Foundations of Strategic Communication Planning

Build the foundations to plan communication with purpose and strategic intent

Great communication doesn't happen by accident — it's planned with purpose. This practical 3-hour virtual workshop builds the foundations every communication professional needs to plan strategically and contribute real business value.

You'll learn how to align communication with organisational priorities, set measurable objectives, understand your audiences, and choose the messages, channels and tactics that work. Through frameworks, templates and worked examples, you'll leave with a repeatable planning approach you can apply straight away — and the confidence to show how your work drives outcomes.

What to expect:

• Understand the foundations of strategic communication planning

• Align communication with organisational priorities and business needs

• Set measurable communication objectives and define your measurement approach

• Better understand audience needs and communication preferences

• Develop more effective communication tactics and channel approaches

Who should attend:

• Internal communication professionals

• External communication professionals

• Marketing and communication advisors

• Communication business partners

• Team leaders and people leaders

• Professionals looking to strengthen their strategic communication capability

Career Level: Foundation, Generalist/Specialist, Strategic Advisor

GCCC certification professional development

• Planning to apply for CMP or SCMP certification? This course provides 3 qualifying training hours, which can be counted towards the professional development requirements for your certification application (completed within the two years before you apply).

• Already CMP or SCMP certified? This course is eligible for 3 continuing professional development (CPD) points towards maintaining your certification.

Course outline:

Module 1: Foundations of Strategic Communication

• What strategic communication is and why it matters

• The strategic communication planning process

• Align communication with organisational priorities

• Understand business needs and communication outcomes

Module 2: Developing a Strategic Communication Approach

• The difference between goals, objectives and tactics

• Set SMART communication objectives aligned to business needs

• Introduction to measurement and evaluation

• Understand audience needs and preferences

Module 3: Messages, Tactics and Strategic Contribution

• Develop clear and effective key messages

• Select the right channels and tactics

• Use insight to inform communication direction

• Understand how communication professionals contribute strategic value

Participants will receive:

• Strategic communication planning templates

• Practical communication frameworks and tools

• Measurement and evaluation templates

• Additional resources and learning materials

• Certificate of attendance
  

About your facilitator

Sia Papageorgiou FRSA, FCSCE, Fellow IABC, SCMP

Co-Founder, Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence; IABC Asia Pacific Academy Partner

Sia Papageorgiou is internationally recognised as one of the communication profession’s leading strategic practitioners and thought leaders. With more than three decades of experience spanning journalism, public relations, corporate communication and strategic advisory roles across government, business and the not-for-profit sector, she has helped organisations strengthen communication capability, improve business outcomes, and elevate the role of communication as a trusted leadership function.

One of the world’s most awarded communication strategists, Sia has received more than 60 accolades for excellence in strategic communication, leadership and professional contribution. She is the co-founder of the Centre for Strategic Communication Excellence (CSCE), a global professional development and insights organisation that works with organisations around the world to build strategic communication capability and advance professional standards.

Sia is recognised internationally for her contribution to advancing the communication profession. Her work has influenced professional standards, certification, capability development and strategic communication practice through the development of frameworks, learning systems and thought leadership that continue to shape how strategic communication is understood and applied around the world.

A long-standing member of the International Association of Business Communicators (IABC), Sia has served as a board director of IABC Asia Pacific, President of the IABC Victoria chapter, and Chair of the Global Communication Certification Council (GCCC), where she helped advance global communication certification aligned with internationally recognised ISO standards and strengthened professional practice worldwide.

Her contribution to the profession has been recognised through its highest honours. In 2021, she was named IABC Asia Pacific Communicator of the Year. In 2022, she received the prestigious IABC Rae Hamlin Award for advancing the Global Standard of the Communication Profession. In 2026, she was inducted as an IABC Fellow—the association’s highest honour, recognising an outstanding career and exceptional contribution to the global communication profession. The GovComms Institute has described Sia as ”one of the superstars of the communication profession.”

Today, Sia works with organisations to strengthen strategic communication capability, governance and leadership. Her work continues to focus on raising professional standards, helping communication functions become more strategic, measurable and influential, and equipping communication professionals to operate with the credibility, discipline and business acumen the profession demands.