Have you ever heard, “If you want a problem solved, you just need to give it to two woman on an afternoon fitness walk”? That’s definitely been the story for Katie Puttock and I on more than one occasion over the 12 years that I’ve known her. I first met her when I was introduced to my now-husband’s friendship group at the pub. I’d been given the heads up that as the girl best friend, she was the one I needed the nod from. Needless to say I bought a new dress and treated it the same as meeting Lach’s parents. Since then, Katie and I have grown old together. But who am I kidding. We were swapping recipes and spot remover hacks in our early 30s, and as we inch towards the big 4-0, there’s nothing I love more than comparing notes on the latest slug or bug to make its way into our neighbouring gardens, or hearing about the latest travel deal she’s found and how easy it was to put into the family budget spreadsheet. She’s made me a better Mum, a better communicator, and a better person.

Green thumb aside, Katie is an experienced communicator who’s worked on social policy issues at the Federal level. Prior to joining First Nations founded and led media and events agency 33 Creative, Katie held senior management and media adviser roles with Federal Government Ministers in Indigenous Affairs. She’s an experienced campaign manager and delivers copywriting, strategy, editing, behaviour change and digital engagement expertise. More recently she’s completed a graduate certificate at UNSW’s Centre for Social Impact.

I was particularly interested to talk to Katie about the role of strategy in creativity, and if it helped enhance the solution or stifle it. I also wanted to ask about her experience in First Nations media and comms, and the behind the scenes work that she and colleagues put in to make sure the message was getting to the right people in the right way.

There’s no doubt that day one of winning $100M in the lotto would involve a toast of Echuca white chocolate liquor at either of our houses, but I started off by asking her what she’d do with her time on day two. Please enjoy my chat with Katie Puttock.

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