Linda Sanders resume May 2016

1. Linda Sanders Phone: 027 471 5593
Email: linda.sanders@xtra.co.nz
Personal aims
I am looking for a challenging role that makes use of my range of skills and experience, is results-focused
and will make a difference. As a lateral and original thinker who understands the big picture, I am
empathetic, a good listener, have a community and stakeholder focus, can work across all levels of an
organisation and have networks in a wide range of sectors.
STRENGTHS AND EXPERIENCE
Media and
Stakeholder
- Extensive media, issues and stakeholder management experience
- Strong verbal and written communication skills
- Undertaken profile-raising for government, corporate and community
organisations
- Managed engagement with political, iwi, environmental and industry groups and
communities of interest in controversial areas
Management - Significant senior leadership experience in public and private sectors
- Managed change, including as a communications manager bringing together
three government agencies
- Managed significant budgets and teams
Political and
Strategic
- Extensive involvement with a wide range of Government entities as an employee,
a consultant and from a customer perspective as a corporate and through
involvement with community organisations
- Worked on Budget-cycle communications
- Familiar with managing Ministerial expectations and requirements
- Experience in government process, media, telecommunications, building and
housing, health, education, social development, justice, environment, mining and
resources, communications and consulting sectors
Commercial and
Leadership
- Analytical and commercial focus
- Board governance experience in a range of commercial and community
organisations
- Knowledge of financial/investor markets and extensive investor relations
experience in New Zealand and internationally
KEY ROLES:
2015 September-
present:
Communications
and Issues
Appointed for establishment phase of Issues Resolution Unit for Education
Infrastructure Service:
- Providing issues management and communications advice
- Developing communications tools and collateral
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2. Management
Adviser, Ministry
of Education
- Identifying improved stakeholder management techniques
2015 May-Aug:
Communications
and Stakeholder
Manager, MBIE’s
Business Number
programme
Managed lead up to launch of website and associated systems:
- Provided communications advice on media and stakeholder issues
- Liaised with other parts of MBIE and provided internal communications links
- Undertook communications planning
- Developed content for website
2015 Mar-May:
Special Adviser,
Education NZ
Provided support while manager seconded to Minister’s office:
- Researched stakeholder engagement opportunities
- Mentored team
2011-2015:
Corporate Affairs
Director, Chatham
Rock Phosphate
Developed full programme of stakeholder engagement, investor relations and
communications for start-up seabed mining company:
- Produced all media and investor communications, annual reports, website,
promotional literature, advertising, events etc
- Identified and managed comprehensive stakeholder engagement programme –
covering 50-plus iwi, environmental, government, industry, farming and community
groups
- Involved regular update visits over two years to key groups, including Chatham Is
- Gained respect of opponents: Environmental Defence Society said in media
release “Chatham Rock Phosphate principals have put an enormous amount of effort
into this project and to give credit where it is due, the level of interaction and
consultation with us has been exemplary.”
- Managed programme of investor events both in NZ and London
- Remain a board member - see Other Current Roles
2012-2014: Money
columnist for The
Listener
- Wrote a weekly column drawing on experience as financial journalist, editor,
senior manager, communications specialist and director.
2007–2010:
Consulting and
community
projects
Key clients included:
- Department of Immigration (business immigration programme)
- Telecom, an aviation company
- A community health project (designed and managed stakeholder and media
programme - see Other Current Roles
2005-2007:
Communications
Manager -
Department
Building and
Housing
Appointed to recruit and manage communications and stakeholder relationships
during challenging establishment phase of new department
- Recruited and managed team of 10, plus contract and consulting staff, drawing
together teams from three government departments
- As part of senior leadership team supported the department’s huge work
programme in a politically sensitive area
- Developed organisational systems and policies
- Managed complex relationships with Government Ministers
- Built relationships and senior managers of partner organisations
- Developed joint websites with Consumer and BRANZ
- Moved relationship with leaky homeowner group from negative to
neutral/positive
2003-2005:
Consulting,
including:
- Ministry of Justice: coordinated a major communications initiative for Budget
- Department of Child Youth and Family Services: managed media relations at time
of crisis, involving sensitive handling issues relating to life-threatening situations
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3. under considerable time and other pressures and in hostile media environment
- Telecom: stakeholder management involving contentious issue at annual
shareholders meeting - preparation for directors and close coordination of large team.
2001-2003:
Telecom Mobile
Public Relations
Manager - Mobile
- Member of leadership team managing communications strategy
- Led communications for launch of Mobile’s 027 CDMA network and new brand
- Responsible for sponsorship and brand, issues management, public relations and
strategic communications planning
1996-2001
Telecom
National Media
Relations and
Shareholder
Communications
Manager
- Telecom’s primary media spokesperson, including live television and radio
- Worked closely with chief executives Sir Roderick Deane and Theresa Gattung,
chairman, board and senior leadership
- Member of management team that led 50 communications staff
- Built strong media team of six, managed budgets and projects
- Focused on building positive profile, managing issues ranging from corporate
restructurings to customer service, new technologies, financial and corporate events
- Thrived in ongoing change management environment
- Communicated new stakeholder management approach for mobile phone sites to
remove antagonism and build collaborative approach with communities
1992-1996 Evening Post - Business Editor
1989-1992 Baldwin Boyle Barnett Public Relations Agency - Senior Consultant and General Manager
1980-1989 Dominion/Sunday Star Times - Deputy Business Editor and Economics Editor
1976-1980 – general reporting roles on community and provincial newspapers.
OTHER CURRENT ROLES
1989 - present
Director and past
Chair of Aorere
Resources
Aorere is an NZX-listed venture capital investor in mining projects ranging from
developing a nickel mine in Vietnam to green-fields exploration in China and a
shareholding in Chatham Rock Phosphate.
2008 – present
Director and past
Chair Chatham
Rock Phosphate
(see Roles)
NZAX-listed CRP aims to be the premier supplier of direct application phosphate to
the New Zealand and global agricultural sector.
2010 - present
Trustee Golden
Bay Community
Health Te Hauora
O Mohua Trust
- Joined steering group in 2009 to integrate health services in Golden Bay;
community hospital, medical centre and rest home
- Trustee since 2010 of owner of $9 million facility - oversaw construction, financing
and fundraising
- Devised and managed intensive stakeholder programme to achieve community
support
- Co-led highly successful fund-raising campaign ($1 million by community of 5000
people)
Relevant Education and Courses
 Mentoring for Diversity programme (selected by Institute of Directors to promote women as directors
on large boards) 2013
 Governance Development Programme through Institute of Directors 2013
 Regular media training, speech/presentation training, crisis/issues management training
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4.  Range of management training including Advanced Dynamics leadership programme 2005-6 and earlier
programmes at Telecom
 Creative Writing – Massey University 2004
 Measuring the value of PR 2002
 Corporate responsibility 2001
 Year 2000 preparedness training
 Investigative journalism – Open Polytechnic 1994
 Investment analysis – Otago University 1986
 Diploma in Journalism, Massey University (Wellington Polytechnic) 1976
Awards
 Asia 2000 journalism travel award to India 1996
 Westpac economic and financial journalism award 1986
 NZI Finance journalism award 1985
 Japanese Government goodwill travel award 1983
Professional groups
 Institute of Directors
 Straterra
 International Association of Business Communicators
 Network of Public Sector Communicators
Past Community Involvement
 Secretary Takaka Golf Club 2007 – 2012
 Trustee Golden Bay Community Gardens Trust 2004 – 2009
 Chair, trustee Golden Bay Workcentre Trust 2007- 2015
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