Communication & media management
I can help manage routine media work as well as contentious, sensitive or fast-moving issues.
- Media relations and enquiries
- Media monitoring
- Issues and crisis communication
- Media releases, briefings and key messages
Communications • Political Strategy • Public Affairs
Clarity forthe momentsthat matter.
I help organisations navigate difficult political, policy and industry issues and communicate clearly with members, government, the media and the wider public.
Keith DrainCommunications & political consultant
15+ yearsworking across communication, campaigns, marketing and organisational issues
Research people can useclear papers, submissions, briefings and messages for decision-makers
Political and industry experienceworking with member organisations, government, stakeholders and the media
What I bring
Political insight, clear advice and work that gets done.
Political and communication problems are rarely fixed by better wording alone. You need to understand the issue, the people involved, how decisions are made and what you are trying to achieve.
I get across the detail, identify what matters and help develop a practical way forward. That can involve political advice, research, strategy, advocacy, media work or helping an organisation put the right structures in place.
How I can help
Strategic advice and practical support.
I can help with a specific project, an ongoing communication need or an issue that requires extra capacity and an outside perspective.
Research & analysis
I work through the detail and turn it into information that organisations and decision-makers can use.
- Policy and issue research
- Consultation papers and submissions
- Stakeholder and audience research
- Reports, briefings and recommendations
Communication, political strategy & planning
I develop realistic plans that are clear about who needs to be reached, what needs to be said and what needs to happen next.
- Communication strategies and reviews
- Political and advocacy campaign planning
- Government, stakeholder and member communication
- Evaluation and improvement
My story
Experience across politics and industry organisations.
Most of my career has been spent working in politics and industry organisations, where communication, policy, governance and competing interests often come together.
Politics and public issues
Working in complex and closely scrutinised environments
My political experience includes organising campaigns, supporting candidates, coordinating teams and volunteers, and communicating on issues under public scrutiny. It gave me a practical understanding of how decisions are made, how different audiences respond and why clear structures and responsibilities matter when an organisation is under pressure.
Industry organisations
Representing industries, members and their concerns
I have held senior roles with national industry organisations, working across media, member communication, government relations, policy and major campaigns. My approach is straightforward: understand the evidence, accurately represent the concerns of members and give government, the media and other stakeholders a clear explanation of the issue.
Rural perspective
A strong interest in rural and regional issues
I have a particular interest in issues affecting rural and regional Australia, including agriculture, animal welfare, firearms laws, regional services and regulation. I have worked on contentious issues that can be difficult to navigate, including helping industries respond to extremist activism. My approach is to understand the facts, explain the practical impact and make sure industry and regional perspectives are properly heard.
Selected work
Clearer structures. More useful evidence.
These anonymised examples show the type of work I undertake and how I approach complex organisational and industry issues.
01
Organisation building and governance
Building the foundations of a political organisation
The brief
A political organisation brought me in to review and strengthen its governance and operational foundations.
The work
I reviewed its constitution from start to finish, identified gaps and unclear provisions, and helped reshape the governance arrangements so they were more practical and better suited to the organisation's future needs. I also prepared fact sheets and practical guides for members, supported the organisation and coordination of its AGM, and developed member communications, executive communications and governance materials.
The value
The work provided a clearer and more practical foundation for members and executives, while helping the organisation prepare for growth and future challenges.
02
Survey design and reporting
Making industry performance data more useful
The brief
For a 2025 regulator performance survey within an industry organisation, I designed and implemented the survey process, ran the survey, and collected and collated the data.
The work
I reviewed what the report measured and how the information was structured. I introduced new metrics and developed clearer, more accessible ways of presenting the findings.
The value
The new reporting framework made the collected performance data easier to navigate, compare and understand.
Experience
Experience with real issues, real audiences and real consequences.
My background includes industry associations, political campaigns, member organisations, digital marketing, publishing and events. I currently work across communication, research and policy for a national industry organisation.
View my LinkedIn profileInsights
Looking beyond the headline.
Insights will bring together my thinking on rural policy, industry issues, communication and governance.
It will include practical observations, explanations of difficult issues and ideas that may help organisations communicate more effectively.
Rural policy
How government consultation, regulation and public policy can better account for regional conditions and practical experience.
Industry issues
How industries can explain operational, regulatory and reputational issues clearly to members, government and the wider public.
Communications
How to communicate credibly when an issue is complex, contentious or under public scrutiny.
Governance
How constitutions, decision-making processes and clear responsibilities help organisations operate effectively.
Current lines of inquiry
Questions worth examining carefully.
- How can regional voices be properly heard when communities and stakeholders are widely dispersed?
- How can an industry organisation make the same evidence useful to members, government and the public?
- When does a governance problem become a communication problem?
Let’s talk
What is the issue you need to make clearer?
Tell me what you are dealing with, who is involved and what you need to achieve. I will ask the necessary questions and help you work out a practical way forward.
Contact Keith