Linda Sanders Phone: 027 471 5593 Email: linda.sanders@xtra.co.nz

Personal aims

I am looking for a challenging role that makes use of my range of skills and experience, is results-focused and will make a difference. As a lateral and original thinker who understands the big picture, I am empathetic, a good listener, have a community and stakeholder focus, can work across all levels of an organisation and have networks in a wide range of sectors.

STRENGTHS AND EXPERIENCE

Media and Stakeholder

- Extensive media, issues and stakeholder management experience- Strong verbal and written communication skills- Undertaken profile-raising for government, corporate and community

organisations - Managed engagement with political, iwi, environmental and industry groups and

communities of interest in controversial areas

Management - Significant senior leadership experience in public and private sectors - Managed change, including as a communications manager bringing together three

government agencies- Managed significant budgets and teams

Political and Strategic

- Extensive involvement with a wide range of Government entities as an employee, a consultant and from a customer perspective as a corporate and through involvement with community organisations

- Worked on Budget-cycle communications - Familiar with managing Ministerial expectations and requirements- Experience in government process, media, telecommunications, building and

housing, health, education, social development, justice, environment, mining and resources, communications and consulting sectors

Commercial andLeadership

- Analytical and commercial focus- Board governance experience in a range of commercial and community

organisations- Knowledge of financial/investor markets and extensive investor relations

experience in New Zealand and internationally

KEY ROLES:

2015 September-present: Communications

Appointed for establishment phase of Issues Resolution Unit for Education Infrastructure Service:- Providing issues management and communications advice

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and Issues Management Adviser, Ministry of Education

- Developing communications tools and collateral- Identifying improved stakeholder management techniques

2015 May-Aug: Communications and Stakeholder Manager, MBIE’s Business Number programme

Managed lead up to launch of website and associated systems:- Provided communications advice on media and stakeholder issues- Liaised with other parts of MBIE and provided internal communications links- Undertook communications planning- Developed content for website

2015 Mar-May: Special Adviser, Education NZ

Provided support while manager seconded to Minister’s office:- Researched stakeholder engagement opportunities- Mentored team

2011-2015: Corporate Affairs Director, Chatham Rock Phosphate

Developed full programme of stakeholder engagement, investor relations and communications for start-up seabed mining company:- Produced all media and investor communications, annual reports, website, promotional literature, advertising, events etc- Identified and managed comprehensive stakeholder engagement programme – covering 50-plus iwi, environmental, government, industry, farming and community groups - Involved regular update visits over two years to key groups, including Chatham Is- Gained respect of opponents: Environmental Defence Society said in media release “Chatham Rock Phosphate principals have put an enormous amount of effort into this project and to give credit where it is due, the level of interaction and consultation with us has been exemplary.” - Managed programme of investor events both in NZ and London- Remain a board member - see Other Current Roles

2012-2014: Money columnist for The Listener

- Wrote a weekly column drawing on experience as financial journalist, editor, senior manager, communications specialist and director.

2007–2010: Consulting and community projects

Key clients included: - Department of Immigration (business immigration programme) - Telecom, an aviation company- A community health project (designed and managed stakeholder and media

programme - see Other Current Roles

2005-2007: Communications Manager - Department Building and Housing

Appointed to recruit and manage communications and stakeholder relationships during challenging establishment phase of new department- Recruited and managed team of 10, plus contract and consulting staff, drawing together teams from three government departments- As part of senior leadership team supported the department’s huge work programme in a politically sensitive area- Developed organisational systems and policies- Managed complex relationships with Government Ministers - Built relationships and senior managers of partner organisations - Developed joint websites with Consumer and BRANZ- Moved relationship with leaky homeowner group from negative to neutral/positive

2003-2005: Consulting,

- Ministry of Justice: coordinated a major communications initiative for Budget - Department of Child Youth and Family Services: managed media relations at time

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including: of crisis, involving sensitive handling issues relating to life-threatening situations under considerable time and other pressures and in hostile media environment- Telecom: stakeholder management involving contentious issue at annual shareholders meeting - preparation for directors and close coordination of large team.

2001-2003: Telecom Mobile Public Relations Manager - Mobile

- Member of leadership team managing communications strategy- Led communications for launch of Mobile’s 027 CDMA network and new brand- Responsible for sponsorship and brand, issues management, public relations and strategic communications planning

1996-2001 Telecom National Media Relations and Shareholder Communications Manager

- Telecom’s primary media spokesperson, including live television and radio- Worked closely with chief executives Sir Roderick Deane and Theresa Gattung, chairman, board and senior leadership - Member of management team that led 50 communications staff- Built strong media team of six, managed budgets and projects - Focused on building positive profile, managing issues ranging from corporate restructurings to customer service, new technologies, financial and corporate events- Thrived in ongoing change management environment - Communicated new stakeholder management approach for mobile phone sites to remove antagonism and build collaborative approach with communities

1992-1996 Evening Post - Business Editor 1989-1992 Baldwin Boyle Barnett Public Relations Agency - Senior Consultant and General Manager 1980-1989 Dominion/Sunday Star Times - Deputy Business Editor and Economics Editor1976-1980 – general reporting roles on community and provincial newspapers.

OTHER CURRENT ROLES

1989 - presentDirector and past Chair of Aorere Resources

Aorere is an NZX-listed venture capital investor in mining projects ranging from developing a nickel mine in Vietnam to green-fields exploration in China and a shareholding in Chatham Rock Phosphate.

2008 – presentDirector and past Chair Chatham Rock Phosphate (see Roles)

NZAX-listed CRP aims to be the premier supplier of direct application phosphate to the New Zealand and global agricultural sector.

2010 - present Trustee Golden Bay Community Health Te Hauora O Mohua Trust

- Joined steering group in 2009 to integrate health services in Golden Bay; community hospital, medical centre and rest home- Trustee since 2010 of owner of $9 million facility - oversaw construction, financing and fundraising- Devised and managed intensive stakeholder programme to achieve community support- Co-led highly successful fund-raising campaign ($1 million by community of 5000 people)

Relevant Education and Courses

Mentoring for Diversity programme (selected by Institute of Directors to promote women as directors on large boards) 2013

Governance Development Programme through Institute of Directors 2013

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Regular media training, speech/presentation training, crisis/issues management training Range of management training including Advanced Dynamics leadership programme 2005-6 and earlier

programmes at Telecom Creative Writing – Massey University 2004 Measuring the value of PR 2002 Corporate responsibility 2001 Year 2000 preparedness training Investigative journalism – Open Polytechnic 1994 Investment analysis – Otago University 1986 Diploma in Journalism, Massey University (Wellington Polytechnic) 1976

Awards

Asia 2000 journalism travel award to India 1996 Westpac economic and financial journalism award 1986 NZI Finance journalism award 1985 Japanese Government goodwill travel award 1983

Professional groups

Institute of Directors Straterra International Association of Business Communicators Network of Public Sector Communicators

Past Community Involvement

Secretary Takaka Golf Club 2007 – 2012 Trustee Golden Bay Community Gardens Trust 2004 – 2009 Chair, trustee Golden Bay Workcentre Trust 2007- 2015

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