC Victoria webinar in partnership with Staffbase to explore 2025 trends and the future of comms - and learn how to influence your senior leadership.
2024 IABC Victoria Deb Ganderton Oration
We look forward to welcoming our guest speaker Joe Calafiore and to seeing the IABC Victoria community gather together to honour once more the life and legacy of Deb Ganderton.
How to write a winning Gold Quill entry
Learn how to put together a winning Gold Quill entry with Sia Papageorgiou FRSA, FCSCE, SCMP
Webinar: What can professional communicators learn from political communication?
Join David Imber, Immediate Past President of IABC Victoria, as he shares valuable insights from his presentation at the IABC World Conference during our upcoming online Power Hour.
Crisis Communication Masterclass
This full-day, in-person masterclass by Bastion Reputation will increase your knowledge, skills, and understanding of crisis communications and reputation management, to ensure you or your team are prepared for the challenges that may lie ahead.
Webinar: Cognitive Biases in Communication
In this online Power Hour, globally-renowned speaker Catherine Fisette delves into biases and their impact for communication professionals.
Crisis Communication: From Chaos to Clarity
Join IABC Victoria, in collaboration with our event partner, FTI Consulting for a presentation and panel on crisis communications.
March Mingle
We're looking forward to welcoming you back to our first mingle of the year, where you can connect and network with your fellow communications professionals.
Webinar: Accelerate your Communications Career in 2024
In the dynamic world of communications, keeping up with industry trends and prioritising your professional development are key for success. Join IABC Victoria and our panel of industry experts for an engaging virtual session, where you will hear insights and strategies for advancing your career.
End of Year Mingle
Join IABC Victoria, and its partner Staffbase for a special end of year mingle at the River's Edge, located within Melbourne's Waterfront development. A night that promises to be an evening of joy, laughter and great conversations with communications professionals across the sector.
Quills Gala and Deb Ganderton Oration
Join us in collaboration with our esteemed partner, Staffbase, for the communications, marketing and corporate affairs night of nights!
Communicating authentically on social issues
How does a business decide what social issue topics speak out about? How can they do it with authenticity? And how do they maintain their stance once the media spotlight has moved on? Join us as we learn from global trends and local leaders who have set inspiring examples.
GCCC Information Session
Hosted by Sia Papageorgiou, this session will provide you with everything you need to know about GCCC certification options and how to prepare for the exam.
Fusion 2023 – Bali Conference
Fusion 2023 is your opportunity to connect with your regional communications community, learn from inspiring speakers, and celebrate the amazing cultures within our region. Join us in Bali, Indonesia, from 4-5 September for an event you won’t forget!
Harnessing Google Analytics 4 to Demonstrate the Effectiveness of Communications
This exciting session will help communicators learn how they can harness the power of GA4 for more effective communication programs. This bite sized session is designed to be thought provoking and practical for communicators across all sectors.
Winter Mingle
Join us for an evening of networking and festivities at the IABC Winter Mingle event, brought to you in collaboration with Staffbase.
Strategic Communications in an Age of Increased Noise, Channels and Business Complexity
In an age of increased channels, noise and business complexity, organisations face a communications challenge like never before.
Join us for this power hour in which we will be joined by a panel of communication heavy hitters. This event is made possible thanks to our partnership with Staffbase.
Autumn Mingle / Cocktail Reception
Are you ready to experience the networking event of the year? Look no further than IABC Victoria's Autumn cocktail reception! Presented by Staffbase and featuring an impressive array of communication professionals from the private, public, and NFP sectors, this is the perfect opportunity to mingle with some of the brightest minds in the industry.