A communications professional with more than 15 years of experience working in busy and demanding media relations and communications environments, Farooq has a range of experience having worked both in the public and voluntary sector.  Having trained as a journalist, during his career in UK Government he has been media adviser to several UK Prime Ministers and senior ministers. Farooq has led teams and delivered high-profile communications campaigns for key government domestic policies including the major housing building programme, a review of the public broadcaster BBC and controversial reforms to teachers’ pay and pensions. He has also dealt with international issues such as the UK’s military operations in Afghanistan and was part of the UK Government Olympics Communications team for London in 2012. Farooq led the crisis communications response for UK Government following the tragic Grenfell Tower fire, where he led a team of 40 plus professionals to deliver an effective communications strategy.  Having recently relocated to Sydney, he brings this wealth of experience to his current role supporting Transport for NSW with its communications response to the current Coronavirus outbreak. Discussed in this episode: A human-centric approach to government communications Farooq's advice on crisis management The importance of planning The current state of government communications Developing evidence-based communications Building trust - being accurate and realistic Measurement and evaluation