Meet the Communications team

Brand

champion has significant role

Head Graphic Designer and Brand, Craig Morgan, is the longest serving member of the Communications team, and has seen dramatic changes and development at the College since he joined in January 2011. It was just a few weeks before the February earthquake, when the then small team of two was thrust into crisis management.

Although graphic design, branding and marketing in print and online are key aspects of Craig’s work today, his role is so much broader. As the College’s ‘brand champion’, his influence can be felt across most aspects of the campus. “It’s important to keep evolving the brand while also keeping it consistent across all the different things we do. With the help of the team, we are shaping the look and feel of the College all the time.”

Craig has worked closely with College Art Specialist and Archivist, Pip Dinsenbacher, on numerous special creative projects, including the Senior College StAC 100 Timeline display, Sports Wall in Gym 2, jigsaw mural in the Preparatory Junior School, and The Spirit of St Andrew’s, history book. Craig has had significant involvement in events, such as the Centenary celebrations (‘a multi-year project’), and is currently working on the upcoming celebration of 30 years of co-education. Craig has also worked alongside architects engaged by St Andrew’s on the interior design treatments for all the new buildings on campus over the last decade, including the Centennial Chapel, and new Ben Gough Family Theatre.

His design influence is also seen in printed material, campus signage, honours boards, the Rector’s medal, numerous cast metal badges, sports uniforms, and more.

“The attraction of working at St Andrew’s is the opportunity to work on so many different projects. It keeps things interesting, and I’ve enjoyed the challenges along the way.”

Meet the Communications

team

Tucked away in an upstairs office in Strowan House is the busy Communications Department, which has a key role in delivering all online and offline written, verbal, and visual communications to stakeholders, along with marketing and the careful management of the St Andrew’s College brand reputation. “Working in Communications at St Andrew’s is not for the faint-hearted, as it is an extremely fast-paced environment. We work with many different departments and stakeholders, including students, parents, teachers, senior management, and the Board. The challenges of COVID-19, with the ever-changing restrictions, have added another layer of complexity. However, we are very lucky to have such a capable team,” says Head of Communications, Kay Shaw.

All external and internal communications from the College, including e-newsletters to parents such as the weekly Rector’s Comment, information to stakeholders, promotional material for events, emergency communications, College photography for events, individual, class, sports and cultural group photographs, and much more, goes through the Communications Department. The St Andrew’s website, StACNet, the StAC app, online forms, social media, and all internal and external publications, including Regulus and Collegian, are managed by the Communications Department. Kay worked in communications for another independent school before becoming Head of Communications at St Andrew’s five years ago. She says Head Graphic Designer and Brand, Craig Morgan, who has been with St Andrew’s since 2011, is a key member of the team.

Marketing Communications Manager, Georgia Harvey, took up the role earlier this year, but was already well known to many in the College community, as she was employed as a contractor in the Communications Department during the Centenary celebrations. Digital Marketing Co-ordinator, Annelise Thompson, and Graphic Designer, Sarah McCook-Weir, make up the rest of the team. Contractors including Regulus/Collegian editor, Jo Bailey, photographers Sue Oxley, Anna Turner and Clinton Lloyd, and printers, Caxton, also work alongside the team and are an integral part of the mix.

“We are all very similar people and set high standards for ourselves. We are proud to work in our roles and all feel there is something very special about St Andrew’s. This place really gets under your skin,” says Kay.

From left to right: Head Graphic Designer and Brand Craig Morgan, Marketing Communications Manager Georgia Harvey, Graphic Designer Sarah McCook-Weir, Head of Communications Kay Shaw (seated) and Digital Marketing Co-ordinator, Annelise Thompson.