Farm boy to PR extraordinaire.
GUEST SPEAKER: Strahan Wallis
"What's a farm boy from Raglan, New Zealand, doing here?"
That's what PR industry leader Strahan Wallis has asked himself throughout his PR career as his PR roles took him around the world working in the UK, USA and New Zealand.
Over the years he’s found himself at a red carpet event where the Queen of England opened a James Bond movie; sitting in the members' lounge at Wimbledon watching the Nadal vs Federer final; sitting six rows from the stage at The Grammy Awards and more.
“These are all places my PR career has taken me and I’m so grateful for that!”
Strahan Wallis joins Heather and Nicola from the HMC team to talk about how the public relations profession has radically changed.
We discuss the specific skills PR professionals need to succeed in today's rapidly evolving industry and provide value to the organisations where they work.
This is PART ONE of a two-part conversation.
Strahan Wallis
GUEST SPEAKER
Early in 2024 Strahan Wallis stepped down as chief executive of creative agency and public relations firm Clemenger Group New Zealand, following nearly three years in the role.
Prior to that he spent three-and-a-half years transforming communications firm Porter Novelli Los Angeles, where he was scouted for the role from Porter Novelli New Zealand. In LA, Strahan grew the business three-fold and brought on some very impressive clients, including The Recording Academy, the representative body for the US music industry. Strahan has also worked in PR in the UK.
Now, Strahan has established his own consultancy, Wallis&Co, specialising in public relations, agency governance, and executive coaching and mentoring. And he’s spending lots of time right here in the Waikato, at a place that is super special to him and his family in Raglan.
Heather Claycomb
HMC DIRECTOR
Heather Claycomb founded HMC in May 2004 driven by her passion to tell a great story and support Waikato businesses in making a difference. In 2019, her business evolved into a social enterprise which now donates its profits to her family charity, All Good Ventures.
Passionate about the PR industry, Heather has been involved in the PR Institute of NZ (PRINZ) in a regional leadership and governance capacity since 2013. She was elected to the position of Board Chair in May 2022.
Heather leads the team to help clients with crisis and issues management and has developed PR strategies and crisis response related to a wide range of subjects.
Born and educated in the United States, Heather earned her MBA from Lehigh University (Bethlehem, PA) in 1992 after receiving a Bachelor's degree in Marketing from Shippensburg University (Shippensburg, PA) in 1990. After several years working in sales and marketing with a division of Management Recruiters International, Heather established a marketing communications consultancy in Denver, Colorado before immigrating with her husband to New Zealand in 1999.
When she's not at work or volunteering, she's at her bach in the Coromandel, on the tennis court or golf course.
Nicole Lee
SENIOR ACCOUNT MANAGER
Nicola returned to HMC in February 2023 after brief hiatus to raise her young family. She brings with her more than 15 years of strategic PR experience in agency and in-house roles.
Nicola has worked across several sectors providing strategic communications planning and support including education, fundraising, health, consumer, agriculture, science, energy, local government and stakeholder relations.
Her key strengths include strategic campaign planning and implementation, digital PR, project management, stakeholder management and media relations. She is an adept writer and has helped many clients write successful award entries, including business and scientific research, and has a special interest in fundraising and community relations communications.