ABOUT

WHO WE ARE

Paul and Madeleine McLeod are the founding directors of Risk Communication Australia. Client services are handled mostly by Paul, and Maddie oversees business management. When tackling big projects we draw on an associates network – recognised technical experts and experienced leaders in their own right – who work under our strategic framework and Paul’s oversight.

OUR VALUES

Pragmatism

Often we work with people and organisations that are under pressure due to communication problems and escalating risks. At these times, all of us can be drawn into a combative mindset, losing sight of our true objectives and the steps towards them. Pragmatism reminds us to set aside ego, anger, anxiety and affront when making decisions about risk.

Decency

From our experience, the best outcomes for all parties to decisions about risk are achieved when the underlying pursuit is basic human decency. Dilemmas, conflicting advice, or uncertainty about risk are often resolved when subjected to the decency test. Decency as a core value in our working lives brings moral alignment with our private lives and increases happiness and resilience in both.

Humility

The most effective risk communicators see themselves as equals to their stakeholders and the public. Humility reduces risk because it helps to counter inevitable biases in risk judgments. It reminds us that others may see and understand risks that we don’t, and that our interests and perspectives are only ever part of a bigger mix.

Respect

Our approaches and methods work well because they respect the experiences, knowledge and feelings of the people we work with. We view our clients as genuine partners in risk management. We view the public the same way, and encourage that in our clients. None of us can do better alone than we can do together.

PAUL MCLEOD

Managing Director, Founder

Paul has 25 years of experience as a facilitator and communication strategist specialising in complex and controversial issues.  He has worked across multiple sectors with prominent Australian and multi-national companies as well as government bodies, and has held senior management roles in external affairs for government regulatory authorities.  Prior to founding Risk Communication Australia, he established and led social practices in several big environmental services and engineering consultancies.

Paul developed Risk Communication Australia’s proprietary approach and techniques, and has applied them to enable organisations facing significant operational losses due to public, regulatory and political opposition to reduce risk and improve business certainty.  He has used them to help organisations overcome internal cultural barriers to effective risk communication and management.

Paul is regularly invited to speak at industry and professional association conferences. He has developed numerous corporate guidelines on stakeholder engagement conforming to international standards, and training programs on socio-political risk management and risk communication. He developed the social risk modules for the International Energy Centre ‘Masters of Energy Studies’ program and delivered them as guest lecturer at the University of Western Australia.

He is a member of the following professional associations:

• Society for Risk Analysis – A multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary, scholarly, international society that provides an open forum for all those who are interested in risk analysis
• Risk Management Institution of Australasia – Professional institution and industry association for risk managers in the Asia Pacific region
• Global Association of Risk Practitioners – Global not-for-profit independent professional for risk managers focused on the finance, insurance and energy markets

Additional career detail and project highlights can be downloaded here.