Andrew helps organisations improve performance, operations, brand, reputation, relationships and sustainability through energetic management, broad thinking, strict governance, proactive communications, robust planning and a focus on sustainability. Andrew has had various roles during his career, reflecting his broad knowledge, ability to pick things up quickly and agility.
He is driven by the want to bring everything together strategically and tactically to deliver meaningful and sustainable positive results for his employer and clients, colleagues, direct stakeholders, and the wider community. He likes to get things done.
Andrew has more than 20 years of senior management, marketing, communication, corporate relations and sustainability experience in high profile global environments.
His extensive, practical and current experience has gained the trust of private and public sector executive management teams, boards and leaders of government globally.
The variety of industries he has aided includes financial services and payments; tourism and travel; major events and sport; broadcasting and journalism; government and politics; and management consulting.
Andrew has broad experience across all aspects of business. He ‘majors’ in marketing, communications and corporate relations disciplines including strategy and operations; brand management; marketing services; consumer, client, industry and internal communications and relations; research; traditional, social and online media relations; issues, incident and crisis communications and management; corporate events, government and regulatory affairs; and sponsorship.
On the global stage, he has a track record in sports and major event management. Andrew has worked in senior roles as an organiser, sponsor, consultant and journalist on events such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, FIFA World Cup, Rugby World Cup, NFL, MLB and A-League.
Andrew was part of the successful bid team which led to Sydney staging the Olympic Games. He continued involvement with the iconic event as a PR Manager and several other senior roles over the following seven years. Andrew also spent time as the global head of Visa’s brand and sponsorship communication program based at the company’s headquarters in San Francisco.
Andrew has a Master of Business and Technology and a Master of Environmental Management, both from the University of New South Wales. He has important skills in climate change and sustainability – the two most significant issues facing business, government and the community in the decades ahead.
In 2014, Andrew met and trained with Al Gore, the former Vice President of the United States of America, who inspired him to get involved in advocacy for action on climate change.
These days, Andrew lives in Bellingen on the New South Wales north coast and in Sydney. He is also involved in social, political and environmental advocacy.
Employment history
2023
NSW Government, Ministerial Office, Chief of Staff
2020 – 2023
North Coast Football, General Manager (Coffs Harbour)
2014 – 2019
Andrew Woodward Consulting, Management Consultant (Bellingen and Sydney)
2012 – 2013
Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games Corporation, SVP/General Manager, Marketing and Communication (Gold Coast)
2009 – 2012
Visa Inc., global HQ (San Francisco)
VP/Director Public Relations – Global Sponsorship & US Marketing
2004 – 2009
Visa Inc. Asia Pacific (Sydney)
VP/Director Public Relations – Corporate Relations
2001 – 2004
Gavin Anderson & Company (Sydney)
VP/Director, Public Affairs
1997 – 2001
Australian Tourist Commission (Sydney)
VP/Director, Corporate Affairs
Other roles
- Media Director, Office of the President and Minister for the Olympics (Sydney)
- Manager, Media Information, Sydney Organising Committee for the Olympic Games (Sydney)
- PR Manager, Sydney Olympics 2000 Bid Ltd (Sydney)
- Media Adviser, Australian Government, National Media Liaison Service (Sydney)
- Consultant, Holt PR (Sydney)
- Media Manager, Roads and Traffic Authority NSW (Sydney)
- Bureau Chief, Australian Radio Network, National Parliament, (Canberra)
- Five radio stations in Australia as a journalist and broadcaster, various
Education
- Master of Environmental Management, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2014 – 2017
- Master of Business and Technology, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2003 – 2007
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Andrew Woodward 