Steph Campbell

Senior communications and engagement professional with over a decade of experience spanning disability, infrastructure, government, health, and finance sectors. I partner with organisations to build trust, drive engagement, and navigate complexity through strategic storytelling and stakeholder alignment. Whether leading national media campaigns, complex change programs, or brand overhauls, I bring creative leadership and data-informed strategy to deliver meaningful results. I care deeply about accessibility, integrity, and helping purpose-driven organisations advocate for meaningful change. I am also a doctoral researcher at the University of New England investigating representations of women with disability in popular media, a project that reflects my desire to improve outcomes for women like myself who live with disability. 

Strategic communications leadership
Experienced in leading communications strategy across government, NFP, and corporate sectors, aligning messaging with social impact goals and organisational vision

Intersectional & inclusive lens
Grounded in feminist, public health, and lived disability experience

Stakeholder engagement & media relations
Strong track record of engaging media, government, and community stakeholders to amplify advocacy messages and build meaningful partnerships

Content creation 
Expert writer/editor with proficiency in Canva, InDesign, WordPress, and social platforms. Delivers accessible, on-brand content across print and digital channels

Team leadership & coaching
Values-based leadership style focused on mentoring, collaboration, and systems thinking. Trained through the Centre for Creative Leadership

Corporate Affairs and Media Relations Specialist
Australian Retirement Trust | Dec 2023 – July 2025

• Shaped national media narratives on retirement reform, investment strategy, and social impact for one of the world's largest pension funds (>$350b FUM and 2.4m members); secured coverage in national mastheads including The Australian and AFR

• Developed executive messaging and media responses for sensitive public and legal matters

• Supported ESG communications, contributed to AMM Q&A documentation, and advised on strategic messaging for hot topic issues 

Communications Adviser – Program
Australian Rail Track Corporation – Inland Rail | Apr – Sep 2023

• Led program-wide change communications during restructure following the $30B Inland Rail Independent Review

• Supported executive leaders with internal comms, stakeholder messaging, and ministerial briefings

• Provided editorial oversight of Inland Rail’s Annual Sustainability Report

Communications & Stakeholder Engagement Lead
UnitingCare Queensland | Jun 2021 – Apr 2023

• Led crisis communications and stakeholder engagement for a $130M aged care development, securing political and community support

• Developed accessible communications on complex environmental, development, and planning issues

• Generated positive publicity and industry award nominations for aged care and retirement living projects 

• Prepared the awards submission that saw the ARRCS Nhulunbuy Flexible Aged Care Facility and Dialysis Unit named a Northern Territory finalist in the 2022 Australian Institute of Project Management Awards 

Public Relations & Corporate Affairs Specialist
UnitingCare Queensland | Jan – Jun 2021

• Managed communications for the Aged Care Royal Commission response, COVID-19 policy shifts, and service controversies for Blue Care and ARRCS

• Advised executive leaders and supported high-risk media and stakeholder engagement

Senior Media & Communications Officer
Metro South Health | May 2020 – Jan 2021

• Led external media and internal COVID-19 communications for Princess Alexandra and QEII hospitals

• Secured national media coverage that enhanced the reputation of clinical teams and services during the pandemic

Communications Manager
Carinity | Mar – May 2020

• Developed crisis communications plans for services including aged care and disability support services during COVID-19 outbreaks

• Earned recognition from Queensland’s Chief Health Officer for exemplary communications response

Communications & Marketing Manager
Mercy Community | Jul 2019 – Mar 2020

• Led the communications function and acted as strategic adviser to the CEO and executive team

• Delivered the annual report and led media strategy for fundraising event The World’s Big Sleep Out Brisbane, generating $250K+ in national coverage

• Secured national broadcast coverage on The Today Show with a campaign launch budget under $1,300

Career break: Millennium Scholar (MA Wildlife Filmmaking)
University of the West of England | Sep 2017 – Jun 2019

• Completed a Master's in Wildlife Filmmaking in partnership with BBC Studios Natural History Unit

• Mentored by producers of Planet Earth II and Blue Planet, refining long-form storytelling and visual narrative skills

Marketing Communications Manager
Myhorizon | Jul 2015 – Jul 2017

• Led a full rebrand of a large multi-site disability services organisation ahead of the NDIS rollout

• Created brand strategy endorsed by the Board and CEO, delivering accessible assets including digital, print, signage, vehicle livery, uniforms and merchandise

• Completed the project on time and under the $150K budget with strong internal and client support

• Developed and delivered Myhorizon’s Annual Report

Doctor of Philosophy (in progress), University of New England
My project 'Invisible Voices: Representations of Women with Disability in Popular Media' aims to critically examine how women with disability are represented in popular media and the implications for societal attitudes, self-perceptions and wellbeing. Research aims include:

1. Identifying dominant tropes and narratives surrounding women with disability
2. Exploring how gender and disability intersect in shaping these portrayals
3. Analysing the impact of these representations on societal attitudes, identity and health outcomes for women with disability
4. Developing recommendations for more inclusive and empowering media representations and a best practice framework for use within the creative industries

Conference publications
Campbell, S. (2025). A different kind of hero: Disability, femininity and defiance in Mulan and Frozen. In The Magic Kingdom: Proceedings of the 16th Symposium of the Australia’s Popular Culture Research Network (p. 29). Australia’s Popular Culture Research Network

Master of Business Administration
University of Wollongong (2025)

• HD - Financial Strategy & Governance 

Coursework Master's Degrees (2013–2019)

• Master of Public Health
  University of Sydney
• Master of Arts (Wildlife Filmmaking) – with Merit
  University of the West of England
• Master of Science (Environment & Sustainability) 
  University of Southern Queensland
• Master of Arts (Journalism) – with Distinction
  Charles Sturt University

Leadership Development Program
Centre for Creative Leadership, Singapore (2016)

Bachelor of Business (Public Relations) – with Distinction
Queensland University of Technology (2009-2010)