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COMMUNICATIONS · MEDIA · ENGAGEMENT

I work at the intersection of complex information, organisations and issues that matter.

Drawing on more than 25 years in communications, media and engagement, I bring strategic thinking, editorial judgement and practical experience to challenging communication environments.

SENIOR COMMUNICATIONS, MEDIA & ENGAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL

NORTHERN TERRITORY, AUSTRALIA

01 / EXPERTISE

Where I bring value.

Experienced communication support for complex information, diverse organisations and consequential issues.

01

Strategic communications & public affairs

Communications strategy, executive and policy advice, speechwriting, government communications, public information, annual reports, corporate publications and regulatory documents.

02

Media, issues & crisis communication

Media relations, emergency and risk communication, issues management, complex technical content and editorial leadership.

03

Stakeholder & community engagement

Engagement across diverse communities and organisations, cross-cultural communication, partnerships and capability development.

04

Health & science communication

Health and science communication across public health, primary health care and emergency medicine, making complex information clear for the public.

05

Project & event management

Project and program management, training rollouts and event logistics for international forums, workshops and simulation exercises.

06

Training & coaching

Media training and spokesperson preparation, plus training in science, health, risk and crisis communication, misinformation and cross-cultural engagement. Explaining complex information. Developed and delivered programs and coaching for leaders, officials, doctors and nurses, lawyers, public health experts, community organisations and young people.

02 / BACKGROUND

Experience across sectors and borders.

Most of my career has been in communications, public affairs, marketing, media and engagement across government, public health, education and community organisations. I have headed communications in hospitals, public health and free-to-air television.

I started my career writing freelance articles and opinion pieces while studying, then worked as a radio and television news producer. Those years taught me to check facts, write clearly under pressure and anticipate how a story will land. I use those skills today across every channel, from media briefings to newsletters and video.

My work has since included public health and emergency responses, sensitive organisational issues and international health preparedness initiatives with partners across the Indo-Pacific. Much of it has been in health and science communication. I have worked alongside experts and spokespeople to communicate technical, scientific and medical information to the public, including diverse communities.

In June 2025, as part of the team at Australia's National Critical Care and Trauma Response Centre, I project managed and ran the event logistics for the Tonga Ministry of Health's first Public Health Emergency Operations Centre training and simulation exercise, in partnership with the World Health Organization Western Pacific Region (read the announcement, opens LinkedIn in a new tab). Later that year, I did the same for the GOARN Outbreak Response Leadership Programme in Bangkok, which brought together senior public health experts from 16 countries with WHO's regional offices for South-East Asia and the Western Pacific (read WHO's report, opens in a new tab).

Alongside my communications and operational roles, I have worked as a project manager, senior policy adviser, workforce development trainer leading program rollouts, and research manager.

I hold a Bachelor of Communication Studies, majoring in journalism, from Auckland University of Technology.

A capability statement or role-specific CV (resume) is available on request through the contact form.

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03 / PRESENTATIONS

Conference and webinar presentations.

  1. 6 June 2024Novotel Surfers Paradise, Queensland

    National Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisation (NACCHO) National Yarning Circle for Elder Care Support Program.

    Presentation: Northern Territory Training in Action.

  2. 11 November 2021Online

    International Association for Public Participation (IAP2A) Webinar, Keep on Engaging: Learnings from the Pandemic Part 1.

    Panel of engagement leads from the Australian health sector, with Nina Fromhold (Victorian Public Service), Amanda Stephinson (NSW Health) and Vienna Richards (Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance of Northern Territory).

  3. 7 June 2017Hotel Melia, Sevilla, Spain

    5th International Conference on Disaster Management and Human Health: Reducing Risk, Improving Outcomes.

    Case Study Presentation, Emergency Risk Communication: Lessons from New Zealand's Major Earthquakes 2011–2016.

  4. 22–23 May 2017Jupiter Hotel, Gold Coast, Queensland

    2017 Australian and New Zealand Disaster and Emergency Management Conference.

    Presentation: Practical Lessons in Emergency and Risk Communications Post-Kaikoura and Other NZ Earthquakes.

    Session Chair: Children and Trauma.

BEYOND WORK

Singing through the pandemic.

During my two years in Australia's COVID-19 emergency response, I sang with the ED Musos, a virtual choir of emergency department health care workers from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, joined on some songs by emergency department staff from the UK and USA. We never sang these songs in the same room. Each of us recorded at home, alone or alongside family, outside work shifts, and the production wove our voices together. These moments brought real joy, and a way to sing through the sadness and loss felt around the world.

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04 / PROFESSIONAL ENQUIRIES

Get in touch.

Open to selected senior communications roles, short-term contracts, defined projects and independent consulting engagements.

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VIENNA SENIMA RICHARDS

Communications · Media · Engagement

Privacy Policy · Terms of Service

© 2026 Vienna Senima Richards

This site uses Google Analytics.

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands across Australia and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

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Terms of Service

Effective date: 24 October 2026 · Version 3

These terms apply to viennarichards.com. By using this website, you agree to them. If you do not agree, please do not use the site.

1. Who I am

This website is run by Vienna Senima Richards, an independent communications, media and engagement professional based in the Northern Territory, Australia. In these terms, "I", "me" and "my" refer to Vienna Senima Richards.

2. Using this website

You agree to use this website only for lawful purposes and in a way that does not affect the rights of others or their use of the site. You must not:

  • try to disrupt or interfere with the website’s security or performance

  • send spam, misleading information or harmful material through the contact form

  • copy, distribute or exploit the website’s content except as allowed below.

3. Content and intellectual property

Unless stated otherwise, all content on this website, including text, design and graphics, is owned by me. You may quote or share short extracts for personal or non-commercial purposes, with credit to Vienna Senima Richards and a link to this website. Any other use needs my written permission.

4. Contacting me

When you send a message through the contact form, please make sure the information you provide is accurate and yours to share. Please do not include confidential, sensitive or personal information about other people.

Sending a message does not create a working relationship or an obligation for me to provide services. Any role, contract or project will be agreed separately and in writing.

5. Products and services

I do not currently sell products or services through this website. If I do in future, I will publish the terms that apply to them before you buy.

6. General information only

The information on this website is general in nature. It is not legal, financial, medical or other professional advice. Please seek independent advice before acting on it.

7. Links to other websites

This website may link to other websites. I am not responsible for their content, security or practices, and visiting them is at your own risk.

8. Limitation of liability

To the extent permitted by law, I do not guarantee that this website will be error-free, uninterrupted or always secure, and I am not liable for any loss or damage arising from your use of the site or reliance on its content. Nothing in these terms excludes or limits any rights you have under the Australian Consumer Law.

9. Access from outside Australia

This website can be viewed worldwide. It is run from Australia, and you are responsible for complying with the laws that apply where you are.

10. Privacy

My Privacy Policy explains how I handle personal information collected through this website, including messages sent through the contact form and the use of Google Analytics.

11. Changes to these terms

I may update these terms from time to time. Changes take effect when they are posted on this page, and the effective date above will be updated.

12. Governing law

These terms are governed by the laws of the Northern Territory, Australia. Any disputes will be dealt with by the courts of Australia.

13. Contact

If you have questions about these terms, please use the contact form at viennarichards.com.

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VIENNA SENIMA RICHARDS

Privacy Policy · Terms of Service

© 2026 Vienna Senima Richards

This site uses Google Analytics.

I acknowledge the Traditional Owners and Custodians of the lands across Australia and pay my respects to Elders past and present.

VIENNA SENIMA RICHARDS Back to home

Privacy Policy

Effective date: 24 October 2026 · Version 4

This policy explains how I, Vienna Senima Richards, collect, use and protect personal information through viennarichards.com. I aim to handle personal information in line with the Privacy Act 1988 (Cth) and the Australian Privacy Principles, where they apply.

What I collect

When you use the contact form, I collect:

  • your name and email address

  • your organisation, phone or WhatsApp number and website, if you choose to provide them

  • the content of your message.

When you visit the website, Google Analytics uses cookies to collect information about how the site is used, such as the pages viewed, time spent on the site, your approximate location (city or country), the type of device and browser you use, and how you found the site. I see this information only as summary reports and do not use it to identify you.

My website provider may also automatically record basic technical information, such as your IP address and browser type, to keep the site running and secure.

Please do not send sensitive information, such as health details, or personal information about other people.

How I use it

I use the information you send me to:

  • read and reply to your enquiry

  • discuss roles, contracts or projects you have contacted me about

  • keep a record of our correspondence

  • understand how visitors use the website, so I can improve it

  • protect the website from spam and misuse.

I will not add you to a mailing list without your consent, and I will not sell or rent your personal information.

Who I share it with

I only share personal information when needed to run this website and respond to you, or when required by law. This includes:

  • my website and contact form provider, which hosts the site and delivers form messages to my email

  • Google, which provides Google Analytics

  • my email provider, which stores the messages I receive

  • regulators, law enforcement or legal advisers, where required or authorised by law.

Cookies and analytics

This website uses Google Analytics, which places cookies (such as _ga) on your device to measure how the site is used. It does not use advertising cookies.

You can block or delete cookies through your browser settings, or install the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on from tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout. The website will still work if you do.

You can read how Google uses this information at policies.google.com/technologies/partner-sites.

Storage outside Australia

My website and contact form provider is based in the United States. Google may process analytics information in the United States and other countries. My email provider may also store information on servers outside Australia. I choose providers with appropriate privacy and security safeguards.

How long I keep it

I keep enquiries only as long as needed to respond and to keep a reasonable record of our correspondence. After that, I delete them.

Security

I take reasonable steps to protect personal information from misuse, loss and unauthorised access, change or disclosure. No online system is completely secure, but the website uses an encrypted (https) connection and access to enquiries is limited to me.

Access and correction

You can ask to see the personal information I hold about you, or ask me to correct or delete it. Please use the contact form at viennarichards.com.

Complaints

If you think I have mishandled your personal information, please contact me through the contact form and I will look into it and respond. If you are not satisfied with my response, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner at oaic.gov.au.

Changes to this policy

I may update this policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with a new effective date.

Contact

For privacy questions or requests, please use the contact form at viennarichards.com.

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