Austin is an award-winning communicator with more than 15 years of experience. He currently works at TC Energy in Houston, is the past president for IABC Houston, and is the founder of three podcasts — Cautious Coffee, The Business Communicators, and The Weekly Brew.Austin joined TC Energy in July 2022 where he currently serves as a Senior Media Affairs specialists overseeing external communications for operations in the United States.Austin joined TC Energy from Pierpont Communications, a public relations, marketing, communications, and public affairs agency in Houston. At Pierpont, Austin worked with clients to advance key client objectives, shape public narratives, and influence press coverage across broadcast, digital, and print channels. He worked with clients and executives to develop and implement crisis communications plans and media training.Prior to joining Pierpont in February 2021, Austin worked at bp and managed the creation and production of video, photography and graphic design content for the US, campaign measurement for the US digital team, co-led bp’s media and crisis communications training for senior executives at the company’s US assets, and handled media outreach for the Houston Open and bp’s partnership with the US Paralympic Committee. Austin served as the Public Information Officer during bp’s initial response to the COVID-19 pandemic in the Gulf of Mexico. While at bp, Austin held secondments in Washington State, Brazil, and Oman.As the immediate past president for IABC Houston, Austin has spearheaded the organization’s professional development program and the launch of the nonprofit’s podcast, The Business Communicators, which features compelling conversation with c-suite executives, strategists, nationally acclaimed journalists, and digital influencers. Under Austin’s direction, IABC Houston was recognized as the 2020 IABC International Chapter of the Year, Medium Chapter of the Year, and won six Chapter Management Awards. Additionally, Austin launched the chapter’s mentorship program in 2019 and the Career Center page following the impact of COVID-19.Previously, Austin supported the publication of bp’s internal communication channels and contributed strong editorial skills and digital media savvy to the ongoing development of award-winning digital content within the U.S. digital communications team.Prior to bp, Austin served as an athletic communications professional at Baylor and Louisiana Tech, handling day-to-day media relations duties for their various NCAA programs, and gaining a strong background in social media, marketing and brand management while working with national media outlets such as ESPN, Fox Sports and CBS College Sports.Austin is a native of The Woodlands, Texas, and earned a political science degree from Baylor University in 2010.