About Amber
Walkley Award winner, author and self-confessed communications addict
Empowering Australian professionals in media and business communications
Amber Daines – Australia’s most agile business communications expert
I’m obsessed with communication. Always have been.
I started interviewing friends and family in the mid-80’s using my trusty electric blue boom box and tape deck. I wrote, designed and self-published my first magazine at eight. Then I hustled to sell it in the playground.
I‘ve always been a media consumer and contributor.
I’ve worked in many forms of communication production throughout my career. I was originally a daily news journo for print newspaper and business magazines, which took me across the Asia Pacific and the UK. At 22, I won a prestigious Walkley Award for excellence in group newspaper journalism during the Asian financial crisis of the late 1990s (yes, aeons ago).
I’ve also been an on-air TV reporter and consulted as a PR and media relations expert to hundreds of well-known Australian brands in the business and charitable sectors. Combined with my experience in online communications, this gave me the reputation of being Australia’s most agile business communications expert.
Today I collaborate with clients who want to amplify their messages, be heard, and really make a difference.
Outside of work, I’m a keen art collector, embrace the chaos of raising two boys, and sit as a non-executive Director on a number of Boards. Away from the tools, I have traded my marathon running gear for Spin lycra outfits, read a tonne of books and am busy shepherding two awesome tweenie and teen sons as they navigate life (includes a lot of time on soccer fields).
Custom communications consulting… because it’s not a one-size fits all solution
I launched my original business, Bespoke Communications (now Bespoke Co.), in 2007 with a single client and $1,000 in the bank. My goal?
To deliver custom communication solutions for small, medium and large organisations, helping them refine and succinctly convey their message.
Why? Because every brand is different and so, too, are their needs.
The world of media, though, is opaque and a challenge for many people.
Fast-forward 16 years and I’ve become one of Australia’s most agile consultant in both traditional and digital media, public relations, crisis communications and the personal brand communications space.
I work with Founders, CEOs and Executives to deliver C-Suite media training and Business leadership presentation skills.
My clients span all industries – from renewable energy to finance– and include big and small businesses, start-ups, entrepreneurial and not for profit fields.
Beyond PR consulting and podcasting courses, I also deliver award-winning bespoke media interview and crisis communications training and coaching programs Australia-wide (having trained over 6,000 speakers and media interviewees since in 13 years, to be exact!)..
Many talk the talk, but the evidence speaks for itself
Clients: Clients past and present include AECOM, AMP, Westpac. Sydney Water, Deloitte, Strata NSW, Carers Australia, Australian Science Innovations, Law and Justice Foundation of NSW, Origin Energy, Scentregroup, Deloitte, W Hotels, AGSM, Macquarie University, Finity, and Maximus International – just to name a few!
Awards: I won the 2020 AI Influential Businesswoman’s Award as Best Business Communications Specialist (Media Training).
Also was a 2021 Ausmumpreneuer B2B Service Business winner.
I’m a four-time nominee in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards and was a National Finalist in the 2015 Flying Solo Business Awards. I’m also a Walkley Award-winning journalist for outstanding business media reporting covering the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis.
Qualifications: Currently completing a Masters in Environmental Business Management & Sustainability at Newcastle University.
BA Communications (UTS, Sydney), majoring in Journalism and Asia Pacific politics. A Masters of Arts from the University of New South Wales. A Graduate Diploma in East Asian Art Theory from the University of London. A Certificate IV in Workplace Training & Assessment (Train the Trainer) (UTS). A member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Podcast: My weekly podcast ‘The Politics of Everything’ has had over 3 million downloads globally, in five years and all run on a shoestring. It’s all about the rockstar content. My Kajabi course can show you how to do the same!
Publications: I’ve published two books, both of which are best sellers (Well Said: How to be heard in Business and Generate Real Influence and Well Spun: Big PR and Social Media Ideas for Small Business). I’ve had PR and media industry related articles published globally. I’m also an industry commentator, MC, guest speaker and business presenter for clients Australia-wide.
Outside of work, I’m a keen art collector, embrace the chaos of raising two boys, and have 2017 spent time as non-executive Director on a number of Boards and hold regular Advisory Board positions.
Amber holds a BA (Communications) from the University of Technology majoring in Journalism and Politics, a MA from the College of Fine Arts (UNSW), and a Graduate Certificate in South-East Asian Arts from the University of London. A firm believer in life-long education, she is currently studying Environmental Sustainability and Business Management at the University of Newcastle, with a goal of working with more businesses and their people who are also committed to making the planet better for all.
Causes
Beyond fine wine, everything French, my family, creative arts, and always dreaming big, here are some specific causes and organisations that make my heart sing. Some are pro-bono clients and others are philanthropic causes I sponsor.
These organisations deserve an extra special shout out:
Amber’s passion and ability to unpack ideas
Managing the Media was a really concise, hands-on workshop that made all the difference to how I plan and execute my ideas for media interviews, whether they be online, print or broadcast. Amber’s passion and ability to unpack ideas targeted at my level was valuable and memorable.
Susan Elias
https://www.marsh.com/au/home.html
Amber has played a key role…
Amber’s in-depth media training sessions have helped build the confidence of a number of AECOM’s technical leaders. Enabling typically camera-shy engineers to deliver clear, concise and impactful comments despite facing challenging and emotionally charged situations. She’s played a key role in equipping a number of our leaders to protect and enhance our brand in the marketplace.
Director, External Affairs Australia New Zealand, AECOM
Johnny Sollitt-Davis
Amber’s guidance and input …
IFAW has worked exclusively with Amber Daines as our media trainer since 2012, for a number of high profile media campaigns. Our media spokespersons have learned invaluable media interview techniques and mastered their own authentic style with her guidance and input.
Rebekkah Thompson-Jones
https://www.ifaw.org/au
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