Ben Smeaton

Account Manager

Ben Smeaton Account Manager smiling
Is a dumpling enthusiast
Is not a homebody
Likes expensive hobbies
Dislikes pretentiousness
Can outswim Tony Abbott
Can't commit to one hobby

Ben is a public relations and marketing professional with nearly a decade of experience building and protecting the reputations of South Australian icons, ASX-listed companies and some of Australia’s biggest brands.

Quick to build relationships, Ben is a trusted adviser to his clients and uses his enviable contact list to help them solve problems and create opportunities.

Ben’s skills include:

  • media liaison
  • issues and crisis management
  • copywriting
  • corporate communication
  • communication strategy and planning
  • social media advisory

His clients span industries including banking, insurance, property, education, tourism and events, not-for-profit, aged care, advocacy and retail.

Ben’s established network of local and national journalists enable him to secure strategic media outcomes that help his clients uphold their reputation, raise their community profile, and build their business.

Together with his up-to-date knowledge of social media and digital practices, his clients are provided with a modern, integrated approach to their marketing and communications.

Ben provides his industry expertise as part of the advisory committee for the University of Adelaide’s media degree, and he is the immediate past State President and former national Board member for the peak body for PR and communications professionals, the Public Relations Institute of Australia.

He holds a Bachelor of Public Relations from the University of South Australia.

Ben’s current and past clients include:

  • Rundle Mall
  • Adelaide Economic Development Agency
  • City of Adelaide
  • South Australian Museum
  • NAB
  • Stockland
  • Life Care
  • Goodstart Early Learning
  • University of Adelaide
  • Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation
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What our clients have to say

“Cooper Energy selected communikate et al to develop our new brand identity. communikate took the time to understand our business, its future direction and the necessary vibrancy the new positioning needed. They have helped represent our place in the energy transition as a domestic gas producer. We highly recommend them for their creativity, responsiveness and focus.”

Bindi Gove
Head of External Affairs, Amplitude Energy

The South Australian Museum worked with communikate on a SA Tourism Award submission. The submission is a huge task with many moving parts and communikate helped bring it all together seamlessly. Always a pleasure working with CK!

Ashleigh Glynn
Communications Lead, SA Museum

The team at communikate et al were fantastic to work with. The marketing audit provided key insights into our business and a valuable roadmap for transforming our marketing strategy.

Paul Brace
Chief Executive Officer, Inter Intra

communikate et al have provided a very clear marketing framework for Dockside Port Vincent, confidently and masterfully clarifying the vision and character of development. The developed Brand Story crafted by the team for the project inspires every stage of the development. The skill sets of the individual team members is legendary and the seamless working connectivity between the team functions provided a great business experience. I'm very happy to recommend the abilities and the work of communikate.

Peter Villis
Development Director, Dockside Port Vincent SA

It has been a pleasure working with you and team. Our brand refresh has been so professionally delivered and truly reflective of the brief provided when we first met. The team and I have enjoyed the journey, partnering and collaborating with you to position Nova Systems for success in our first re-brand in more than two decades.

Jessica Thomas
Director Corporate Affairs, Nova Systems

communikate et al understood our uniquely commercial and political landscape from the start to quickly become a valued member of our team. They’ve supported our major events and activations with great results that preserve our place as South Australia’s premier retail destination and navigated and mitigated risk when needed. Put simply, they’re responsive, supportive and just as invested in Rundle Mall’s success as we are.

Andrew White
Executive Manager, Adelaide Economic Development Agency

The communikate et al team played a crucial role in bringing the vision of the SA Philanthropy Network to life, thanks to their strategic marketing expertise and creative solutions. Their support delivered significant attention across South Australian media and fostered meaningful community connections.

I am incredibly grateful for their own dedication to giving back and supporting causes in our community. I would highly recommend communikate to anyone looking to make a meaningful impact with their organisation - because they get people and purpose!

Kay Burton
CEO, SA Philanthropy Network

I’m a pretty annoying client. I change my mind. I go down tangents... you know, the whole founder thing!

communikate et al have been really good for us. Yes they know their stuff; yes they do good work; yes they design great brands… BUT - and this is a big BUT - they are not too precious about it.

They went to great lengths to genuinely understand our company and worked hand in hand with us to create the best possible outcome. That’s nice in today’s market. I would absolutely recommend them for branding and websites.

Tom Carlton
CEO, Bailey Abbott

The team at communikate et al have been amazing to work with. From developing our content strategy through to the ongoing management of our social media presence, design and marketing, they have become immersed in our business quickly and strike the perfect balance between strategic thinking and creative execution. We have experienced a noticeable uplift in our brand positioning which is supporting our business growth.

James Pollock
Managing Director, ServiceFM

The combination of extensive media experience, can-do attitude and respectful, attentive interpersonal communication made communikate et al a team who always sought to achieve the best outcomes for our Council and for our city’s premier public event. I would have no hesitation in recommending them for any major communications project and I look forward to working with them again on the Gala or any campaign needing the level of expertise and support which they provided Unley.

Kieran Weir
Media & Communications, City of Unley