Celine Kao

For Celine Kao, choosing a Bachelor of Communication majoring in Public Relations (with a minor in Management Communication) launched a career that has taken her across the globe, from NZ to the UK.

“I think the Bachelor of Communication is perfect for anyone with a creative mind who wants strong writing and interpersonal skills, and is looking for a people-focused career where they can genuinely do good in the world,” she says.

Originally set on journalism, Celine soon found her place in public relations. “I’ve definitely picked the right industry, because everyone is so nice!” she says. “It just feels like the right fit.”

She credits much of her success to the guidance of her lecturers. “They really care about their students. I wouldn’t be where I am today without them — they have opened so many doors for me.”

A highlight of her Bachelor of Communication degree was delivering a real-world campaign for the Friends of Hamilton Gardens. “The capstone paper was very practical and hands-on - it brought our learning to life and pulled together everything we’d learned over the past three years.”

Celine also completed an overseas exchange at the University of California San Diego. “While I was there, one of my lecturers asked me to attend the PRSA International Conference in Indianapolis to collect an award on behalf of Waikato Management School. The conference was amazing; it showed me what was possible in the PR industry and made me set my sights higher.”

Back on campus, she became actively involved in the Management Communication Students’ Association (MCSA), which organises networking events and industry field trips. “As president of MCSA, I learned an incredible amount about leadership, teamwork, and how to bring out the best in other people.”

After graduating, Celine built an impressive CV for herself. She contributed to a Seed Waikato political campaign to boost youth voter turnout in Hamilton’s local body elections. She also worked as an Engagement Consultant for HSB Government Relations (now Awhi Group), which facilitates relationships between businesses and politicians. “This gave me a broad knowledge of the New Zealand political ecosystem.”

She later received the Joseph Peart Scholarship to complete a paid internship at Porter Novelli, a prestigious PR agency in Auckland, working for clients across health, non-profit, government, and the corporate sectors.

Celine then spent several years as a Communications and Marketing Officer at the Mental Health Foundation of New Zealand, contributing to major initiatives such as Pink Shirt Anti-Bullying Day and Mental Health Awareness Week.

“After taking a bit of a career break to travel overseas, I came home to Hamilton to work as the Marketing Communications Lead for Wild Bamboo, an award-winning technology company that provides digital products for the community and social care sector.”

Today, she is based in London as a Communications and Media Officer at Bromley Healthcare, leading content creation, media relations and paid campaigns.

“I’m enjoying dipping my toes into lots of different projects and learning from some of the best people in the PR industry,” she says.