Who we are
BlacklandPR is contemporary in every sense of the word. Founded in 2012, we focus our extensive knowledge and experience in public communication into the modern art of persuasive conversation with real people.
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BlacklandPR is an affiliate agency of Ogilvy PR Australia.
Meet the team
Director
Mark Blackham
Expert in human communication behaviour. Mark has a distinguished political experience and has provided advice to executives and boards on winning over audiences using social media, direct communications, traditional channels, and government relations.
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25 years ago, Mark was working in Hamilton when his media talents were spotted by the then Minister of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and later Prime Minister, Mike Moore. Mark worked for Mike as press secretary, speech writer, and then leader of the Labour media unit. In 1996 he Joined Logos Porter Novelli as a government relations expert with flair for communicating tough subjects in ways people understood. In 2003 he co-founded Senate, and helped grow it over nine years into a Trans-Tasman communication consultancy.
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Director
Nick Gowland
Corporate reputation specialist. More than 15 years in the business managing the reputations of public and private sector clients through succinct strategy and message development, effective media relations, and issues management techniques.
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Nick’s talents were first honed in the Beehive, where he advised a number of Ministers under the Helen Clark government on media relations and policy development for the education, labour, immigration, and commerce portfolios. Since 2007, he has held senior external communications posts for some of the biggest corporate brands in New Zealand and the UK including Telecom NZ, the TAB and London’s Tube Lines, one of the largest Public Private Partnerships in the world. He has extensive experience across a range of industry sectors and a proven ability for understanding the reputation needs of clients.
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Director
Joss Debreceny
A seasoned executive advisor and leader with over two decades of experience in communications, engagement, and transformational leadership. His career is marked by significant contributions to strategic communications, change management, and engagement across the government, private sector, and community organisations.
Joss has a proven track record of working with leadership teams to ensure strategic alignment, program delivery, and change preparedness. Key achievements include establishing the Public Information Management system for Fire and Emergency New Zealand and leading communications for Inland Revenue’s Business Transformation Programme. Joss's recent roles have expanded his expertise in advising executive leaders, developing strategies, implementing plans, and risk management.
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+64 22 176 4410
Account Manager—Head of News
Fiann Blackham
Media and public affairs ace. Since joining Blackland three years ago, Fiann's talent for inventive public advocacy campaigns and successful media relations strategies has earned him respect among his clients.
Newstalk ZB described Fiann’s PR schemes as ‘clever, marketing gold’.
Expertise in Sociology and a relentless focus on business outcomes has led to his success in media and public affairs campaigns for organisations such as Danone Nutricia, New Zealand Certified Builders, the Provincial Rugby Unions, Sealord, Ravensdown, and Hyundai New Zealand.
In 2024, Fiann was awarded a PRINZ Award for Best Use of Media Relations.
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Government Relations and Policy Consultant
Joshua Whitford
Joshua joined Blackland in 2022 following six years in politics. He is an experienced government relations and communications specialist, having advised MPs and political parties on communications and campaigns. Projects that he is proud to have worked on include the 2017 and 2020 general elections and the 2020 electorate boundary review.
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Alongside his political experience, Joshua graduated with an LLB/BA from Victoria University, double majoring in political science and public policy.
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Public Relations Aide
Emily Mingins
Emily joined Blackland in late 2023 after earning a Bachelor of Commerce in public policy.
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With a keen eye for social media, Emily has honed her skills in developing social media assets for clients. Utilising these platforms allows her to create online strategies that captivate audiences and effectively convey messages.
Successful projects that Emily has worked on include the promotion of the Lunar New Year Festival, and public advocacy for the Screen Music and Sound Guild. She manages media and social monitoring for a diverse range of global and national clients.
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