Month: September 2025

Navigating Asia’s complex media landscape

Posted on by Bridget

For global brands, Asia Pacific is one of the most promising – and most challenging – media markets in the world.

It’s a region of enormous opportunity, but also of complexity: fast-moving news cycles, fragmented platforms and stark contrasts between markets.

To break through, global messages can’t be copy-pasted. They must be translated – not just in language, but in tone, timing and cultural nuance.

The challenge:

Asia is the fastest-growing region for global business. Yet many organisations underestimate its media diversity.

Treating APAC as a single market leads to missed opportunities, diluted impact and at times, reputational setbacks. Success depends on respecting the sharp contrasts between countries.

Zoom in:
  • Singapore, Hong Kong, Japan: Professional, business-focused media with a preference for well-prepared, fact-based statements; relationships and trust matter. In Hong Kong, however, media freedom has tightened under new national security laws. In Japan, hierarchy and seniority shape interactions, and outreach often needs to go through proper channels.
  • China: Heavily regulated environment; state influence on editorial direction; sensitivity to political topics.
  • India: Highly competitive and fast-paced media market; blend of sensationalism and serious business reporting; journalists often expect rapid responses and exclusive hooks, similar to Australia.
  • South Korea: Media is modern and tech-savvy, with strong digital and mobile penetration; stories tied to technology, innovation, and global business resonate, but cultural etiquette and deference are expected in interactions.
  • Southeast Asia (e.g., Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand): Media may be more relationship-oriented, with varying degrees of press freedom; cultural sensitivity and local language adaptation are important.
Why it matters:

The differences are instrumental on whether your story runs, resonates, or gets rejected.

That’s why understanding the nuances, ranging from Australia’s hard-hitting approach to Southeast Asia’s relationship-led style, is crucial for tailoring messaging and achieving the best outcomes in each market.

Honner in Asia: What we see, what we do

At Honner, we work with clients every day to navigate the nuances of Asia’s media.
Honner’s remit for several clients includes their Asia Pacific practices and we turn complex global messaging into stories that resonate locally.

In response to demand from both local and global clients, Honner joined forces with former long-time markets and finance Editor at Bloomberg News Darren Boey , and experienced consultant Maybelyne Ng , to provide on the ground support to clients wanting to expand their remit into key Asia markets.

Based in Hong Kong, Darren and Maybelyne act as an extension to Honner account teams, providing deep local market insights, media relations advice, contacts and on the ground support, as well as assisting with the development and localisation of content assets.

Global real estate title lands in Australia

Posted on by Bridget

Already a leading voice in commercial real estate journalism across the US and UK, Green Street News has now launched in Australia, bringing its trademark mix of exclusives, in-depth reporting, and industry insights to local readers.

The publication has already featured stories involving several Honner clients and will open up even more opportunities to showcase the deals, people, and trends shaping the real estate market.

Managing Editor Larry Schlesinger shares how the publication differentiates itself, the stories that drive the most engagement, and what’s next for commercial property coverage in Australia.

Larry congrats on the Australia launch! How does Green Street News approach to coverage differ from other key publications in the market? 

“Our key point of difference is our focus on reporting exclusive stores. Every daily bulletin includes a large number of stories you won’t be able to read anywhere else. We are also solely focused on commercial real estate, so we leave it to others to write about house prices and trophy home sales. We are a highly experienced team of five commercial property journalists, so we have the capacity to provide broad, in-depth coverage every day. We also feature many Q+A-style interviews with industry leaders every week, profiles of the top commercial agents and exclusive opinion columns. Our bulletins are designed to give our subscribers a daily round-up of the key deals, players and events shaping the commercial property industry. Lastly, we are part of a global news, research and data company (Green Street) so our audience reach is far and wide.”

What types of stories spark the strongest engagement from your readers, and how do you measure that? 

“Exclusive stories about major property deals and famous or iconic real estate always rate highly as do our interviews with industry leaders. Stories about people leaving or joining companies also rate very highly. Not surprisingly coverage of scandals or company collapses rate highly as well. We use online tools to see how many views each story has had, but the other key indicator is engagement via LinkedIn and direct feedback from people in the industry through emails and sometimes phone calls.”

What emerging themes do you see shaping coverage over the next 12 to 24 months?

“I think there is a growing push for specialist publications that only cover one topic, but in a very broad and deep way. You are seeing that with other sectors of the market because people are time poor and want one or two good places they can go to for all the key news and information they need. So, it’s all about daily news and information delivered straight into your inbox.”

On a personal note, what do you enjoy most about covering the property industry beat?

“The great thing about commercial property is the huge diversity of sectors (offices, malls, hotels, pubs, farms, apartment towers and many more), projects (small boutique apartments to multi-billion mixed-use estates) and people and organisations involved (big listed companies, global fund managers, high net worth investors, entrepreneurs and mums-and-dad investors). No two days are the same and in property you are always speaking to interesting and often colourful characters.”

Your next read

With a proven track record overseas and a dedicated local team on the ground, Green Street News is set to become a must-read for Australian commercial real estate professionals. Expect timely, exclusive stories and broad industry coverage, delivered straight to your inbox every day.

Explore more at Green Street News or follow them on LinkedIn.

Meet Darren Boey, our Consultant in Asia

Posted on by Bridget

Former Bloomberg Asia journalist and editor Darren Boey has teamed up with Honner to deliver PR services for clients in Asia. We caught up with Darren to discuss the latest PR trends across Asia’s many and varied financial markets:

1. Tell us a bit about your career to date.

I’m a professional storyteller, with 25 years in journalism, public relations and digital marketing. I started my media career in 1998 at The Age in Melbourne, then moved to Bloomberg the following year to expand my repertoire into financial news. I always thought Bloomberg was going to be a six-month thing and then I’d go back to The Age. My dad worked there, I always wanted to work there.

I moved to Bloomberg Sydney in 2001, and then to the Hong Kong office in 2004. Most of my career, I covered stock markets and asset managers. I led Bloomberg’s Asia markets coverage during the Global Financial Crisis and we won an award for it. I can’t rightly claim credit: my team did most of the work, and I’m proud of them for it. I was banking editor for my final phase in Bloomberg, which led me to fintech and cryptocurrency.

I left in 2017 to join a crypto payments company as chief communications officer – just in time for the great Crypto Winter. My CEO at the time said my entry into crypto was a bear market signal. With him, I worked on much more than just comms. I led internal builds of blockchain and gaming apps. I built a sports app, which is still live on the Apple and Play stores (200,000+ downloads and counting). It’s been a massive learning curve, learning not just about crypto and technology applications, but about designing product and marketing those products. It really broadened my skillset.

But I’m a storyteller at heart.

2. What drew you to partner with Honner?

Philippa Honner was representing State Street Global Advisors when I was at Bloomberg in Sydney. I used to harass her for fund managers to interview. The way she went about her business as a media relations practitioner really made an impression on me. Simple things like calling journalists back. Being honest in managing expectations – and then delivering for the journalist and the client on those expectations. The simple things I put into practice today I learned 20 years ago from Philippa. Fundamental values. I imagine those values permeate the organisation she’s built. I want to be a part of that.

3. What are some of the big industry or communications trends you’re seeing in Asia?

Probably no surprise, but AI. This thing is fundamentally changing the way humans view and harness information, and our industry is no different. It can make life tougher for a consultant in an already competitive industry – but it forces you to focus harder on articulating what you’re really good at and not try to be too many things to different people. But in AI, there are also extraordinary benefits for communicators, which is something I’m trying to convince my peers of constantly.

4. How are financial firms in Asia getting their messages across – in ways that might surprise people?

Traditional media remains important – especially tier-one business outlets – but what’s becoming increasingly powerful is the blend of digital channels with more localised platforms. In markets like China and Hong Kong, you have WeChat, Douyin and Xiaohongshu. In Japan and some countries in Southeast Asia, you have Line. LinkedIn is still a critical channel for professional engagement. Short-form video platforms like TikTok are playing a growing role in shaping perceptions. I know one LinkedIn Top Voice in Singapore who is an ex-banker with a huge audience on LinkedIn and TikTok.

So the means for articulating a message are many and varied. For investment firms in particular, the key is not simply choosing a channel but tailoring the message to the cultural and regulatory environment of each market. What resonates in Hong Kong might not translate in Jakarta or Seoul. The firms that succeed are the ones investing in multi-channel, multi-market strategies that balance credibility with creativity.

Outside of work, what keeps you busy?

I play bass and I have a band... We have an album on Spotify. It’s folk rock and mostly amusing lamentations about mid-life angst. We have very realistic expectations over the limits of our talent. Beyond that, being an engaged father to my primary-school aged son and daughter, and supportive husband to a wife who is also in comms. We talk a lot about comms at home. The kids find it boring, but hey, we actually enjoy what we do.

When a crisis hits, will you be ready?

Posted on by Bridget

In nearly four decades as a journalist and PR professional, I’ve seen crises of every kind. From governance failures to tech meltdowns, but recent events show that even the most established organisations are not immune.  Reputation is among the most fragile currency an organisation holds. It can take decades to build, yet can collapse in hours. 

When a crisis hits – a system outage, cyberattack, or leadership controversy – stakeholders want one thing: for you to handle it. That means addressing the issue and keeping people informed along the way. 

Without a clear plan, communication stalls, messages conflict and trust unravels in real time.

Why recent events are a wake-up call

Take recent telecommunications failures: system upgrades or technical glitches that block access to emergency hotlines; millions of users cut off; regulatory scrutiny; media and public backlash.  

The technical fault matters – but the bigger failure comes when people are left in the dark. Organisations that act quickly, speak plainly and keep stakeholders updated recover trust far faster than those that delay, deflect, or stay silent.  

The best way to act quickly is the be prepared. Do you have a crisis playbook at hand? 

The three biggest mistakes in crisis communication
  1. Waiting too long to speak: Silence creates a vacuum that critics and social media will gladly fill – with a 24×7 global conversation adding to the pressure
  2. Sounding defensive or evasive: Minimising the issue or blaming others only fuels outrage
  3. Forgetting humanity: Legalistic statements may protect liability but alienate staff, clients and the public
Why you need a clear crisis management plan

Too often, organisations focus inward on containment while clients, regulators and the public wait for answers. A crisis communications playbook demonstrates preparedness, ensuring you can respond quickly, clearly and credibly, and on the channels your audiences actually use: social media platforms like LinkedIn, X and Instagram, mainstream media and direct client communications. 

A well-prepared plan gives leaders the structure to: 

  • Escalate quickly so decisions don’t bottleneck 
  • Communicate early and consistently across all audiences 
  • Show empathy and accountability  
  • Meet regulatory obligations for timely, transparent updates 
  • Run simulations so your team knows exactly what to do under pressure 

 

Because when the spotlight is on you, there’s no time to figure it out as you go. 

The bottom line

Crisis management requires calm, lateral thinking, and swift, informed decisions. Above all, it demands preparation.  

At Honner, we partner with clients across banking, wealth, asset management, insurance and fintech to design crisis strategies and playbooks, run simulations and provide trusted counsel when it matters most.  

Because when the fire comes, you want your leadership and values to shine through — not your failings. 

Is your organisation crisis-ready? For a confidential discussion on protecting your reputation and building resilience, contact the Honner team today. 

Draft crypto legislation signals shift for digital assets in Australia

Posted on by Bridget

New draft legislation that will bring digital asset and tokenised custody platforms under the same framework as traditional financial firms could supercharge growth in the local crypto industry.

Over the past five years, Honner has been close to this policy process by helping both local and global firms across the sector engage with politicians and regulators to shape the debate that led to this outcome.

As the new regime takes shape, clear communication with stakeholders will be as important as compliance. Now is the time for firms to prepare their narrative, engage with government, and build trust with clients.

Breaking it down

Speaking to those in the industry, there is broad consensus the new draft laws are far more appropriate than a previous proposal by ASIC that sought to require businesses to hold a market operating licence. This is a lengthy process that only two firms in Australia have ever completed.

The new framework instead introduces two key categories: digital asset platforms (DAPs), where operators hold digital tokens on behalf of clients and tokenised custody platforms (TCPs), where operators hold underlying assets and issue tokens representing client entitlements.

Both groups will be treated as financial products under the Corporations Act, meaning operators must hold an Australian Financial Services Licence and comply with the standards of conduct, governance and disclosure that apply to other financial firms.

The Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) will develop new minimum standards for transaction, settlement and asset-holding functions, while operators must provide clients with a clear platform guide explaining how the service works, its risks, fees, and client rights.

Importantly, these measures are technologically neutral and designed to adapt as new forms of tokenisation and services emerge.

Roadblocks ahead

There are still challenges to work through. The legislation introduces detailed definitions for digital tokens, DAPs and TCPs – but questions about how “control” or “possession” of a token is determined in decentralised systems will likely be tested in practice and potentially in court.

Compliance costs may be significant, especially for smaller operators, and could drive market consolidation. The Minister is given broad powers to declare platforms as financial markets or grant exemptions, providing flexibility but also raising concerns about transparency and the potential for regulatory uncertainty. Enforcement will be complex, given the global nature of crypto and Australia will need to ensure its regime remains competitive with other jurisdictions to retain capital and talent.

The framework is designed to be futureproof, with mechanisms for ASIC to set proportionate, outcomes-based standards and for the Minister to adjust obligations as risks and technologies evolve. However, the effectiveness of these safeguards will depend on ongoing consultation and the willingness of regulators to engage with industry as the market develops

Australia has a chance to position itself as a trusted hub for digital finance and those who move early will lead. Honner supports digital asset businesses, financial institutions and advisers to shape strategy, manage communications and engage policymakers.

Further reading:

The Eagle eyes Bitcoin as a strategic reserve

Posted on by Bridget

John Lyons, the ABC’s Americas Editor, is no stranger to difficult rooms. Decades in foreign bureaus have taught him the fine art of asking sharp questions without drawing blood. But at the White House this week, his inquiry to Donald Trump — whether the President’s personal wealth had swelled since returning to office — pierced the air.
Trump accused Lyons of “hurting Australia,” told him to be quiet, and — with an almost offhand defiance — confirmed an upcoming meeting with Prime Minister Anthony Albanese that had not yet been announced. A query about financial disclosure had, in seconds, become an international headline, splicing together trade, diplomacy and the delicate dynamics of U.S.–Australia relations.

That flash of volatility has become a hallmark of Trump’s second term and it is reshaping more than press conferences. Since his return to office, Bitcoin has been quietly climbing — from roughly US$102,000–$109,000 in January to about US$115,000–$116,000 in mid-September, buoyed by expectations of clearer regulation, increased institutional uptake and a friendlier policy climate. Capital is flowing back, crypto firms are hiring and lawmakers are toying with their boldest experiment yet: a strategic Bitcoin reserve.

The idea, long whispered on the margins of policy circles, has now reached the floor of the U.S. Congress. Senator Cynthia Lummis and Representative Nick Begich are spearheading legislation to create a federal Bitcoin stockpile, bolstered by high-profile endorsements from industry figures such as Michael Saylor. A House appropriations bill introduced in September compels the U.S. Treasury to deliver, within 90 days, a detailed blueprint for how such a reserve might work including the custody architecture, legal authorisations and cybersecurity frameworks it would require. This comes following a March 2025 Executive Order which directed Treasury to complete an initial 60-day feasibility study.

The scale is significant. One million Bitcoin would represent roughly 5% of the currency’s fixed 21 million supply — and just over 5% of all coins currently in circulation. Accumulating that much would send a gravitational tug through global markets. Advocates argue the reserve could serve as a hedge against dollar erosion, a diversification of strategic holdings and a counterweight to the gold-buying sprees of central banks in China and Russia. It is framed not as a technological gamble, but as a geopolitical instrument.

It may never materialise, but markets often price in narratives long before they price in statutes. For more than a decade, Bitcoin has been treated as a volatile curiosity: speculative, brittle, peripheral. Now it is being spoken of as infrastructure and a potential pillar of sovereign strategy. Even the hint that Washington might one day hoard Bitcoin ensures months of media coverage, investor positioning and policy debate. Each aspect of this policy will demand its own communications strategy. Even if the reserve itself never takes shape, the idea will have lodged in the public imagination.

Australia will not be insulated. Super funds, insurers and endowments may soon find their boards asking not if they will invest in digital assets, but why they will not. Family offices and wealth advisers can expect client inquiries framed not as punts, but as hedges discussed in Cabinet rooms. Regulators will be drawn into the media slipstream, pressed for commentary. Even firms that forego crypto exposure entirely will be expected to defend that stance with greater clarity.

For those building the plumbing of the digital-asset economy — custodians, exchanges, infrastructure providers — the challenge will be tonal. If perception shifts from novelty to necessity, they must present themselves as institutional-grade, resilient, regulation-ready. This is no longer about disruption. It is about readiness.

Sceptics may dismiss a strategic Bitcoin reserve in the United States as political theatre. They may be correct. But markets are shaped as much by stories as by statutes, and this is a story designed to travel — rich in geopolitics, technological tension, and trillion-dollar hypotheticals. It will command headlines whether or not it becomes law. In doing so, it may quietly reset how institutional investors and the public think about Bitcoin and the broader digital-asset world.

For Australian institutions, this is not yet a call to act. But it is a signal to prepare, because once ideas start moving at this scale, capital rarely waits long to follow.

Bubble or backbone? Digital assets, crypto and blockchain debate

Posted on by Bridget

When I launched Honner 28 years ago, financial communications was a niche discipline. Our clients were global giants like State Street and Russell Investments, and our role was to translate complex financial concepts for a small circle of institutional decision-makers. Since then, the industry has expanded, fragmented and reinvented itself many times. Honner has adapted at every stage. Today, our expertise spans the full spectrum of financial services: from private markets and ETFs through to the fast-growing world of digital assets, blockchain and crypto firms.

This ability to evolve with the industry — and to bring knowledge from one part of the market to another — is more important than ever. The current digital assets revolution marks another turning point. While the future of cryptocurrencies remains debated, blockchain technology is already reshaping financial services.

Here are four areas where that transformation is underway.

1. Custody goes institutional — and Australia is in play

Digital assets can’t scale without safe, regulated custody. That’s why banks like Citi and State Street are building services for stablecoins, crypto ETFs and tokenised funds with the same rigour as traditional platforms.

Australia is now part of this global shift. Even ahead of the Albanese Government’s forthcoming regulation and licensing regime, a wave of local and international players are moving in. Anchorage Digital — the only federally chartered crypto bank in the U.S. — has launched locally through a strategic partnership with our client, MHC Digital Group. Meanwhile, homegrown entrants such as Cloudtech are bringing institutional-grade custody solutions to market, underscoring the strong demand from crypto investors and blockchain firms.

2. Exchanges become universal marketplaces

Exchanges are converging. The days of siloed venues — equities here, bonds there, crypto somewhere else — are numbered. The next decade will bring multi-asset marketplaces where investors can trade everything from tokenised real estate to digital bonds alongside stocks and ETFs. Crypto exchanges are moving into traditional assets, while traditional exchanges are experimenting with blockchain rails.

3. Tokenisation scales across asset classes

Traditional global asset managers such as BlackRock, Fidelity and Franklin Templeton have launched tokenised funds, offering 24/7 trading rather than fixed daily windows like the ASX. The benefits are clear: lower costs, faster settlement, fractional ownership and broader access. For investors, this isn’t just efficiency — it’s democratising private markets once limited to large institutions.

4. Diversification for traditional portfolios

Integrating cryptocurrencies into investment portfolios can serve as an effective diversification strategy. With low correlation to traditional assets such as equities and bonds, crypto can help investors potentially enhance returns and reduce overall portfolio risk.

Honner’s role

At Honner, we work with leaders across digital assets, blockchain, tokenisation, fintech, ETFs and private markets to navigate these tectonic shifts. We help organisations articulate their strategy with clarity and confidence — whether that’s embracing innovation, educating stakeholders or managing risk.

The debate on digital assets has arrived in boardrooms. The real question is: are they a bubble, or the backbone of the next era of finance?

For firms in the crypto, blockchain and digital asset space looking for a PR and communications partner who understands your market, Honner brings more than 25 years of financial services experience — helping global and local firms build reputation, engage stakeholders and grow with confidence.