Simon Kozak is the marketing and communications led for Equally Well NZ. He is also the Head of Marketing and Communications for Ember Korowai Takitini, a leading NGO Group acting in the Mental Health and Addictions sector in New Zealand. Simon is an experienced and awarded marketer, with over 30 years’ experience most of it in Advertising Agencies in the UK, NZ and Australia; with some client side experience as Head Of Communications for Auckland University of technology. Lived experience with alcohol, and mental health combine with professional skills to inform Simon’s work in his current role. He has been with Equally Well for 3 years, at Ember for 5 years and hasn’t had a drink for over 12.
ABSTRACT
In my presentation, "Stepping Out of the Echo Chamber," I'll be cutting through the jargon to talk about the real issue of diagnostic overshadowing.
I'll share how using personal stories has actually made a difference in tackling this issue, using the SEE US Campaign in New Zealand.
My presentation will break down the strategies that worked during the SEE US Campaign, including how we teamed up with the Pharmaceutical Association of NZ to make a real impact.
I will discuss how we are switching our focus from dramatising the problem, to challenging health professional’s to take action.
My presentation will discuss how a recent programme of research gives us rational evidence that we can combine with the emotional voice of lived experience and the empirical outcomes of our work with the NZ Pharmaceutical Association and how it has led us to our plans for the next phase of the campaign.
Challenging healthcare practitioners to step up and play a more active role, and what this is.
The intention of Equally Well NZ is to step out of the echo chamber and into action.
