Brand, Business & Product Builder.
Ben Walkenhorst GAICD, maicd
Ben is a transformative brand, business and product builder, known for getting things done, growing brands and building high-performing teams.
He has a rich and diverse career, which is valuable to innovative and brave brands that think outside the box.
That career has taught Ben marketing is about nailing Identity, Acquisition and Loyalty with flawless campaigns.
This is made easy when a brand understands its raison d'être, then amplifies that to attract, convert, cultivate, and retain loyal advocates.
An integrated marketing communications manager and brand storyteller, Ben possesses a qualified, deep understanding of behvioural change, brand science and new product development.
Insights-driven, Ben brings a commercial and governance lens, underpinned by behavioural change, human-centred design, agile and NLP modeling.
This enables him to quickly assess and convert a company's "big market challenges" into effective commercial plans, based on well-crafted stories.
“What’s your verse?
Poetry, beauty, romance, love...music.
My heart pumps faster,
My skin tingles;
When I work with brands to uncover their verse
And we create compelling stories together.
Hope, imagine, trust. ”
Behavioural change modelling sets Ben’s work apart, which is evidenced by a proven track record of delivering robust outcomes since 1997.
This has been for global companies, like: ANZ Bank, (Seek/Parchment Owned) DIGITARY, Advantage Pharmacy/ELF Cosmetics, Keolis Downer (Yarra Trams) and FOXTEL.
A seasoned marketing communications specialist, Ben has established and led a mid-size marketing agency and four departments in global corporates.
Ben has overseen many multi-million dollar global budgets and innovative, integrated, response-oriented, sales and life-cycle-focused, multi-channel TTL marketing communications campaigns.
He is known for his integrity, counsel, sound judgment, and the capacity to assimilate quickly understand, cultivate and manage the needs of diverse stakeholders.
Degree-qualified and an experienced facilitator, Ben possesses a Debono's Six Hats Facilitator qualification and is and has been a keynote speaker, Guest Lecturer, and Mentor at RMIT.
Adopted from one of Mother Teresa's Orphanages in Bangladesh, Ben has an altruistic and egalitarian heart, coupled with a strong sense of integrity and an entrepreneurial spirit.
2018 Fitzroy Legal Service Leadership Team and Board Member (2016-2019), Ben Walkenhorst (far right) with Former High Court Judge, Michael Kirby AC CMG (centre)
Boards, Committees, Panels & Advisory Groups
Fitzroy Legal Service Board Member
Chair Philanthropy & Fundraising Committee
2016 - 2019
Victorian Department of Education Higher Education & Skills
Executive Board - Strategic Comms Dept. Representative
2015 - 2016
Musica Viva Australia Victorian Committee
2013 - 2015 inclusive
Whole of Victorian Government Joint Industry Panel
Australian Retailer’s Association Awards, Dept. Justice Judging Panel
2004 - 2007 (Consumer Affairs Victoria Comms Dept Rep.
Stonnington Symphony Orchestra Board/Committee of Management
Chair Publicity Committee
2000 - 2003
Musica Viva Australia, Ménage Youth Concert Series
Founding Committee Member, MC
1997 - 2000
Victorian Youth Suicide Prevention Council
Rural Student Representative
1996
Memberships
Australian Institute of Company Directors - MAICD
2023 - 2024
RMIT Mentor Program: Career and GLBTI Student Mentor
2016 - Current
RMIT Public Relations Alumni
1997 - Current
Digital Industry Association. Australia (AMIA)
2013 - 2014
Fundraising Institute of Australia
2003/4 (Associate Member)
Rotary Youth Leadership Award (Malvern Rotary)
2002
MicMusic (Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition)
1998 (Special Events Coordinator - Contract)
World Orchestras
1998 (CRM MS Access Database Developer - Contract)
Musica Viva Australia Menage Youth Chamber Music Concert Series
1997 - 2000 inclusive - Founding Member
Public Relations Institute of Australia
1997 - 2000 (Provisional Associate Member)
Qualifications
Graduate Company Directors’ Course (GAICD)
Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)
Diploma of Business (Governance)
Institute of Community Directors Australia (ICDA)
(Scholarship awarded 2019 - to commence)
BA Public Relations
RMIT (2000)
Major: Social Science
Minor: Events
Cert in Small Business Management & Marketing
Swinburne (2009)
Certificate III in Frontline Management QLD7040
Adult Multicultural Education Services (1998)
Debono Six Hats (Facilitator)
Consumer Affairs Victoria, Victorian Department of Justice (2005)
Intermediate and Advanced MS Excel and Word
Adult Multicultural Education Services (1998 - 2000)
Rotary Youth Leadership Award
Sponsored by Malvern Rotary (2002)
Occupational Health & Safety
Adult Multicultural Education Services (1998 - 2000)
Australian Open, Melbourne & Olympic Parks, Delaware North Companies Australia (2009 - 2015)
Quality Assurance Manager
Adult Multicultural Education Services (2000)
Guest Path - Quality Assurance
Delaware North Companies (2009 - 2016)
Responsible Service of Alcohol
Delaware North Companies Australia (2009 - 2023)