Thursday 6th March 2025 - 5:00pm-7:00pm
Overview
Are you a recent graduate with a degree in Communications or Journalism? Or maybe you’re a junior practitioner looking for that next step in your career?
This is your chance to gain valuable insights from industry leaders who have carved out successful careers in the communications field.
Join our panel discussion featuring Denise Mackay, Emma Ward, Asher Wilson-Goldman and Jacob McGregor. This event will explore the career paths in communications, the skills you need to stand out, and how to navigate your way to success in this ever evolving field.
This event is free for those with waged/unwaged memberships. If you are not a PRINZ member, join or renew now to unlock the free member rate for this event.
Thank you to Momentum Consulting for generously hosting this event.

Your panellists are:
Denise Mackay
Denise has worked in the public, private, and not for profit sectors, both in New Zealand and internationally. Most recently she was part of the establishment team, setting up the communications and engagement function at the new Ministry for Regulation, and just prior, was the Director of Communications, Engagement and Events at Te Puni Kōkiri – the Ministry for Māori Development. Denise is passionate about helping people develop and progress through their PR and communications careers – supporting new grads into their first roles by advocating for internships and targeted hiring, mentoring and guiding practitioners as they progress their careers, and by volunteering her time to support the Public Relations Institute of NZ (PRINZ) – our industry body. Denise is a PRINZ Fellow, and the current Chair. She’s also on the board of Dress for Success Wellington – a global charity that supports woman towards economic independence through employment.

Emma Ward
Emma is a senior consultant at Agite with expertise in strategic communications, reputation management and stakeholder engagement.
She has more than 10 years’ experience consulting to clients in both the public and private sectors with a focus on strategic communications and risk management combined with practical implementation. Emma has worked on several high profile, complex issues, including the government’s COVID-19 response and several complex public sector reform programmes.
Before joining Agite, Emma held several consultancy roles and was named the Public Relations Institute Sally Logan-Milne Young Practitioner of the Year in 2022. She has a Bachelor of Communication from Massey University.

Asher Wilson-Goldman
An experienced communications and engagement leader, Asher has worked on some of the public sector’s highest profile projects. Having worked as both a contractor and an employee, he can share the benefits and drawbacks to both approaches. Asher lives on the Kāpiti Coast with his partner, two cats and the world’s cutest dog.

Jacob McGregor
Jacob McGregor is a communicator and advocate for Māori voices. He works at VML Aotearoa as the Pou Ārahi Māori and PR Lead. He’s also the Inclusion, Equity & Belonging Lead for VML across Australia and New Zealand. Jacob started his career at Te Puni Kōkiri, learning from some of the best in Māori comms. During COVID-19, he led comms for the Māori response at the Ministry of Health before becoming Principal Engagement Advisor, where he helped drive initiatives like the health system’s first anti-racism programme. Jacob’s passion for Māori comms comes from his love for his whānau and culture and a commitment to making his ancestors’ vision a reality.
