Tell your story more vividly

 Bright, compelling communication strategy, narrative and advice for organisations that need to engage hearts and minds

Shannon Bakker

Chief Communication Strategist

I created Neon Bureau to offer the personal experience of my expert strategic communications freelancing with the extended capabilities of a full-service agency.

 I’ll work directly with you, drawing on a best-in-class network of researchers, digital storytellers and designers and online gurus to bring to life your story, on your terms.

Just as you seek to be understood, we seek to understand you: where you are now and where you need to be. We’ll devise a clear strategic plan together that will get you there.

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What we do

  • Brand & Narrative Development

    Clear, compelling story and brand foundations to guide how your audience feels about and understands you.

    Organisation brand story or explanatory narrative. Strategic storytelling: content, positioning, channel strategy, annual reports

  • Communications & Engagement Strategy

    Goal-oriented and holistic communication and engagement strategy that guides how to position, explain or engage the right people.

    Strategy for issues and change management, campaigns and promotion, stakeholder engagement

  • Advice & analysis

    Thoughtful and practical guidance for your team to optimise their stakeholder relationships, communications and their capability

    Team structure and performance advice. Enhance processes and communication channels and tools. Stakeholder issues analysis.

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What clients are saying:

  • Monash university

    “As a seasoned practitioner, Shannon quickly understands the needs of her clients and their audiences and translates this into well thought out strategies.

    She is unique in her abilities to distill complex information into impactful messaging, as well as managing and understanding our stakeholders.

    She made us extremely comfortable representing our team to stakeholders as our strategic advisor.”

    Belinda Hayes, Director of Communications

  • ALTOMETER BUSINESS INTELLIGENCE

    "Shannon makes complex very clear. She can bring difficult and sometimes competing ideas together into communication which is concise and elegant. She goes about her work in a deeply thoughtful, unassuming way, which I have always felt makes what she does look easier than it is. Strongly recommended. "

    Don Sharples, Director

  • COUNTRY FIRE AUTHORITY

    “Shannon’s work to support our development of a new CFA narrative brought together the thoughts and ideas of a diverse cohort of volunteers and staff, creating a brand story which has resonated strongly among our members and the community.

    With an extensive background in all areas of strategic communications, Shannon is able to provide an end-to-end service which is unique among many practitioners in the field.

    Her engaging and collaborative style supports creative thinking and results in great outcomes”

    Sally Pickering, Executive Director Communications and Stakeholder Relations.

  • VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT AGENCY

    “Shannon is a true strategic communications professional, who thinks outside the box and comes to the table with real solutions to complex problems.

    Systematic, strategic and outcomes focused, she works to understand and help others understand. If she suggests something, you know it will work.

    Her work helping us design our corporate strategy story helped us incorporate the messaging into all aspects of our communication.

    I would recommend Shannon to everyone. She just gets it.”

    Head of Communications, Victorian Government

Ways to work together:

  • Project Work

    Whether you require a concept-to-delivery project, or a smaller scope piece, we can work up a project plan to deliver your outcome.

  • Collaborations

    We work together with other agencies and consultants to bring our expert skill in strategic communications and narrative to any project or proposal.

  • Short term retainers

    Perhaps your communications team needs some strategic guidance, or there are a string of projects coming up that need expert support to develop and roll out. We offer monthly retainers to help manage workload peaks.

  • Something else

    Freelance strategic communication support available by the hour or by the day.

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