Vienna Richards

Communications PR

Project lead supporting emergency physicians and trainee doctors in emergency departments in Australia and New Zealand

Vienna Richards's Bio:

Currently contracted to the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine. Until May 2019, Vienna Richards was the Head of Communications at Māori Television. Previously the acting internal communications manager at Counties Manukau District Health Board/Middlemore Hospital before moving across to broadcasting. Before that, she completed a stint as the acting external communications manager in 2018. She also worked as a senior journalist covering the Pacific region on climate change, health and environmental stories in 2018. She holds a bachelor's degree in communications studies majoring in journalism from the Auckland University of Technology in 2001.

Vienna Richards's Experience:

  • Head of Communications at Māori Television Service

    2018 - Present | Auckland New Zealand

    Fixed term contracting to support significant strategic alignment and processes, change management. Internal and external communications functions and responsibilities. Intranet. Performance reporting including quarterly reporting and annual report production to meet legislative requirements and timelines.

  • Acting Internal Communications Manager at Counties Manukau District Health - Middlemore Hospital

    2018 - 2018 | Manukau New Zealand

    Fixed term contracting. Supporting Acute Patient Flow programme.

  • Acting External Communications Manager at Counties Manukau District Health Board - Middlemore Hospital

    2018 - 2018 | Manukau New Zealand

    Fixed term contracting. Media relations.

  • Senior Journalist at National Pacific Radio Trust (NPRT) PMN NiuFM and Radio531pi

    2018 - 2018 | Manukau New Zealand

    Six month newsroom part time contract. Brought in to start podcast on news and current affairs issues and topics.

  • Senior Marketing Lead at Prime Minister's Education Excellence Awards - Ministry of Education

    2015 - 2017 | Wellington New Zealand

    Member of high performing project team working on the awards and events management for the prestigious Prime Minister's Education Excellence Awards, with an annual awards ceremony at the Auckland Museum. Contracting role.

  • Communications Manager at Nelson Marlborough District Health Board

    2015 - 2015 | Nelson New Zealand

    Covered Nelson Hospital and Blenheim Hospital. Emergency planning and response role.

  • Communications Manager at Māori Television Service

    2013 - 2015 | Newmarket

    Fixed term contract. Transitional period to support/manage change management process.

  • Founder/Editor at PacificEyeWitness.com

    September 2009 - 2014 | Online Pacific Region

    Set up one of the first online community news website for the New Zealand Pacific community providing news and information from a Pacific perspective. This project started as a labour of love supported by citizen journalists, trained journalists and community people. Run by volunteers. Catalyst: Tuesday 29 September 2009, a powerful earthquake hit the Pacific islands of Samoa and American Samoa, followed by a deadly tsunami which claimed at least 189 lives and left hundreds injured.

  • Communications Consultant at Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS)

    2012 - 2012 | Greenlane Auckland New Zealand

    Change management and culture change projects. Emergency planning and response role.

  • Communications Manager at Auckland Regional Public Health Service (ARPHS)

    2010 - 2011 | Greenlane New Zealand

    Small team supporting public health, medical and environmental operational teams. Emergency planning and response role.

  • Acting News Editor at Pacific Media Network (NiuFM and Radio531pi)

    2008 - 2008 | Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand

    Provided six months cover during change management process to rebuild newsroom and improve staff morale at National Pacific Radio Trust - Pacific Media Network NiuFM and Radio531pi.

  • Research Manager at Pacific Media Network (NiuFM and Radio531pi)

    2007 - 2007 | Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand

    Commissioned to design and conduct an audience satisfaction survey, replacing the Network survey participation for the country's national Pacific radio stations.

  • Acting News Editor at Pacific Media Network (NiuFM and Radio531pi )

    2007 - 2007 | Ponsonby, Auckland, New Zealand

    Provide sick leave cover to incumbent radio news editor Lito Vilisoni for National Pacific Radio Trust - Pacific Media Network NiuFM and Radio 531pi.

  • Chief Writer - Council Citywide Newspaper at Manukau City Council

    2006 - 2006 | New Zealand

    Chief writer for Manukau City Council's citywide newspaper to residents and ratepayers and businesses.

  • Speechwriter and Annual Report Writer at Manukau City Council

    2006 - 2006 | New Zealand

    Speechwriter for Mayor Sir Barry Curtis. Also assisted with annual report writing.

Vienna Richards's Education:

  • Auckland University of Technology

    1998 – 2000
    Bachelor of Communications Studies
    Concentration: Journalism
    Activities: Graduated 2001. Major: journalism. Also studied digital technology, multimedia, TV and radio journalism, mass communications and PR.

Vienna Richards's Interests & Activities:

Reading, film, walking, art, family, genealogy, travel, culture, languages, learning, children, writing, music.