Our People

Rob Smith

Rob Smith

Rob has worked as a communication professional for over two decades, including as a public relations consultant since 1995. Prior to joining Convergence in 2009, he worked for Christchurch consultancy Public Relations South Ltd, and was a director of that company from 2000 to 2008.

With expertise incorporating strategy development, management and implementation of communication projects, Rob is accomplished at working alongside senior executives to assist them to achieve sustainable and long-term commercial results. He takes pride in advising and supporting clients to transform complex or technical concepts into readily understood information for specific audiences.

Rob’s consulting strengths are his skill with words, his ability to bring objectivity to any given situation, and his capacity to relate to people of widely differing backgrounds, professions and expectations.

The clients Rob has worked for operate in many sectors including engineering and construction, local government, energy, manufacturing for export, education and social services. He has particular expertise in the agricultural and rural sectors, including acting as communication consultant to the Central Plains Water project from 2000 to 2005. This work was honoured by his peers, winning the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand award for sustained public relations programmes, for long-term projects of three years or longer.

Rob gained his initial grounding in public relations working for the UK Government Information Service. This saw him involved in communications activity on behalf of a wide range of public sector ministries and agencies, ranging from Departments of Trade and Industry, Employment, the Environment and Transport; to Buckingham Palace and Number Ten Downing Street; and HM Prison Service.

Following graduation from university, Rob’s communication career began in commercial radio as an advertising copywriter, where he worked for four years in various centres throughout New Zealand.

Rob works with Convergence clients PGG Wrightson Real Estate, Electricity Ashburton, New Zealand Wool Services International, Family Help Trust and Bowden & Trent.

Qualifications and Achievements