Strategic Communications
& Public Affairs

Strategic
Communications

Advising on and planning your communications to get results.

Government and
Stakeholder Relations

Navigating Wellington to ensure decision makers learn from your insights. 

Crisis
Management

Ensuring your voice is heard when problems arise.

Public Relations
& Media Training

Providing the advice and training you need to confidently get your message across.

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Public Relations
& Media Training

In today’s media-driven world, effective communication is a must. Lillis Clark’s media training programme empowers individuals and organisations to excel in the ever-changing media landscape. 

Our comprehensive training programme, guided by industry experts boasting a combined experience of 20 years in radio, television and print encompasses a wide spectrum of media-related topics.  

From crafting your organisation’s message, adeptly conducting interviews across all platforms, and equipping your team for crisis management, Lillis Clark ensures your organisation is prepared for any media scenario.

OUR APPROACH

If your organisation needs to talk to politicians, decision-makers or the public, we can ensure you have the right plan to be heard.

We advise clients so they can speak with confidence to their audience. We achieve success by applying our combined expertise covering a multitude of sectors and industries to your engagement and communications strategy.

Our collaboration with clients involves matching the specific needs of the project with the most effective mix of channels and messages to persuade and influence your target audience.

Anna Lillis - Lillis Clark | Strategic Communications & Public Affairs | Wellington, New Zealand

Anna
Lillis

Anna Lillis is a leading government relations and media specialist with strengths in strategic communications, crisis management, stakeholder engagement and public relations. Anna brings a comprehensive approach to relationship management and communications and takes pride in ensuring consistent messaging and brand personality is applied across all activities.

Anna Lillis

Anna Lillis is a leading government relations and media specialist with strengths in strategic communications, crisis management, stakeholder engagement and public relations. Anna brings a comprehensive approach to relationship management and communications and takes pride in ensuring consistent messaging and brand personality is applied across all activities.

As director of public affairs agency Lillis Clark, Anna has consulted on and delivered public campaigns in a range of commercial, social, and economic policy areas. Anna has a strong understanding of the public’s perspective on effective communication and has years of experience dealing with both traditional and social media. Her experience includes working with the technology sector, the health sector, the tertiary and international education sector, the energy and resources sector, and primary industries.

Prior to establishing Lillis Clark, Anna worked for more than a decade in senior communications roles within Parliament for a number of senior Government Ministers. This work spanned policy areas as diverse as finance, economic development, education and skills, foreign affairs, infrastructure, science and innovation, and industrial relations, and included leading the communications for the government’s Budget.

Kenny Clark - Lillis Clark | Strategic Communications & Public Affairs | Wellington, New Zealand

Kenny
Clark

Kenny advises business leaders on how to enact change by navigating New Zealand's political environment and communicating their vision to the public. As a government relations consultant, he works with private sector companies across the energy, infrastructure, aerospace, financial services and primary industries. 

Kenny Clark

Lillis Clark clients include multinational corporations, New Zealand-based listed companies, industry associations and not-for-profit organisations. 
 
Born and bred in Wellington, Kenny has worked in and around New Zealand's political scene for twenty years. Prior to founding Lillis Clark, he had inside experience working alongside senior ministers in charge of challenging portfolios including finance, transport, ICT, health, and tertiary education.

Erica Guy - Lillis Clark | Strategic Communications & Public Affairs | Wellington, New Zealand

Erica
Guy

Erica is an experienced media, strategic communications and public relations practitioner. She aims to provide communications advice and support to help organisations build and protect their reputation with all stakeholders. 

 

Erica Guy

Erica is an experienced media, strategic communications and public relations practitioner. She aims to provide communications advice and support to help organisations build and protect their reputation with all stakeholders. 

Joining our team in 2019, Erica has led campaigns for clients such as the successful Save Your Family Doctor Service campaign that raised awareness of the issues within general practice services across Aotearoa New Zealand. She has also helped support clients to raise their profile in the media and with stakeholder engagement, strategic communications plans and issues management.    

Prior to joining Lillis Clark, Erica worked inhouse as a senior communications advisor for Plunket NZ after having spent 10 years contracting from home for clients including FMG, Compass Health, Dairy InSight and the NZ Dairy Industry Awards.

A trained journalist, she has a background in provincial, daily and rural journalism before transitioning to public relations consulting. Working mainly in the private sector with clients including Fonterra, Ballance Agri-Nutrients, Contact Energy and the Chiefs rugby team she handled a variety of communications needs from media relations to crisis, stakeholder and event management. 

Erica seeks to build strong relationships with clients and deliver high quality work.

Oliver Couchman - Lillis Clark | Strategic Communications & Public Affairs | Wellington, New Zealand

Oliver
Couchman

Ollie is an experienced communications professional with a record of success in a variety of political and public sector roles. Building strong relationships is key to his philosophy both at work and in life more generally.

Oliver Couchman

Ollie is an experienced communications professional with a record of success in a variety of political and public sector roles.

Prior to joining Lillis Clark, Ollie worked as a senior communications advisor for the Ministry for the Environment, drawing on his legal and communications background to advise Ministers and senior leaders across a range of issues. Ollie has particular experience with resource management policy and severe weather response, previously leading the Ministry’s communications campaigns on resource management reform.

Ollie also has experience in political communications, having previously worked in the office of a senior Member of Parliament and for a political party’s communications unit.

Ollie is committed to delivering excellent outcomes, and building strong relationships is key to his philosophy both at work and in life more generally.

Outside of the office, Ollie is an avid traveller, keen cyclist and loves hanging out by the beach when Wellington weather allows!

Emily van Velthooven - Lillis Clark | Strategic Communications & Public Affairs | Wellington, New Zealand

Emily
van Velthooven

Emily van Velthooven is an experienced journalist and media consultancy specialist, with close to a decade of experience across television, print and digital platforms.

Emily van Velthooven

Emily van Velthooven is an experienced journalist and media consultancy specialist, with close to a decade of experience across television, print and digital platforms.

At Television New Zealand (TVNZ) Emily worked as a television reporter for 1News, the largest broadcast news network in the country, with a strong focus on health, legislation, trade unions, and breaking news.

Away from journalism, Emily was part of national and international coverage of the hugely commercial 2021 America’s Cup. Later that year, Emily also hosted New Zealand’s coverage of the Tokyo Paralympic Games.

Emily has since redirected her skills into media consultancy, strategic communications, and marketing. Having extensive experience on the other side of the camera, Emily has a strong understanding of the fundamentals that goes into telling a story. In the last few years, she’s advised and assisted a range of businesses both locally within New Zealand and in Europe.

Jannah Dennison - Lillis Clark | Strategic Communications & Public Affairs | Wellington, New Zealand

Jannah
Dennison

Jannah is a versatile writer and editor, covering both short and long-form content across multiple genres. She has worked in both the not-for-profit and the corporate sectors, supporting aspects of both internal and external communications ... 

Jannah Dennison

Jannah is a versatile writer and editor, covering both short and long-form content across multiple genres. She has worked in both the not-for-profit and the corporate sectors, supporting aspects of both internal and external communications. 
 
Jannah is experienced in content creation and has taken lead roles in developing material for client campaigns. She has managed events, is a specialist in creating long-form communications material and is an experienced interviewer and qualitative researcher. Jannah has an integrated and insightful communications approach.  

Charlotte Campbell - Lillis Clark | Strategic Communications & Public Affairs | Wellington, New Zealand

Charlotte
Campbell

Charlotte joined Lillis Clark in 2022 as the Office Manager. She deals with the day-to-day running of the office, handles a range of administrative duties, and offers support to Lillis Clark’s Directors and Contractors.

Charlotte Campbell

Charlotte joined Lillis Clark in 2022 as the Office Manager. She deals with the day-to-day running of the office, handles a range of administrative duties, and offers support to Lillis Clark’s Directors and Contractors.

Charlotte’s role also includes event management tasks on behalf of clients. She has supported a range of campaigns and events for clients during her time at Lillis Clark. 

Charlotte started her career at the Electricity Retailers’ Association where she worked as an Office Coordinator. In this role she worked closely with the CEO and supported the Board and working groups, giving her a good foundation for Office Management.

HELLO@LILLISCLARK.COM

Anna 021 683 282
Kenny 021 836 771

40 BOWEN STREET
WELLINGTON 6011, NEW ZEALAND

Lillis Clark

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