As 2021 kicks off with all its hopes and opportunities to regain some of our lost freedom, there remains a lot of uncertainty., The roll-out of the vaccine may just be the only gateway ahead of us to truly move forward. Whilst we have been adapting to a new hybrid...

For the first time in living memory the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) was unable to choose one singular word to encapsulate the year that was, but rather expanded its annual selection to a whole list, describing it as the year that has left us all speechless. Quite...

When most people picture a career in public relations, they assume it to be associated with glamorous consumer product launches and influencer-endorsed campaigns for prestige industries like fashion, beauty and entertainment. However, public relations in fact...

If you scroll through your socials, I’m sure you’ve come across many 2020 memes and videos designed to help us find humour in the worst of times. A quick Google search and you’ll find a wrap up of the best. You can even find all kinds of T-shirt designs to make it...

It goes without saying that this year has had its challenges. Bushfires, coronavirus, lockdown, Brexit, a global recession, Prince Harry leaving the Royal Family, and that’s only the half of it! I’m sure none of us could’ve pictured this as we sipped champagne at New...

When World Mental Health Day came around on October 10, its significance took on greater importance this year perhaps more so than other times.   Back in July, the Mentally Healthy 2020 survey found that the media, marketing and creative industry’s mental health...

2020 will be a year to remember…or possibly more accurately one to forget, the world has changed and can now be categorised as pre-COVID and post-COVID. We have all been forced to adapt, innovate and as my colleague Natalie previously discussed ‘pivot’ has become the...

Fans of the 2002 US rom com My Big Fat Greek Wedding might recall the seminal role played by actor Michael Constantine as father of the bride Toula. His character’s name was Kostas “Gus” Portokalos. Gus was the Windex-toting father who believed the blue cleaning fluid...

Like the word unprecedented, pivot has become a bit cliché. But in these strange times of working through a global pandemic, I do believe my job title should definitely include the ‘p’ word. Reacting to change – some of it historic and, yes, unprecedented is a daily...

Transitioning into full time employment after graduation can be pretty daunting, particularly due to one crucial life skill you don’t learn in university: the nine-to-five routine. Long gone are the 11am wake-ups, rushing to your midday tutorial and clocking off for...

Could the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic drive deeper reflection and positive action on the issues of equity for females in finance and in the broader Australian community? The picture is quite stark, leading us at Madden to discuss the role of women in...

Well before the coronavirus pandemic, many women in Australia faced an uphill equity battle with their retirement savings and simple literacy regarding money. Madden & Assoc. caught up with Financial Advisor and Co-founder of Fox & Hare, Jess Brady to discuss...

Some of the Madden team's remote working stations.   There is no doubt this is a time of great unknown and the upheaval to each of our lives is unlike anything we have experienced before. As a late twenties PR practitioner, if someone had told me this time last...

In these days of fractured wealth sector business models, amid the green shoots of ethical, quality financial advice in Australia, does digital advice automation hold the key to a sustainable future built on serving the unmet needs of more advice consumers? Can the...

A true professional and a pleasure to listen to, Gemma Acton has spent over 10 years in the finance industry, with her career spanning over multiple continents. After moving back to Australia from London, her current role sees her covering business and finance for...

In my final year of my communications degree, and despite a couple of internships under my belt, I found myself unsure of where I wanted to land in the media landscape. Finance was not an industry I pictured myself in at the beginning of my university career. But come...

One of the financial services industry’s most esteemed journalists, Darren Snyder moved into the role of managing editor at Money in March of this year, after previously spending four years as editor at the Financial Standard. We sat down to get his insights on the...

In the first two parts of this blog, we discussed key issues to consider in the conception and execution stages of thought leadership, to maximise your potential ability to break through the clutter and ensure that your voice is heard effectively. In part three, we...

In the first part of this three-part blog, we discussed why attempts at creating ‘thought leadership’ can actually undermine your ability to cut through the clutter and ensure that your voice is heard effectively. In part two, we discuss the key issues to consider in...

Part 1. Conception ‘Thought leadership’ offers many benefits for organisations and individuals. Executed well, your intellectual capital can generate awareness of your capabilities, expertise, and values, bolster brand awareness, create new conversation opportunities...

Wouter Klijn is a veteran of the institutional investor space in Australia, having spent much of his 20-year editorial career working for specialist media titles including Investor Weekly and The Insto Report. We sat down to get his views on the financial services...

After a year of testimony drawn from 130 witnesses, made over seven public hearings, based on 10,000 submissions, the Hayne Royal Commission into Misconduct in Banking and Financial Services ended on Monday with a resoundingly modest point score just shy of 80. That...

One of the most common questions asked of us by clients is: what do we do about our social media? Unlike comms industry colleagues working with luxury brands, or fast-moving consumer goods, the highly-regulated world of financial services offers fewer opportunities to...

As a PR consultant, sometimes we get caught between what the journalist wants and what the client wants.  Unfortunately, their two needs aren’t always the same. Enter the middle woman/ man. Your role is essentially to manage the process of lifting the media presence...

One of the financial services industry’s most respected trade journalists, Jason has worked in finance media and communications for around 20 years, including roles with Money Management and the Financial Planning Association. We sat down to get his take on the impact...

As published in Mumbrella:  After deciding to make the switch to PR, Sarah Kendell promised herself she wouldn't become one of the PRs she used to hate. Here, she details exactly how she did it.   Earlier this year, I made the move from journalism to PR, which...

Our growing business is in the running as a finalist for ‘Public Relations Company of the Year.’ How good is that? It’s a significant honour for our passionate team of consultants, and especially poignant given the current enormous public focus on the reputation of...

Details emanating from the past fortnight of the Adele Ferguson-instigated banking Royal Commission had the nation’s headline writers and cartoonists stretched to keep pace with an extraordinary run of revelation, confession and a collapsed witness hauled...

Specialist communications counsel Madden & Assoc. (Madden) continues its growth ascension with Amy Boyce joining the firm in the role of Account Manager, effective immediately. Her addition to the Madden team highlights the expansion opportunities across the...

As published in B&T: Specialist communications counsel Financial Media Services (FMS) has announced it has rebranded to Madden & Assoc. (M&A). The new brand reflects the company’s deep financial sector heritage and points to an expanded future...

One of the least surprising revelations to come out of last week’s Turnbull Government announcement regarding a Royal Commission inquiry into the banking sector was the fact that the big four banks had requested it. There was no other choice but to support...