I help people say what they actually do. Clearly, truthfully, and in a form that suits the work.
I’ve spent most of my career listening to people explain work that matters – often work that’s complex, emotional, or hard to summarise neatly.
Before starting KTB Communications, I worked in publishing, advertising, PR and media, including over twenty years as an ABC radio producer. That background still shapes how I work: I listen carefully, ask better questions, and pay close attention to tone, context, and what’s left unsaid.
Today, I work with organisations, institutions and individuals who want their communications to reflect what they actually do. Without hype, spin or flattening the work into something it’s not.
That might look like long-form profiles, feature writing, website copy, media releases, internal communications or podcasts. The format changes. The approach doesn’t.
I’m interested in work that needs interpretation rather than packaging. Work where accuracy, care and judgement matter just as much as creativity.
I also work with artists, musicians and other creatives who want help communicating their work without losing its integrity. I understand the discomfort many creatives feel around promotion.
And if you’ve ever wondered about capturing family history, please note that I’m also a Caring Creative for A Lasting Tale – interviewing and recording people to document their life stories.
Returning clients
Many of my clients don’t work with me on a formal retainer. But they keep coming back.
A school commissions one profile, then another.
An organisation requests a feature, then later a media release.
A team calls when something important needs to be communicated carefully.
Over time, the context builds. The work becomes easier, deeper and more accurate without having to start from scratch each time.
That ongoing relationship is intentional. It’s how the best work happens.
When work becomes ongoing, I can suggest a structure that simplifies costs and provides continuity, but there’s no requirement to lock in upfront.
The aim is to support the way you actually work, not force a model that doesn’t fit.
If you’re doing work that matters and want help articulating it clearly and truthfully with a deft human touch, I’m always happy to start with a conversation.
Projects / Returning Clients
Project: Age Old Problems: New Aged Care - a podcast for Helping Hand.
About: This series provides real conversations about aged care, from those who know it best
Role: Producer and Host
Hired initially for copywriting, work has extended to include:
Hosting and editing the external podcast
Media relations (driving positive PR through writing releases, pitching and coordinating coverage across traditional and industry media)
Internal Communications (writing, producing an internal podcast and creating targeted audio clips)
Writing for social media and feature articles for HH publications
Creating a Communications Strategy + content creation + media relations to raise awareness of HH’s Real Care the Second Time Around project and training resources
Proofreading for publications
Voicing on-hold messaging for phone line
Vicky Brett, Manager Marketing and Communication: Kate is a pleasure to work with, proactive, with innovative ideas, and always quick to turn things around. Her thoughtful questions and collaborative approach really help get the best outcome.
Project: Electronic Newsletter for Lighthouse Youth Projects
About: A regular snapshot of Lighthouse Youth Projects’ impact, designed to keep supporters informed, inspired, and engaged with the work that’s empowering young people.
Role: Writer/Content Creator
Hired for professional writing services, work has extended to include:
Writing and designing the electronic newsletters and Annual Report
Writing for social media
Speech writing
Grant writing and other funding applications
Brand Strategy and documenting processes
Creating communications templates
Media relations (writing releases, pitching, and coordinating coverage)
Jamie Moore, Co Founder: Kate is a true storyteller and someone who always finds a way to drive to the point of our organisation's core reason for existing. She knows how to help us tell our story, demonstrate our impact, and communicate effectively with our varied stakeholders.
Project: Maggie and Theo – a website story for SpaceCraft Joinery
About: Sitting on the website under Projects, these stories introduce the people behind each design – their vision, their wish lists, and the SpaceCraft resolution that brings it all to life.
Role: Writer
Hired to write Project stories, my work has extended to include:
Media relations (writing releases, pitching and generating coverage regarding award wins)
Website copy and media relations (for an Airbnb renovation)
Writing a marketing video script
Writing a phone on-hold script
Karen Costa, Marketing & Client Relations Manager: We’ve been working with Kate for quite some time, and she continues to be an important part of our process. Her creative writing has a unique way of capturing our clients’ stories and sharing them with our wider community. On top of that, she’s easy to communicate with and multi-skilled, making collabs of all sorts effortless, enjoyable and effective too.
Project: Fearless & Feminist – a profile story for Pembroke School
About: These profile articles focus on the individual’s career post-school as well as the lasting impact of their education and the Pembroke community.
Role: Interviewer/Writer
Hired to interview and write profile articles on old scholars, the work has extended to include:
Writing articles on staff, innovations and new developments
Proofreading and editing for significant publications, including the yearbook, Unitas.
Gabbi Agnew, Publications Manager: I can’t recommend Kate enough. In sharing our community’s stories, she conducts interviews with professionalism and warmth and finds unique and compelling angles to share with our readers. Her contributions to our publications and community storytelling have elevated the way we communicate with our families and old scholars.
Up close and a little bit personal…
My Dad has always likened me to a babbling brook. My school reports would often commend my academic aptitude and note my chatter.
I love communicating with people and trying to understand how they tick. I’m certifiably curious.
I devoured books as a child and then practically had to toss a coin to decide whether to pursue English Literature or Psychology at University.
It was English for the win, and I loved every second of it. My Honours thesis was all about the work of playwright David Williamson and the notion of Australian culture and identity. So, it turns out I was able to indulge my curiosity for comprehending human nature anyway.
I then worked as a publicist for Wakefield Press, and I loved meeting authors, disseminating the core of the story, writing a convincing press release, and pitching to the media.
As a copywriter with a small advertising firm, I had to distil the essence of a product or a service to carve into a tagline or a direct marketing campaign.
Playing in a rock band that I also worked hard to promote gave me skills at pitching music to the media on a personal level – not to mention interpreting song lyrics not written by me on the fly, but that’s another story!
I well and truly honed my instinct for the angle of a story working as a radio producer/content creator for ABC Radio Adelaide for more than twenty years.
I loved considering who a story or segment would impact, the tone it should take, and the best people to discuss things on air. I helped guide people to share their version of events or take on an issue as clearly as possible. And, in the blink of an eye, I mined these stories to create cross-platform content.
At KTB Communications, I unite all my skills to help good people and great things get noticed.
My life outside of work.
I’m Mum to three beautiful humans. When I’m not running them around or running around with them, I love a good book, quality movies, and the power of music.
Musically speaking, I listen a lot and participate far less than I should. Singing harmonies makes my heart sing. I’m addicted to friends, family, attempting to stay fit, and the arts.
Can someone bring me more hours please?