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April 14, 2026 — 5:00am
There was a point last year when it looked like the Australian National University would have taken all the help it could get.
Among other things, the university’s chancellor, Julie Bishop, was accused in August of bullying in a Senate committee hearing, allegations that Bishop denies. Then the university’s embattled former vice chancellor Genevieve Bell resigned the following month.
So we weren’t surprised to hear Bell’s interim successor, Rebekah Brown, moved quickly to outsource what would appear to be just about every piece of communication that carries her name.
Less than a month into the role, Brown signed off on a $165,000 proposal from the consulting firm “Rowdy Inc” for work on a communications strategy including “crisis communications” and “reputation management”, according to documents seen by CBD.
In a proposal document, Rowdy suggested the plan be rolled out in two phases. The first, otherwise known as the “establish and discover” phase, would be carried out over two months from October to “refine and establish” communications on behalf of Brown, to establish “new communications rhythms”, and start building trust with the ANU community. The quote for that master plan was $42,000.
The second phase proposed stakeholder interviews with everyone you’d expect, a “comprehensive audit” of existing channels, a review of current communications structure and resources, benchmarking against sector peers (which you’d have thought would be part of the audit, but whatever), and a bunch of other stuff that reads as mind-numbingly repetitive. The quote for that was $108,000.
The Rowdy document then goes on to suggest the university set aside a further $80,000 for fun research stuff, including sentiment tracking, reputation tracking and focus group sessions.
“Consultants, contractors, and advisors can provide valuable support to the university, particularly when a specific skill set or capability is not available internally, where there are capacity limitations, and where external expert, objective insights are needed,” an ANU spokesperson told CBD in a statement.
“Rowdy is on the ANU Marketing and Communications Services Panel for provision of services in support of core existing marketing and communications functions and internal capability. Rowdy services are contracted as required.”
Not bad if you’re Rowdy, which describes itself as a female-owned organisation “with a desire to promote diversity, economic growth, innovation and societal progress”, and was already contracted by ANU, according to a second document that showed Brown greenlit the services on October 9.
“The proposed works are strategic in nature, requiring specialised expertise in crisis communications and reputation management that the organisation does not currently possess,” the document reads. “Engaging external support will enable a rapid, independent assessment of existing functions, ensuring an objective stocktake and informed pathway forward.”
It’s hard to blame Brown for taking out the insurance policy. But we can’t imagine even a slick comms plan would’ve done much for her predecessor.
Angus Taylor to front Bradfield dinner despite party losing seat
Not much makes sense about the federal Liberal Party these days. The party has failed for years to articulate what it is and who it’s for.
It has a parliamentary leader in Angus Taylor, whose appeal is outmatched by most household objects. And a federal executive that appears to feel so miserable about its prospects for recruiting a new federal director it has advertised the role on seek.com.au.
Everybody seems to acknowledge the Liberal Party’s bleak reality – except the party itself. For the latest piece of evidence, we draw your attention to the Liberal Party’s bizarre decision to continue hosting its annual Bradfield fundraising dinner, despite losing the seat at the last election.
The dinner is one of two party functions to go ahead on the same night in Canberra on May 14. The Bradfield dinner will be hosted by Simon Kennedy, the member for Cook, itself a funny little marker of just how repellent the party has become in metropolitan areas, that it needs an interloper from the Shire to host a fundraising dinner for a North Sydney seat it no longer holds.
Prospective guests have been invited to the Bradfield Room at Manuka Oval, for $1500 a head … on the same night as the Coalition’s main event federal budget reply dinner at Hotel Realm from 6.30pm, leaving the party to compete with itself for guests and, presumably, donations.
The joint Liberal-National Party party, meanwhile, promises lobbyists and other conservative aspirants celebrity appearances from Taylor and Nationals leader Matt Canavan, along with “shadow ministers, MPs and senators”. The Bradfield dinner, meanwhile, also promises an appearance from Taylor. But we were naturally left wondering why.
“It’s quite common for political parties to run multiple events during budget week, and an event in support of the Bradfield conference has been running since the 1990s,” a Liberal Party spokesperson told CBD.
“Supporting Bradfield will support an outstanding candidate to take on the do-nothing teal MP at the next election.”
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