Emma Lowde joins Diraq as senior communications manager Emma Lowde has announced that she has started a new position as senior communications manager.  Lowde announced the move on LinkedIn, saying the role offered the opportunity to help tell the story of technology that could "fundamentally change how we tackle some of the world's biggest challenges", including developing new medicines and materials and addressing climate-related problems.  Before joining Diraq, Lowde was senior communications manager at Intuit APAC. She previously assumed communications roles across DDA PR, Haystac, Hill+Knowlton Strategies, DEC PR, eBay and HPX Group before joining Intuit. Carwyn Davies joins Online Projects Carwyn Davies has announced that she has started a new role as social media manager at Online Projects.  In her previous experiences she worked across Dendy Cinemas, Herd MSL, create creme and UTS Society of Communications. Chloe Nielsen steps up at Lumita

FIT Communications appointed Clare Kennedy as associate director FIT Communications has appointed Clare Kennedy as Associate Director to strengthen its strategic communications, crisis preparedness and reputation advisory capabilities.  She joins the team after freelancing as a strategic communications consultant for a year.  Kennedy was previously associated with Australian Retirement Trust, Telstra, the University of Melbourne, and Arnold Bloch Leibler in various communications roles.  The move reflects growing demand for senior-level communications counsel as organisations navigate transformation, regulatory complexity and heightened stakeholder expectations. Isha Chittari joins London Agency Isha Chittari has joined London Agency as a PR account manager.  She was most recently a marketing associate at Gray’s Health and Fitness.  Chittari previously worked at The Australian Derma and Laser Institute as a marketing and PR coordinator. Sophi

Tess Brandenburg joins Atomic 212° as head of client service for Brisbane and Darwin Atomic 212° has appointed Tess Brandenburg as head of client service for Brisbane and Darwin, with the former EssenceMediacom communications planning leader stepping into a broader client leadership role.  She will oversee client service teams across both markets, focusing on agency growth and strengthening client partnerships. Brandenburg said the move was driven by Atomic 212°'s entrepreneurial culture, client-first approach and growth ambitions. She described planning and client service as complementary disciplines, saying strategic planning identifies opportunities while client service builds the trust needed to deliver them. Brandenburg spent more than four years at EssenceMediacom, where she worked in communications planning. She worked across Alpha Digital, UM Worldwide, Reprise Digital and Starcom previously. Dominic Burnham joins Smith & Western as sonic brandin

JOY. strengthens team with four appointments Independent creative agency JOY. has expanded its team with the appointments of Rubi Hudson as client director, Erika Dulay as content director, Alex Tracy as lead project manager and Saoirse Milligan as content coordinator.  In announcing the appointments, JOY. said the four new team members would bring expertise across every stage of the creative process, from shaping strategic direction and managing client relationships to delivering integrated content and overseeing complex projects. Erika Dulay joined JOY. as content and social account director after serving as lead earned thinker at Thinkerbell and previously freelancing in the same role. Her career spans senior agency positions in Australia and the UK, including freelance business director at Eleven PR, account director and account manager at Red Consultancy in London, and senior account manager at Poem in Sydney. Earlier, she spent more than three years at Garmin UK & I

Porter Novelli team walks Eleanor Dickinson at Mumbrella reports Porter Novelli's entire 10-person Sydney team has exited Omnicom following the agency's merger into Fleishmanhillard, with sources citing culture clash. Omnicom's GRACosway has also lost multiple partners amid changes to its equity structure.   Capuano joins Universities Australia Amy Capuano has joined Universities Australia as Head of Strategic Communications, where she will lead the organisation's communications and advocacy strategy. Universities Australia said on LinkedIn, "Universities Australia has appointed Amy Capuano as Head of Strategic Communications, bolstering its leadership team at a pivotal time for the higher education sector. "With extensive experience across journalism, government, public affairs and academia, Capuano will lead the organisation's communications and advocacy strategy as it navigates sector wide reforms." Hello welcomes Griffiths

Sophie Roubicek promoted at Herd MSL Sophie Roubicek has taken on a new role at Herd MSL, having been promoted to Executive Director at the company.  She wrote on LinkedIn, “Excited to share that I've been promoted to Executive Director at Herd MSL. Grateful for the trust of our clients, the support of great leaders, and the opportunity to work alongside some incredibly talented people every day. Looking forward to what's ahead!” Roubicek had previously worked as Group Account Director, Culture and Insights Director, Account Director and Senior Account Manager for the company. She has also previously worked at EVH and Rocket Comms.  Gabriela Marcolino promoted at 4Cabling Australia Also gaining a promotion was Gabriela Marcolino, who will be stepping into the role of Marketing & Corporate Communications Specialist at 4Cabling Australia.  She said on LinkedIn, “I'm happy to share that I've been promoted to Marketing & Co

Amiria (Mia) MacKinnon appointed HubSpot director of international communications Amiria (Mia) MacKinnon has been promoted to director of international communications at HubSpot, where she will lead communications across the company's international markets after six years in its APAC marketing team. MacKinnon announced the move on LinkedIn, thanking the APAC team and former leader Kat Warboys for helping shape her career, and said she looked forward to working with Megan Malarkey and the global communications team.  She joined HubSpot in 2020 as senior PR manager for Australia, India and Singapore, later leading the company's brand, PR and integrated marketing functions across APAC. Before HubSpot, she held senior marketing and communications roles at Whiddon. Tayla Krivicic begins Tourism Australia social content producer secondment Tourism Australia has appointed Tayla Krivicic as social content producer on a four-month secondment, moving from the organisation&