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April 29, 2026

By Michael Zewdie

The Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia is pleased to welcome Mr Paul Wallbank as its incoming National Manager, Media and Communications — a significant appointment as the church continues to deepen its public witness and strengthen how it tells its story to the nation.
 
Paul joins the Assembly from a career that spans national newsrooms, peak industry bodies, government agencies, and his own communications practice. He is, in the truest sense, someone who has worked on both sides of the story — as a journalist who has shaped public narratives, and as a communications strategist who has helped organisations navigate them.
 

A Career Built on Clarity and Connection

For nearly two decades he was a trusted technology and business voice at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, as a regular contributor to ABC Nightlife and Sydney Weekend Mornings — bringing complex ideas to everyday audiences with warmth and clarity. He has written for The Australian, the Australian Financial Review, and Smart Company, and authored seven books, including titles in the widely-read Dummies series.

"Paul brings significant experience to our national communications team. We look forward to Paul shaping our communications to strengthen our prophetic voice in the public square and to connect more deeply with our local communities of faith." says Andrew Johnson, General Secretary of Uniting Church in Australia

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More recently, Paul served as Media and Communications Manager at the Australian Computer Society (ACS), where he led national communications strategy for Australia's peak body representing more than 48,000 technology professionals. During his five years there, he built the organisation's media outreach program, increased earned media value more than threefold, and reduced crisis response times from weeks to hours. He also introduced data, analytics, and AI tools to sharpen the impact of the organisation's communications — a skillset that will be directly relevant as the UCA navigates a rapidly changing media landscape.
 
"A Message Worth Hearing, Told Well"
What runs as a consistent thread through Paul's career is a conviction that good communication is not just about volume or reach — it is about trust. He has built internal communications systems, coached executives through high-stakes media moments, prepared parliamentary submissions, and developed crisis frameworks that protect both reputation and relationships. He has led teams through organisational change and mentored journalists who have gone on to become some of Australia's most recognised voices.
 
That combination of editorial instincts, strategic discipline, and genuine investment in people is precisely what the Assembly's communications function needs as it looks ahead.
 
Joining at a Significant Moment
Paul steps into this role at a time when the Uniting Church is actively deepening its public engagement — through its covenanting journey with the Uniting Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, its voice on justice issues including climate, housing, and care for those on the margins, and its preparations for the 18th Assembly in 2027. The church has a story worth telling. Paul's task will be to ensure it is told with the clarity, courage, and creativity it deserves.
 
Paul will commence in May 4, 2026. The Assembly looks forward to introducing him more widely in the coming weeks.

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