Who we are
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Who we are —
We’re leaders in connecting organisations with regional New Zealand.
In our world, collaboration is key, and we work hard to create and maintain an unbeatable network of media, influencers and local, regional and national decision-makers.
We’re strong generalists, and have friends in many complementary industries that we call on to give our clients the resources they need.
Lizi Guest
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Our founder and principal consultant, Lizi Guest, is well-known for her unique approach to communications and engagement. She’s worked with over 100 organisations during her career; including multinational corporations, not-for-profit, SME and local authorities across marketing, public relations, communications and engagement and crisis management.
Lizi has extensive networks across New Zealand and has a reputation for being able to get things done. She is often called upon to deliver training or consultancy services, with a particular focus on relationship management and high-risk or high-profile projects. Lizi is backed by her peers and highly recommended by clients for her strategic advice.
Lizi leads a group of over 450 marketing and communications professionals in the Manawatū/Whanganui region, and is happy to share her story and resources with others in the industry. She was recognised by the Public Relations Institute of New Zealand as one of the up-and-coming Public Relations Practitioners in 2017. She’s active on LinkedIn and holds a Bachelor of Communications (PR) from Massey University.
Career project highlights include:MidCentral DHB COVID-19 Response (Strategic leadership, communications and engagement)
Ōtaki to North of Levin Project Team (PR, engagement)
Muaūpoko Tribal Authority (Strategic communications)
Te Whatu Ora, Central Region Technical Advisory Services (Strategic communications)
ShakeOut - BurgerFuel Group (Launch PR)
Central Economic Development Agency (Strategy, content creation, PR)
Kiwi Driver Fund - Toyota New Zealand (PR, fundraising)
Wildbase Recovery (PR, fundraising, event management)
Westpac Manawatū Business Awards 2020 (Strategy, PR, fundraising and event management)
Palmerston North Hospital Foundation (Strategy, PR, fundraising and event management)
Sime Darby Commercial - TruckStops Rebrand (Strategy - working with Blacksheepdesign)
Shivarn Stewart
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From the public sector to private organisations, Shivarn's a one-stop shop for all things communications. Whether it's media management, crisis comms or helping lead teams to successful outcomes, she thrives when she's got a goal to work towards.
Shivarn also has some very special know-how in the digital communications space. She’s successfully established a thriving digital marketing arm in two businesses, and campaigns she's led for clients have been shown in more than 54 countries, earned more than 1.91 million clicks, and been seen more than 100 million times.
Shivarn's work has been recognised by New Zealand's Marketing Association and she's also been called up as a speaker for their conferences. In her down time, she's an award-winning playwright. Shivarn is a Massey Scholar and holds a Bachelor of Business from Massey University, with a double major in marketing and communications.
Career project highlights include:
Leading the MidCentral DHB and UCOL communications teams through their transitions into national organisations
Managing crises and national media issues in health during the immediate post-COVID environment
Heading international campaigns for Massey University Worldwide (as a part of Blacksheepdesign)
Guiding the Palmerston North Airport Terminal Redevelopment Communications - a two year project and major investment for the region
Launching digital ads for Tim Buys Auto Services that generated more than $2,600 of additional business in just one week, and more than $17,000 worth of business in subsequent weeks.
Supporting various clients with delicate internal communication matters - such as remuneration changes or rebranding - in a discrete way that ensured staff remained onboard and received the news positively.
Lucy Burt
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With a Bachelor of Business (Accounting) and growing governance experience, Lucy has been integral to the growth of Little & Loud since 2019. Lucy has established the systems and processes in our business, moving us from a one-woman-band; to an award-winning business and nationally recognised employer.
Lucy’s career highlights include; establishing a sophisticated financial and capacity planner using forecasting, which has allowed the business to grow through two economic downturns; supporting the logistics of our 24/7 response to the COVID-19 pandemic on behalf of the MidCentral DHB, and having the systems and processes that she has developed recognised as part of the citation for Little & Loud’s ‘Small-Medium Consultancy of the Year” award.
Alongside her responsibilities as Office Manager, Lucy’s role as Lizi’s Executive Assistant grows alongside our business, enabling Lizi to juggle professional and personal responsibilities. Lucy has a soft spot for projects that involve Not-For-Profits, equity, and education, and willingly shares her skills with our clients as they build their own systems. She is currently a Board Member at Ross Intermediate and has previously held roles on various PTA’s, management committees, fundraising groups and sports teams.
Amber Dryden
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Amber has been an integral part of our team since 2021, with her expertise covering radio and media, marketing, PR, social media, digital marketing, events, and strategy development. Amber is known for her ability to implement projects, and to work collaboratively alongside internal communications/marketing teams to provide additional resourcing.
Amber’s project highlights include; leading the 2023 Winter Wellness campaign for THINK Hauora leading to a 184% increase in users of Practice Plus and a 174% increase in users of the Minor Ailments Service offered at pharmacies throughout the rohe. She worked alongside Manawatū District Council increasing engagement and participation for the local elections campaign in 2022, developediedng an investment prospectus for the Central Economic Development Agency, and playeding a key role in supporting the COVID-19 response for MidCentral DHB for two years.Originally from Scotland, Amber has over 17 years of experience across media, communications and promotions. Her skill set is complemented by her Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Media Studies from Edinburgh's Queen Margaret University. She also holds a Higher National Diploma (HND) Creative Industries: Radio, and Higher National Certificate (HNC) in Television & Broadcast Production.
Amber’s special interest is anything to do with social issues, particularly those in healthcare. She also enjoys public speaking and is rather good at it, thanks to her radio career, events speaking, and a wee side gig as a comedian.
Top 10 cool projects
PNHF - The Children’s ED
Westpac Choose Manawatū Business Awards 2020 - record entries even mid-COVID uncertainty.
MDHB COVID 19 comms lead - a 24/7 job that required comms strategy and crisis comms through the depths of lockdown and the pandemic
Record-breaking community engagement for Rangitikei District Council (LTP, Annual Plan, Spatial plan), and WDC (LTP)
Successfully lobbied for the government to commit funding to Otaki to North of Levin expressway
Palmerston North Airport Terminal Redevelopment Comms - two year project with lots of disruption
Tim Buys Auto Services - Digital ads - huge increase in enquiries
Lead the MDHB comms team through the transition to Health NZ post COVID
Georgia Nelson
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Georgia is an award-winning communications professional with a proven track record at large government organisations.
She has worked for New Zealand Police as both a Senior Strategic Communications Advisor and Senior Media Advisor as well as Antarctica New Zealand, and Toyota New Zealand.
During her time with Antarctica New Zealand, Georgia led the Community Engagement Program which takes media, educators and artists to Antarctica, to tell the important story of New Zealand’s research program on the ice. She was also lucky enough to spend four weeks at Scott Base.
In 2020 Georgia was named as the PRINZ Sally Logan-Milne Young Practitioner of the Year.
Georgia began her career in the newsroom as a journalist for Newstalk ZB, and has a Bachelor of Science and a Graduate Diploma in Journalism from the University of Canterbury.
Having recently returned from travelling overseas, she is the newest member of the Little & Loud team.