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Head of comms at Change.org Australia to depart

Screen Shot 2014-04-14 at 10.28.54 AMThe head of communications for online activist group Change.org is to depart after more than two and half years in the role.

Tony Robertson, who helped lead the media strategy on high profile campaigns against the likes of Kyle Sandilands and Alan Jones, told Mumbrella: “I’m simply leaving because I’m looking for a change and I genuinely don’t know what is next but I will be looking at all sorts of opportunities.

“This is an opportunity for someone to tell the story of individuals who are taking on the system. It is fast paced, dynamic and a wonderful position.”

Robertson said he was proud of what he, together with the team headed by Nick Allardice, had achieved at the online activist organisation.

“When I started at Change.org had about 50,000 users in Australia to now it is on the cusp of two million users and is a well known brand,” he said.

Asked which were his favourite campaigns he said: “A lot of people will think of the big Kyle Sandilands or Alan Jones campaigns but I don’t think they are typical of the type of campaign that Change.org has hosted. What we have seen recently is really strong individual stories being told for example the ‘Save Locky’s dad’ campaign, where this Australian couple was fighting for the right to access to this life saving drug.”

Change.org is now advertising for a new communications director for its Australian operations. 

He added: “It needs someone who gets not only the media but how power systems work. Knowing how government and corporates run is going to be really critical to the role. This is not just a PR job it’s understanding how decisions are made and how power shifts.”

Nic Christensen 

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