OUR TEAM

Our team are specialists in strategic communications with decades of experience across the USA, Australia and New Zealand representing public and private clients.

We’ll bring positivity and passion to your project while being a safe pair of hands you can trust. 

  • Jeff is a strategic communications professional with more than 20 years of international experience delivering communications solutions for business, government and not-for-profits in fields including infrastructure, property development, transportation, finance, energy, and economic development.

    Working inside government and the private sector, Jeff has utilised that experience to provide sound counsel and issue management to leading institutions.

    Over the past several years, Jeff has specialised in creating communications and engagement structures for large-scale urban regeneration projects. This includes the Tamaki Regeneration programme, Unitec land development, Auckland Light Rail, and the Auckland Housing Programme via HLC.

    A native of the United States, Jeff previously led a Chicago-based public affairs consultancy, served as a political advisor in the Wisconsin State Senate, and as a political director for the Democratic Leadership Council.

Jeff Valenzuela

  • Mel has experience in stakeholder engagement, external, internal and change communications, reputation management and branding.

    Having worked as communications manager for an alliance of companies delivering over $1b of land development and infrastructure across Auckland, Mel designed the stakeholder and communications strategy for a long-term construction programme interfacing with a number of diverse communities and stakeholders. She also created and oversaw multiple targeted strategies while mentoring her community liaison team members in key areas such as stakeholder communications, message development, event and issue management.

    Mel is versed in the creation and management of corporate communications strategies and tools, and understands the importance of these in building profile and upholding brand and reputation. She enjoys working with clients to help them realise the potential that strategic communications has in advancing their goals.

    With a background in HR, Mel also understands the sometimes competing nature of stakeholder objectives and enjoys working with people to find common ground and establish effective working relationships.

Melanie Drumm

  • Jen has experience in strategic engagement, social planning, communication and facilitation across New Zealand and Australia.

    Working on behalf of both private sector and government, Jen has led successful communication and engagement programmes on high profile and complex infrastructure, engineering and design projects, including the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games, Sydney Light Rail, Great Western Highway in Sydney’s Blue Mountains, Auckland Airport Redevelopment, Auckland’s Northern Pathway (formally Skypath), and Auckland Light Rail.

    Over the past several years, Jen has led the development of best practice communication and engagement for Waka Kotahi, delivering two practical guidelines to support the planning and delivery of projects across New Zealand.

    Jen is committed to working with partners, stakeholders and community to ensure they are involved in key decisions and to create positive long-term outcomes within the community she is working. This often leads to community acceptance and the all-important social licence to operate.

Jen Scott

  • Sofia is a fourth-year student at Te Herenga Waka - Victoria University of Wellington currently completing a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Political Science.

    Her interest in politics and public relations emerged early, particularly in community engagement. Over the past five years, she has actively contributed as a volunteer at various events, creating connections and making a positive impact.

    During her university studies, Sofia has developed a curiosity about the role of public participation in shaping policy and driving meaningful outcomes. Aspiring to a career in the public sector, she is building valuable experience in strategic communications and engagement, exploring how these tools can influence and enable positive change.

Sofia Valenzuela

Town Hall is also a part of a collective of communications professionals covering film, digital and design, who we draw on to help deliver quality communications materials and products.