Meet the Team: Kellie
It’s a delight to introduce Senior Community Manager & Assistant Team Lead, Kellie Barnes, who divides her time between Scotland and Australia. We’ve been fortunate enough to have Kellie on the Quiip team for over eight years, where her long-standing career in the community management space is valued by clients and colleagues alike.
When did you join Quiip, and what led you to Quiip?
I joined Quiip in 2015, however my first awareness of Quiip came through a deeply valued connection in the former Social Media Melbourne (or #socialmelb) meetup. Ben was a then-Quiipee with a wealth of experience and, through his connections, at the 2013 Swarm Conference I was fortunate to meet and spend time with some of the senior Quiip team. It still feels an honour to be part of the team and get to make the impact that we do..
What were some of your prior roles?
I previously held social media and community roles across retail, travel and health organisations, including community manager for Travellerspoint, one of the web’s largest travel communities. For several years I was also the facilitator for RMIT University’s first short course in social media marketing, primarily targeted at individuals and small businesses.
What are some of your favourite places on the internet?
I can’t help but pick from a client – VicHealth’s This Girl Can campaign is an empowering, joyous celebration of possibility. The campaign’s social channels have been my favourite place on the internet since we first started building the community in 2017. As an enthusiastic hockey player, encouraging others to find their joy is exactly my jam.
What are the current client projects you work on?
I am currently working on clients across government, financial and non-profit sectors, including the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Turning Point, and the Queensland Government’s StreetSmarts campaign, among others.
What project/client stands out and why do you enjoy it?
Our work with the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation is a stand out project for me as it touches two key areas of interest: being a forum community, and the peer-to-peer support model. Making safe online spaces is important to me, and given Quiip’s expertise in high risk and mental health communities, working with clients in this space is where I most enjoy making an impact.
Are there any brand communities or social media that you really love?
I actually really love the Geelong Football Club social media banter and content. The copy is always sharp and they nail sentiment perfectly. Regardless of how much content the club may have to choose from, each piece is cut, repurposed and optimised across different channels, making for a dynamic and engaging experience.
What does flexible work enable you to get up to outside of work?
Primarily, flexible work allows me to manage my energy and productivity. As much as I enjoy online life, I equally enjoy being off devices and getting out to do other things. Other than that, flexible work with Quiip has afforded me to study, travel, and be with loved ones across two continents in very challenging times.
What is something quirky or interesting about you?
I have possibly been in the background of two movies but not seen either. The first appearance, however, could always have ended up on the cutting room floor because I was smiling too much for a post-apocalyptic setting.
What do you think the future of social media and/or community management holds?
I think we will see greater purpose in future: from organisations, both through hiring and recognising professional community management as a practice; and in consumers, through their use of social media services and organisation engagements. It is not enough to pay lip service to causes, issues or trends, but rather, there must be an overall alignment of values and actions to effectively build and maintain connection. As consumers increasingly take or drive action where their values lie, so must organisations recognise and authentically address these motivations.
Do you have a question for Kellie or the Quiip team? Get in touch with questions: info@quiip.com.au If you’re interested in joining Quiip please check out our jobs page. Check out the rest of the Meet the Team series on our blog.