50 years of communication graduates making their mark

The impact of those graduates can be seen across Aotearoa New Zealand and internationally, with alumni using their communication skills to inform communities, shape organisations and connect people with ideas that matter.

Professor Elspeth Tilley says one of the highlights of reaching the 50-year milestone is seeing the breadth of careers graduates have built.

“We have more than 2,000 graduates from the Bachelor of Communication alone. They are highly mobile, moving across industries and often stepping into leadership roles within just a few years.”

Graduates from across the decades have taken their communication skills into a wide range of roles.

Dale Nirvani Pfeifer has become a global innovator in the philanthropy tech sector as founder and CEO of Goodworld and is now in Washington DC as CEO of Giving Compass. She’s been named among the Most Powerful Women in DC, a New Zealand Woman of Influence, and cited in the Washington Business Journal’s ’40 under 40’ among many other honours. She’s also delivered an address to the United Nations.

Fiona Cassidy, Ngāti Kuri, Te Aupōuri, Te Rarawa, is a highly influential New Zealand public relations and governance expert, known for shaping the profession through leadership roles including President and Chair of the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand. She has built a distinguished career across government, defence and consultancy, combining strategic communications expertise with strong Māori engagement leadership at senior executive and board levels.

Dr Angie Enoka is a Samoan communication leader whose achievements span public service, academic research and community leadership. She has built a senior career advising government on strategic engagement, including heading Māori and Pacific communication teams at the Ministry of Education.

The reach of communication graduates extends well beyond New Zealand. Alumni are working internationally across entertainment, technology, fashion, renewable energy and global brands. Ruth Chan is Head of Marketing and Partnerships for BAM Karaoke Box in Europe, Claydan Krivan-Mutu is Chief of Staff at Canva in San Francisco, Jessica Loh is CRM Manager at Sunspel in London, Peter Flowers is Head of Communications and External Affairs, APAC, at Lightsource BP in Sydney, and Jesse Hunter works at Nike in Amsterdam.

Across New Zealand, communication graduates are contributing across media, government, business and community organisations. Jessica Roden is a Morning Report producer at Radio New Zealand, while Dan Walraven is Manager of Communications at Natural Hazards Commission Toka Tū Ake. Brooke Hawe works as Mātanga Matua Pāoho Mōwaho – Senior External Communications Advisor at Wakatū Incorporation and Kathryn Park has built a career in leadership and agility coaching at Waka Kotahi New Zealand Transport Agency. Graduates are also shaping the marketing and communications landscape, including Lauren Wethey, Marketing Lead at One New Zealand and Mark Dittmer, Senior Communications and Media Advisor at Maritime New Zealand.

Other graduates are using their communication expertise in fields beyond traditional communication roles. Rebecca Culver founded Just Zilch, a Manawatū-based food rescue organisation that has supported hundreds of thousands of people while reducing food waste. Nick Davies is a Change Manager for a scientific association and Dan Rainey is Event Manager at Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa. Others hold communication roles in areas such as sport, tourism, creative industries, entrepreneurship and community development.

More recent graduates are continuing that impact across a diverse range of fields. Sohadi Yes is working in Parliament as a Content Producer and Press Secretary, Jessica Kennington is at Wellington Hospitals Foundation, while Sanjana George is a Strategic Communications Advisor at the Ministry of Health. Others have moved into media roles including at TVNZ, NZME, Mana Communications and Wētā Workshop.

Professor Tilley says the strength of the programme is reflected in the ongoing connection between graduates and Massey.

“Our graduates mentor our interns, deliver guest lectures, share job opportunities and support new graduates entering the workforce. That network is one of our real strengths.”

The variety of careers reflects the breadth of the Bachelor of Communication, which prepares students for work across strategy, content, media and engagement in ways that transfer well to the public, private and nonprofit sectors.

“Communication graduates don’t just become communications advisors or journalists. They become strategists, leaders, advocates, creators and problem-solvers, applying their skills across almost every sector,” Professor Tilley says.