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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Public Relations Consultant
Fiann Blackham
Fiann joined Blackland as an intern PR aide a little over a year ago. Since then, his talent for inventive public advocacy campaigns, and successful media relations strategies, has earned Fiann respect among his clients.
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Expertise in Sociology and Media Studies has led to Fiann’s success in media and public affairs campaigns for organisations such as Sealord, Hyundai New Zealand, and the New Zealand Screen Music and Sound Guild.
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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
Harrison Lahman
Harrison joined Blackland in late 2022 after earning a Bachelor's degree in Political Communications.
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With a keen eye for social media , Harrison has honed his skills in developing web assets for clients. Utilising these platforms allows hm to create online strategies that captivate audiences and effectively convey messages.
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