Member spotlight Ellen Culhane

My role and why IOIC membership matters

I’m really proud to lead internal communication at CloudPay, a global payroll company spanning 12 countries and around 1,400 employees – who we affectionately call Cloudees. My role is focused on helping Cloudees feel genuinely connected to the organisation: to our strategy, our values and to one another.

Curiosity, collaboration and a touch of creativity guide everything I do, and I love finding ways to make messages truly matter. Over my career, I’ve worked across both the public and private sectors, including the fire service, a FTSE 100 organisation and a small start‑up, which has given me a broad perspective on how communication needs to adapt to different cultures, audiences and challenges.

When done properly, communication isn’t just about delivering messages. It’s about advising the business, helping shape decisions, challenging thinking and ensuring a strong people perspective is always present. IOIC membership plays an important role in supporting me to do this well, providing access to fresh thinking, practical insight and a community of professionals who truly understand the realities of modern internal communication.

How I found my way into IC

I didn’t set out to work in internal communications. My degree is in Politics, and I began my career in public relations, marketing and events within the technology sector. However, I’ve always believed that the way we communicate has a powerful ability to shape how people feel at work - whether they feel connected, understood or inspired.

That belief is what ultimately drew me to a career in internal communications and continues to motivate me every day. What I enjoy most is knowing that clear, considered and empathetic communication can make a real difference to employees’ experience, particularly during times of change or uncertainty.

What IOIC membership has given me professionally

IOIC membership has been a valuable extension of my role at CloudPay, supporting my ambition to deliver internal communication that is strategic, people‑centred and impactful. Through training opportunities, events and access to practical resources, I’ve been able to develop my skills, challenge my thinking and stay connected to emerging best practice in the profession.

Working in a global organisation means communication needs to be thoughtful, inclusive and adaptable, and IOIC has helped me refine my approach to meet those challenges. It’s reinforced my belief that internal communication is not just about what we say, but how we listen, challenge and help create meaningful employee experiences.

A career achievement I'm proud of

One project I’m particularly proud of was my role as branding and communications lead for a national NFCC initiative. I was seconded part‑time to project manage the development of a shared recruitment brand for on‑call firefighter recruitment, working on behalf of the national fire chiefs council and 44 Fire and Rescue Services across the UK.

This involved advising a strategic board on branding and communications, managing budgets, overseeing logistics and delivering content across digital and printed channels. The campaign created consistency across the sector and reshaped how UK Fire and Rescue Services approach recruitment, contributing to an increase in gender and ethnicity representation.

Years on seeing the branding displayed across fire stations when out and about is a reminder of the tangible impact that well‑executed communication can have at scale.

My advice for those starting out in IC

Get close to the business and truly understand your stakeholders. Insight, relationships and influence are the foundations of effective internal communication.

Spend time listening to employees, learning what makes the organisation tick and understanding how leaders think and make decisions. Invest in your development early, seek out people you can learn from and don’t be afraid to experiment. Internal communication is constantly evolving, and that’s what makes it such an exciting career.

Mentoring can also be incredibly valuable. I’ve been very fortunate to have some brilliant mentors throughout my career. Look for a mentor within internal communications but also consider mentors from across the wider organisation. Grab a coffee, ask questions and learn from their experiences - those informal conversations can be just as impactful as formal training.

A fun fact about me

Outside of work, I’m a keen gardener and love growing plants from seed - my windowsills are currently home to around 200 seedlings. It’s surprisingly like internal communication: creating the right conditions, nurturing growth over time, and knowing that with care and consistency, both plants and people can really thrive.