Ben Hart — Founder, Fireside Agency
About BEN
Ben Hart has 25 years experience working as an award-winning journalist, political advisor and leader in progressive communications. He has held roles a the ABC and has led the communications functions at national organisations including headspace and the Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA).
At ARENA he created ARENA WIRE, the agency’s news site for renewable energy technology articles and videos, and launched ReWired, a podcast series telling the human stories of Australia’s renewable energy revolution.
He has advised several progressive political leaders including as Chief of Staff to Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp and Chief of Staff to former Victorian Climate Change Minister Gavin Jennings. Throughout his career he has maintained a presence in the media, writing for The Age and Sydney Morning Herald, Guardian Australia, ABC Everyday and Broadsheet and appearing as a commmuncations expert on ABC Melbourne's Mornings program and ABC News Breakfast.
As well as his role as Founder and Managing Director of Melbourne storytelling-led communications agency Fireside, Ben is also the publisher of The Story, a digital platform that celebrates the art and craft of storytelling. When he has a spare moment he also sits down with leading storytellers to record episodes of the StoryCraft podcast.