Paul Giles

Lead - Engagement | Ārahi - Whakapā
Wellington Office

Paul is an experienced communications and engagement leader. He is evangelical about helping organisations tell their story in everything they do and about using insights to help organisations better understand their customers, so that they have meaningful ongoing interactions.

Paul (Ngāti Kahungunu) is a senior leader with a proven track record in providing high-quality communications and engagement services, often within complex and high-stakes settings. He’s skilled in using insights and analytics to help organisations design and deliver customer-centric services and have effective digital interactions with their customers.

He works closely with teams to understand the environment they work within and the options available to them. He helps them find innovative ways to achieve their goals, whether it’s working successfully alongside stakeholders or making sure the public is kept up-to-date with critical information.

Paul joined us in 2021 from his previous role as the Group Manager Communications and Engagement at the Ministry of Health. There he worked extensively across the Ministry’s COVID-19 communications and engagement response.

Previously Paul led the Customer Centric Design and Support team at Waka Kōtahi. There he led and shaped a new customer-focused unit that drew on behavioural psychology, insights and performance, advertising, and education to design customer-centric services.

Paul enjoys working closely with CEOs, government Ministers, executive leaders, the media, businesses, and community groups to understand their specific contexts and needs and support them to develop successful, operationally achievable strategies.

Paul’s extensive and varied experience also includes media production and liaison, programme management, customer and community dialogue, and evidence and insight-led approaches.

Paul's qualifications

Paul has a BA with a major in Media Studies and Communications.