Meet the Team
Peak Presenting is a communication skills training and coaching service founded and run by experienced media and communication consultants Melinda Smith and Craig Eardley.
Melinda Smith
Director
Melinda Smith spent 25 years working as a television journalist, news presenter, and radio broadcaster. After undertaking a Master of Business, she applied her expertise and media experience to corporate communications and public relations. Melinda then established her own consultancy where she delivers strategic communication guidance, training and coaching services.
Melinda's broad experience means she understands the importance of presenting yourself in the best and most authentic way, whether that is during a meeting with colleagues or clients, delivering a presentation, or being interviewed by the media.
Advocating effective communication means that “…both sender and receiver understand with clarity and purpose”, Melinda shares her knowledge and expertise to help people develop their individual presentation style. Having the right skills, technique and approach are essential to being an effective communicator.
Craig Eardley
Director
Craig has decades of real-world experience through the public relations and communication consultancy he founded and still runs, 20 years on. Prior to his own business, Craig worked in media, community consultation, public relations and corporate communication roles in the public and NGO sectors.
His detailed understanding of communication strategy and planning means he brings a focus on effectiveness and achieving personal or organisational objectives when doing media interviews or presentations. He is an expert in issues management and crisis management.
In his consultancy business, Craig regularly helps clients prepare and deliver presentations, as well as profile raising and other communication plans and tactics. He successfully generates large amounts of media coverage for a diverse range of clients - large and small.
Martin Coates
Associate
Martin is an experienced senior business leader who now works as an accredited Life Coach and business consultant.
He uses the Enneagram framework to uncover what subconsciously drives and motivates behaviours, including communication styles. He has facilitated Enneagram personality profiling workshops and coaching for hundreds of private sector and public sector employees.
Martin’s career includes leadership roles within Telstra Country Wide, where he consulted with rural communities to extend mobile phone network coverage. That included facilitating positive relationships with many stakeholder groups, including NSW Members of Parliament.
Martin was an active member of Telstra’s National Communicators Team, delivering presentations to a range of community groups in metro and regional locations.
As Director, City Engagement at the City of Newcastle, Martin’s portfolio included managing Council’s Human Resources, Legal, Governance, Communication, and Public Consultation teams.
He moved to leadership roles in the Federal Government business enterprise, Defence Housing Australia (DHA). His roles as Regional Director Northern NSW, then National Service Delivery Operations Manager, required high-level presentation, communication and facilitation skills.
Martin understands the training and skills development environment. He was a Board Member of Atwea College for 14 years, including four years as Chairman. Atwea is one of the largest providers of community-based adult learning in NSW.
Martin has a Master of Business Administration and qualifications in project management and public participation.