
The burnout signs comms leaders miss. A funny thing happened at the Gallagher Comms Summit in June. I’d built a 30-minute session on leading through continual transformation. Confidence. Burnout. Leading. Three blocks, balanced timings. Burnout was meant to be the middle bit. It became the issue that the room kept coming back to. That told…

Twelve years ago, I wrote a town hall script that I’m still not proud of. It was clear. It was on-message. It was signed off by everyone who needed to. And when the CEO read it word for word, the room went silent — not in shock, but in the way that says we don’t…

In the world of communications, there is a distinct advantage to having a “newsroom heart.” For Hasan Patel, his career wasn’t built in a boardroom—it was forged at the BBC and Al Jazeera.

After 25 years at the strategy table, here’s why I finally went for Chartered status – and what it’s actually changed. There’s a version of this post where I tell you Chartership taught me everything I know. That would be a good story. It would also be completely untrue. I’ve been doing this for 25…

In our latest episode of The Comms Collective, I sat down with Sascha Gill-Chugh, Communications Manager at CAMFED, to unpack a career that has been anything but linear. From a law degree to leading award-winning global campaigns, Sascha is on a mission to change how the world sees international development.

Antonia May Cross, Director of Communications at Revolving Doors, challenges the notion of public apathy in campaigns, promoting evidence-based communication as a remedy. Her unconventional career path from homelessness to leadership illustrates her advocacy for autonomy in teams and strategic humility. She emphasises proactive narrative building and innovative campaign strategies.

In the second season’s first episode, communications expert Helen Crumley shares insights from her 20 years of experience, particularly her work with Kids Inspire, a charity supporting youth mental health. The discussion highlights purpose-driven PR, internal communications, resilience in the public sector, and strategic stakeholder engagement, offering valuable lessons for communicators.

The Comms Collective explores communications in the charity sector, highlighting how leaders effectively manage limited resources to drive impactful movements. Through interviews, five core principles emerge: empowering narratives, building trust, fostering internal community, prioritising advocacy, and leveraging innovation to engage supporters. These insights promote effective communication strategies for mission-driven organisations.

As 2025 draws to a close, I’ve been reflecting on what has undoubtedly been the most transformative year of my career.

Episode 8 features Purvy Patel, who originally started her career in the corporate world and moved to the charity sector, leveraging her transferable skills. She discusses the challenges of sector transitions, including budget constraints and the need for more creative communications.