Educating future entrepreneurs. Investing in big ideas.

You know how entrepreneurs struggle with everything, everywhere, all at once? Yep. So do I.

Given the fact that I am now old enough to remember the comet that killed the dinosaurs, I've made so many wild mistakes across so many industries and so many attempts to be an adult, that I figured that I had better be honest about it. Firstly, because someone, somewhere might have photos to prove what I did in the 90s. Secondly, because age comes with a certain level of "don't give a damn" that I am enjoying leveraging.

So what do I do?

1. Create a lot of content online because I enjoy it and I am an attention-seeking show pony.
2. Train organisations in digital skills, AI adoption and speaking confidence.
3. Train individuals in all those same things in-person and online.
4. Buy distressed retail and food/bev businesses, fix them and grow them.
5. Train small business owners Australia-wide on behalf of Meta AU/NZ.
6. Deliver digital advisory services for the ASBAS Digital Solutions program.
7. Deliver an innovation and entrepreneurship program for Darwin Innovation Hub.
8. Write long lists of things that I do.

You can book a one-hour call with me for $165 (AU).
You can subscribe to my newsletters through this profile.
You can run screaming from this profile and tell people I'm an idiot.

I'm happy with any of those actions.

Dante St James

The little camera trick that makes you look more welcoming - and a whole lot less arrogant.

Educating entrepreneurs, speakers & leaders.

I admit it. My LinkedIn Local nights in 2025 got stale. As the year dragged on, I felt like I was just "calling it in."

I had to make a decision this year on whether I let the whole thing go, or try something new.

Given that I have quit way too many things over way too many years, I decided to give it one more year, but mix it up.

Our February LinkedIn Local Darwin event wasn't a networking event, but networking happened.

It wasn't a pitching event, but people pitched naturally and within context.

The food and drinks were there as they usually would be.

But the whole thing was different.

I stole the idea of movement to music from Ripple Festival, who did this so well last year

I made up an activity called "Build a Bridge" where groups collaborated on ideas of how to get each other from where they are to where they want to be.

We made bloody paper planes and threw them around.

People relaxed. They laughed. They had conversations that lasted long after the activities stopped.

So I guess that I'll be continuing LinkedIn Local Darwin this year after all.

But I suppose that was the plan all along.

Oh - and the next one in April will be completely different to this one as well.

I'll let you know when it's on in the next month.

First Languages Australia

First Languages Australia is the national peak body working to ensure the strength of all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander languages.

I use my communication and interpersonal skills build strong, effective relationships with diverse stakeholders. I  prepare influential, clear, and consistent communication materials. In my role I: 
- co-design and manage the implementation of communications strategies and activities; 
- cultivate strong, professional relationships with diverse stakeholders nationwide; 
- manage engagement strategies to enhance First Languages Australia's reputation and forge partnerships; 
- provide communications and engagement advice and support; 
- develop media releases, talking points and supporting materials for key events; 
- create and deliver high-quality communication materials; 
- represent First Languages Australia effectively through event management, community engagement, media and stakeholder relations.

Community and Engagement Manager

Community Broadcasting Association of Australia

The Community Broadcasting Association of Australia (CBAA) is a not-for-profit cultural organisation established for the promotion of community broadcasting including both radio and television. Community broadcasting is a vital part of the Australian media landscape. Over 450 radio stations broadcast more than 500 services across Australia and play an important role in providing a voice for communities that aren’t adequately serviced by other broadcasting sectors. The CBAA was born in 1974 from a desire to help community broadcasters be stronger and more successful. The CBAA is an internationally recognised not-for-profit organisation and represents 90% of the sector's stations as members.

Volunteer role: Non-Executive Directors are responsible for contributing to the strategic direction for the organisation. Core governance skills are required for all Directors, such as understanding Director responsibilities and duties and demonstrating required corporate governance skills, being able to identify conflicts and engage in discussions on managing conflicts.

Non Executive Director

Port Macquarie Hastings Council

I lead the Community Voice team in supporting community education and behaviour change, community engagement, community engagement communications, and stakeholder management. We work to ensure that Port Macquarie Hastings Council is engaging, informing and empowering community participation. 

We are part of the Liveable Communities group within the Community, Planning & Environment division. Our role sees us help our community to be involved in decision making, educated to affect behavioural changes, informed of PHMC business - including upcoming projects, events and activities - and that their requests are managed and responded to.

Community Voice Manager

Menzies School of Health Research

Achievements: 
- Implemented an interim brand refresh while conducting an ongoing review and stakeholder rebranding consultation. This included designing and publishing a suite of new templates, procedures, guidelines and training packages. It also included auditing existing collateral and channels for compliance and updates. 
- Project managed, designed and launched a new intranet to positive feedback and completed a 6-month review of the site. It has prompted increased engagement by staff alongside current updates to the website, both of which will be overhauled following development and launch of a new brand in 2024. 
- Introduced new (and supported existing) events, including a Research Seminar Series which highlights fresh discoveries and insights to increase awareness of Menzies’ expertise. Evaluated and refined event delivery including keynote and award ceremonies, IWD, National Reconciliation Week and NAIDOC Week.
- Developed and implemented SOPs for the team, Corporate Services and Menzies; project management procedures and systems in line with best practice and continuous improvement, and a 5-year team project plan and timelines. The plan includes updates to old and the development of new policies and procedures to existing ones to mitigate risks, ensure legislative compliance and guide change in line with legislation and regulations, contemporary practices and new organisational strategic goals. 
- Increased output and coverage of Menzies’ achievements across a range of mediums, including media releases and interviews, social media, eDMs and newsletters, and supported teams to produce compliant collateral and resources for a range of stakeholders, including government and First Nations organisations.

Marketing and Communications Manager

Northern Territory Government

Achievements: 
- Crisis and emergency communications, including:
   ~designed and implemented standard operating procedures for emergency management Public Information functional group, including wet season (adverse weather events, cyclones and flooding) and biosecurity responses (managing 5 active or emerging plant / animal based threats). 
   ~complex reactive media queries, such as those involving legislation and regulatory functions. 
   ~COVID-19 team leadership, including managing the NTG COVID-19 Public Information Group and Territory Business Centre overnight helpline, and providing recorded messages. 
- Developed and presented training packages with tailored, division specific content to upskill staff, increase adherence to policies and encourage collaboration and collegiality, and reviewed relevant policies. 
- Represented the NTG and DITT on national, jurisdictional and departmental committees / working groups. 
- High level strategy development, management and support to the Executive group, including on the NT Agribusiness and Aquaculture Strategy 2030 and communications and engagement strategies. Examples include the ABC Rural Christmas interview program delivering 25 regional interviews, the NT Recreational Fishing Development Plan 2023 - 2033 and social license work for the Mining and Energy team. 
- Successfully delivered events for a range of clients including grants programs, funding announcements and stakeholder engagement sessions and activities such as the Rural Women’s Award, NTCA Conference, field days, budget announcements, the department-wide 2021 CEO address and NT Show Circuit events.

Assistant Director Media & A/Director Communications - Department of Industry, Tourism and Trade

Bureau of Meteorology

Achievements: 
- Proactive and reactive media and communications strategies as part of numerous severe weather incidents, enabling community hazard preparedness and response to meet a ‘zero lives lost’ goal. 
- Project management of video messages in Aboriginal and migrant languages to target niche audiences and create timeless, accessible multiagency content for proactive and reactive community engagement. 
- In 3 months achieved a 10 percent increase on the click through rate of scientifically accurate, plain English biweekly media releases, created several national Facebook posts, and shaped local and national messaging through content which was comprehensively quoted in local media. 
- Researched and provided strategic advice for working groups, including on procedures for Aboriginal naming of cyclones in northern Australia. 
- Secondment to National Media and Public Affairs where I created several proactive World Meteorological Day Ministerial releases, promoted politically sensitive infrastructure programs and responded to queries around Royal Commission evidence and COVID-19 impacts on business operations.

Media And Communications Manager

Achievements: 
- Completed a complex communications plan, comprehensive Ministerial Media Brief (including 2 media releases, talking points and key messaging) and draft collateral (such as factsheets, website material and updates and CEO correspondence) within 24 hours in collaboration with other departments. 
- Communications and Media lead and sole operator for Art, Galleries, Heritage, Libraries and Sports divisions through Machinery of Government processes. Also ensured service delivery for additional areas while managing a newly-formed growing team, assisting the small Media team and training staff. 
- Improved team morale following post-election restructures to deliver on project commitments to tight timeframes and build strong relationships with new Ministers and their staff garnering their trust, praise and successful multichannel promotion of recent achievements, goals and projects.

Position transferred from Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture to TFHC following post-election restructure.

Communications Manager & A/Director - Territory Families, Housing and Communities

Achievements: 
- Successfully launched the new Creative Industries Strategy at multiple events across the Northern Territory during first week of commencement, including speech notes and run sheets, procurement of venues, musicians and other services, and delivery of content to support the event. 
- Project management of DTSC Annual Report including editing, fact checking, proofreading and sourcing appropriate images, as well as production of NT Parks and Wildlife Commission brand guides and multiple communications strategies and plans across various divisions.

Position transferred to Territory Families, Housing and Communities following post-election restructure.

Communications Manager - Department of Tourism, Sport and Culture

Achievements: 
- Secondment to coordinate and manage the NTPFES 24-hour staffing of the Emergency Operations Centre for Severe TC Trevor, including travelling to disaster sites and filming interviews to be distributed from the Public Information Group, while managing business as usual and COVID-19 communication efforts. 
- Conceived and implemented the 'Regional Champions' project to increase quality and diversity of content in line with team and department strategies and Team Planning Day outcomes to develop focused goals and evaluation methods for the Communications and Media unit. 
- Successful provision and execution of numerous communications strategies such as the implementation of a new digital strategy (Accelerate), an Aboriginal Workforce Campaign aligned to NT Government and Commonwealth recruitment and retention goals, and the annual surveys. This included NT School Survey for external and internal stakeholders which also saw me use my voiceover skills for recorded messaging to increase accessibility for students and parents, and the NT Staff Survey for internal stakeholders which included the production of humorous in-house videos. Both had their highest ever completion rates. 
- Designed and delivered services to implement effective record keeping and project management systems, and reviewed and updated all Communications Unit policies. 
- Increased professional training of employees and completion of CLF assessments and PDPs. This included training and mentoring staff through ongoing periods of change and disruption.

Assistant Director & A/Director Communications and Media - Department of Education

Achievements: 
- Coordinated and managed 24-hour staffing of Emergency Operation Centres for Daly River and other regional flooding, Tropical Cyclone Marcus, Tropical Cyclone Nora, Severe Tropical Cyclone Owen as well as media messaging in the Territory Intelligence and Coordination Centre for 4 concurrent fires in Darwin.
- Successful provision and execution of new Media Policy and numerous communications strategies (including recruitment plans) such as the implementation of a new type of Police Auxiliary role, numerous NT Police Operations and several major events, including public open days in Darwin and Alice Springs. 
- Grew reach of social media accounts to engage thousands more followers and increased range of content on microblogging and internal sites, as well as implementing project management solutions to increase the volume and diversity of positive, proactive content as part of improved forecasting measures. This included an internally produced embargoed “12 Days of PFES” campaign for media and social channels. 
- Preferred speech writer for Executive Staff and Commanders, as well as the Commissioner of Police and Chief Executive Officer of Fire and Emergency Services, including for major events such as the Aboriginal Family Violence Policing Conference, memorial days and police graduations and funerals. 
- Improved relationships with external stakeholders such as media organisations, increased collaboration with other NT Government departments and strengthened relationships with key NTPFES business areas including through daily streamlined briefings containing important media messaging to internal stakeholders and the Minister’s office.

Assistant & A/Director Communications & Media - Northern Territory Police, Fire & Emergency Services

Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Achievements: 
- With minimal notice, desktop-edited a 22 minute presentation showcasing ABC Indigenous content from the past 2 years for the biannual Indigenous Staff Conference. The quality of this work garnered praise from Division Directors, including the ABC’s Managing Director. 
- Instigated increased communication between News and Local Radio, driving the formalisation of an integrated editorial meeting between the divisions. This led to improved relations and the promotion of a more cooperative approach to coverage of issues for News and Local Radio. 
- Developed training documents for Radio and Online staff, leading to streamlined and institutionalised practices. This included training other subeditors and journalists, and providing ongoing feedback to reporters as part of formal and informal mentoring relationships. 
- Continual positive feedback from network editor, managers and other staff, contributing to increased responsibilities and training opportunities for other important roles. This included as Online Reporter, a position with increasing significance as part of the ABC’s ‘digital first’ approach.

News Subeditor / Presenter

Achievements: 
- Encouraged increased use of NewsRadio produced content through networking with editors and newsrooms. 
- Utilised my contacts to arrange exclusive interviews for NewsRadio on a variety of issues. 
- My attention to detail, speed, accuracy and editorial judgement resulted in more high pressure shifts (especially during peak listening periods) with increased production demands and exacting presenter standards and my work training other staff.

NewsRadio - Journalist / Producer

Achievements: 
- Managed the increasing digital requirements as a Producer at The Drum, including handling the social media accounts and introduction of nightly longform online articles. This increased The Drum’s brand recognition and audience reach. 
- Developed training documents for News24 staff (including a comprehensive ‘The Drum’ guide) and training others in continuously shifting roles as part of a change management approach. 
- Ongoing positive feedback about my abilities, led to additional responsibilities, including working on The Drum and as an Associate Producer. These increased responsibilities demonstrate my leadership capabilities and ability to acquire new skills.

News24 Associate Producer and Producer; The Drum Producer

Journalist in Charge South West Victoria - duties continued during 2015 alongside additional News24 roles

Achievements: 
- Multiple exclusive and first-to-air stories, including for television, online and radio current affairs in addition to daily news requirements. 
- Appointed Victorian state election coverage manager for Western Victoria and pre- and night-of the election point of contact for ABC staff and external stakeholders, including initiating and maintaining planning documents and briefs on political candidates.
- Increased cooperation between regional newsrooms as well as coverage of issues. This culminated in a single, rotating statewide evening bulletin, improving regional staff efficiency. 
- Mastered the use of television and radio technology, leading to self-sufficient and speedy reporting of stories as a multiplatform reporter and the contribution of material to stories of statewide and national significance. 
- Created a training book for regional journalists, including a “news nexus” to increase story generation (particularly of holder stories), leading to an increase in productivity. 
- Promoted from Journalist to Journalist in Charge for South Western Victoria. This role continued remotely for several months while working at News24.

South West Victoria, Journalist in Charge; Journalist

Health and Safety Representative, Victoria Regional Group

Indigenous Working Group Representative

Journalist

Graduate Cadet

Indigenous Internship

Goethe-Institut Australien

Produced a unique portfolio of technically proficient photographs that told compelling stories about Australia for an international audience.

Photojournalist

Gadigal Information Service

Initiated and recorded ‘When I Grow Up’ segment with Indigenous primary school
children as part of regular jobs and careers coverage.

Koori Radio, Producer

Values-based and First Nations forward? I'm there.

I fill my cup by helping others. We talk. I listen. Then we work together to tell their stories in the best possible ways to engage their stakeholders and reach new audiences. I draw on my media, marketing, communications and engagement skills to support their goals. 

My time in government, not-for-profit and journalism roles hones my focus on First Nations topics, education, emergency services, agriculture and biosecurity, risk management, regional affairs, and politics and policy portfolios.

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Dante St James

Jessica Tapp

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taplio

The Battle

Dante St James

Jessica Tapp

Followers

Posts

Engagements

Likes

Performance Score.css-goub6s{font-size:var(--chakra-fontSizes-md);font-weight:500;color:var(--chakra-colors-gray-600);display:block;margin-top:var(--chakra-space-1);}Dante St James's LinkedIn Performance

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