Porter Novelli Adelaide

Janice Hoad, Managing Director

Appointed Managing Director in February 2006, Janice joined Porter Novelli in August 2001 with extensive marketing communications experience spanning the United Kingdom and Australia. She began her career in advertising in Adelaide, before moving overseas and eventually taking up the role of Company Director and Group Account Director with a premium marketing communications agency based in the UK.

Janice is one of the consultancy’s most experienced project managers, with particular experience in the telecommunications and automotive sectors. She has managed multi-faceted programs that include launch events, media programs, stakeholder communications, dealer communications, community consultation, sponsorship sourcing and leveraging. Her clients have included Telstra Country Wide, SingTel Optus, Mitsubishi Motors Australia, United Grower Holdings, AusBulk Limited, Duracell and Beringer Blass.

Janice has a Graduate Certificate in Marketing at the University of South Australia.
 

Richard Fewster, Founding Director

During his extensive public relations career, Richard Fewster has consulted at the highest level to a broad range of companies and organisations in the areas of strategic planning, community consultation, corporate public relations, issues and crisis management, marketing and media liaison.

Richard has worked extensively with government at Federal and State levels, as well as telecommunications, engineering, manufacturing, irrigation and agricultural industries across Australia.

One of his greatest strengths is understanding technical issues and creating clear key messages which effectively engage their audiences. He has a detailed knowledge of the approaches and strategies required to successfully engage stakeholders, often in potentially contentious environments and from diverse backgrounds.

Working with dealer networks is another speciality. Richard was founding chairman of Turnbull Fox Phillips Pty Ltd (now Porter Novelli). He is a former member of the International Board of Porter Novelli, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Omnicom, and a New York stock exchange listed company.

Raised on a farming property in the Riverland, Richard and his wife Anne recently purchased Ruston’s Roses at Renmark – Australia’s largest commercial rose garden and major supplier of cut flowers and genetic material to the nursery industry.
 

Andrew Sedger, Senior Consultant

Andrew Sedger is a corporate communications specialist with more than 12 years experience in corporate communications and public affairs.  He advises a broad range of private and public sector clients on major financial transactions, investor communications, corporate communications, public affairs and issues management projects.  Prior to joining Porter Novelli Adelaide, Andrew headed-up the Corporate and Public Affairs practice in the Porter Novelli Sydney office.

Andrew has provided issues management counsel and support to companies such as PricewaterhouseCoopers, Coca Cola South Pacific, Elders Ltd, Macquarie Bank, NM Rothschild, Lend Lease, Apple Computers, Capral Aluminium, the Australian Egg Corporation and ICI Australia.  He has provided corporate communications advice to Telstra, Bankwest, Freehills, Lend Lease, BMC Software and Opera Australia.

In 2004 Andrew was seconded for a three-month period to leading professional services firm PricewaterhouseCoopers as acting Director of Communications.  There he was responsible for managing issues on behalf of the firm and directing a team of 19 communications specialists.

Andrew has also worked with a number of government departments and agencies including Austrade, the Department of Transport and Regional Development, The Department of Human Services, Tourism New South Wales, the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry and the Department of Environment and Heritage.

Some of Andrew’s previous transaction projects include the acquisition of RG Capital Radio by Macquarie Bank, the $266 million ASX listing of LookSmart, the $90 million IPO of MIA Group and the $340 million IPO of UeComm and Faulding’s takeover defence from Mayne.

Before joining Porter Novelli was a Senior Consultant in the corporate and financial division of Edelman.  Prior to moving into corporate PR, Andrew was a policy analyst and project manager with the NSW Government.

Andrew holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Hons) from the University of New England, a Masters of Environmental Law from the University of Wollongong and a Graduate Diploma in Communications from the University of Technology, Sydney, and is a member of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand.
 

Lee Welch, Senior Consultant

Lee Welch first joined Porter Novelli as an Associate in 2005 after working as a consultant communications manager and project manager, writer and editor in Australia and overseas. She is now a senior consultant on staff, and has extensive experience in communications and project management, communications strategy evaluation, editing, writing, event management and information systems.

Lee’s working life began with a degree in library studies and leading roles in a number of firsts in the information sector, such as Australia’s first electronic newspaper database, South Australia’s first information brokerage and selection as the first Australian librarian to attend the prestigious Snowbird Leadership Development Institute in Utah. She then went on to complete a Diploma in Journalism before taking on a range of marketing and communication challenges as a freelance consultant. Four years living and worked in Ethiopia gave Lee an insight into the communications challenges facing diverse cultural groups and remote environments while working alongside scientists and extension staff in a range of government and humanitarian aid agencies.

On returning to Australia in 1997, she took up the role of director of the National Textile Museum, where she developed and managed the museum’s public program as well as a program of events and exhibitions for members. This was followed by a year working for iconic South Australian chef Maggie Beer before Lee joined the University of Adelaide in 2000, where she developed and managed communications strategy for the University of Adelaide’s Faculty of Agricultural and Natural Resource Sciences, including an extensive media and special events such as the launch of the Livestock Systems Alliance, Science on a Plate for Tasting Australia, the Education for the Planet secondary school program and website, writing and production management of a commemorative publication marking the 75th anniversary of the Waite Agricultural Research Institute, and plans for redevelopment for the exhibition at the National Wine Centre.

Lee’s writing and editing credits cover a wide range of areas. She writes features and profiles for a range of magazines in the arts and business and has written two books on marketing and promotion for the information sector which are now set as university texts. Lee also edited and managed the production of A traveller’s needle, the memoirs of textile artist Anne Hetzel. Food and wine writing, and particularly issues such as sustainability and consumer education are amongst Lee’s favourite topics and in 2006 she won the inaugural Sumptuous magazine Le Cordon Bleu Scholarship to undertake a Masters in Gastronomy, in recognition of her experience and passion for this sector.

Liz Harfull (formerly Kellaway), Consultant

Designing communication programs that target Australian farmers is a speciality for Liz who has won multiple international and national awards for her work, including three national Golden Target Awards from the Public Relations Institute of Australia.

Liz has provided strategic advice, issues management, writing, event management, media liaison and training to a wide range of clients including Elders, the Grains Research & Development Corporation, Dairy Australia, Meat & Livestock Australia, Australian Wool Innovation, Horticultural Australia Limited, Animal Health Australia, DuPont, Wrightson Seeds, WestfaliaSurge, WMC Fertiliser, Biotechnology Australia, the National Grower Register, the Murray-Darling Basin Commission, and Land & Water Australia.

She is in demand to work with professional communicators, rural organisations and private companies to provide mentoring and develop communication strategies that support corporate,marketing, awareness and adoption programs in both agricultural and natural resource management sectors.

As a Churchill Fellow, Liz travelled to six countries studying communication tools and strategies that encourage farmers to take up new technology and best practice. She is a staff associate of the Agricultural Communications Documentation Centre, based at the University of Illinois, USA, and sits on the international executive of the International Federation of Agricultural Journalists (IFAJ),which provides her with regular opportunities to study communication and extension programs in other countries, and to meet with world leaders in areas such as international trade and agricultural research.
 

Megan Leyson, Consultant

Megan is a science graduate with a difference, bringing a unique combination of agricultural research experience and media skills to her role as public relations consultant.

As an agricultural specialist, Megan uses her science expertise to strengthen the Porter Novelli team.  She is a versatile consultant with excellent inter-personal skills, bringing technical knowledge and research experience to Porter Novelli’s scientific extension projects.

Prior to joining Porter Novelli Megan worked as a production assistant with ABC Radio in Adelaide, producing the Drive and Evening programs as well as the Country Hour during 2006.

Megan spent four years leading a successful high-profile research project delivering substantial benefits to Australian grain growers.  During this work as a research officer with the South Australian Research and Development Institute (SARDI) from 2001-05, Megan gained substantial experience in communicating research outcomes to grain growers across Australia.  Essential to the success of Megan’s research project was her ability to communicate her research to the growers, government and industry stakeholders.

Prior to joining SARDI, Megan worked as a research officer with the South Australian Grains Industry Trust (SAGIT), a commodity officer with the South Australian Farmers Federation (SAFF) Grains Council and an administrative officer for the SAFF Pork Committee.  The experience provided Megan with a good understanding of agri-politics and industry issues, and she continues to enjoy an excellent rapport with farming communities.

Megan holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) from the University of Adelaide.  She is a member of the Australian Entomological Society.  She has published two research papers in international scientific journals and has presented papers at major conferences including one at Canterbury in the United Kingdom in 2003.  Megan gained valuable career and life experience whilst working as an entomologist at Insect Investigations Ltd in Cardiff, United Kingdom, during 2005-06.

 

Richard Henderson, Consultant

Richard Henderson is an experienced public relations practitioner with diverse skills ranging from professional writing to media training, graphic design and project management.

Richard is one of Porter Novelli’s chief writers and editors. He is a highly versatile, productive and evocative writer with a quick grasp on any subject, new or old, and an intuitive understanding of what messages resonate most strongly with target audiences. Richard is also a meticulous editor whose general knowledge on a wide range of subjects provides a unique perspective in the development of communications materials.

Richard is also a key consultant in Porter Novelli’s provision of comprehensive media training for clients, utilising his general knowledge, media relations expertise and previous experience as a newspaper journalist. Richard has organised and conducted media training for clients and individuals ranging from directors of major companies to unemployed housewives.

Richard serves as one of Porter Novelli’s two graphic designers, utilising the latest desktop publishing software to produce many and varied regional, national, media and stakeholder communications for a range of clients – from large detailed publications to small newspaper advertisements. He is also a keen photographer with a sound understanding of news photography principles and experience with editing software.

Richard began his professional career as a journalist with leading South Australian regional newspaper The Murray Pioneer. He received a commendation in the 1999 SA Institute of Justice Media Excellence Awards and two personal awards from Vietnam Veterans Supporting Kids with Cancer. Richard is a Bachelor of Journalism graduate of the University of SA.

 

Sharon Watt, Consultant

Sharon has been with Porter Novelli since 2001, and during that time has worked with a range of clients in the development and implementation of public relations programs and associated activities.

The majority of Sharon’s time in recent years has been spent working closely with all national and international divisions of leading Australian agribusiness Elders Ltd. She is largely responsible for devising and implementing internal and external communication strategies to promote Elders’ corporate and divisional developments and activities, domestically and globally.

Sharon manages public relations, on behalf of the Elders marketing department, for the Corporate division as well as Elders Rural Bank, Elders Wool, Livestock, International, Insurance, Real Estate, Merchandise, Wealth Management and Trustee services. She liaises with senior management of all divisions, providing strategic advice and support on a regular basis.

Elders has, in recent years, undertaken significant global expansion, promotion of which has, to a large extent, been Sharon’s responsibility. Her work to raise the profile of Elders’ operations and trade developments in China was recognised in the 2005 South Australian Media Awards in which she was a finalist in the Best Public Relations Campaign category.

Before entering the public relations industry with Porter Novelli, Sharon’s career in journalism spanned some 18 years, most of which were spent at rural and country newspapers in Victoria and South Australia. Her work has included holding the position of editor of the Stock Journal, South Australia’ s weekly rural newspaper published by Rural Press.

Sharon had a rural upbringing on the family property at Balmoral in the Western District of Victoria, where her parents continue to produce fine wool and prime lambs.

Sharon is the recipient of a number of awards, including the National Australia Bank Royal Adelaide Show media awards for best human interest story and best print story. She was named Stock Journal employee of the year “in recognition of outstanding loyalty and dedication to the company’’.
 

Richard Campbell, Graphic Designer

Richard has some 30 years’ experience specialising in producing high quality communication materials - including writing, editing, photography, design and printing newsletters, brochures, booklets, books, displays and print advertising.

Publications have included books such as “Bungaree - Land, Stock and People”, “Angels of Mercy - District Nursing in SA”, and “Frail Flesh and Blood - The health of South Australians since earliest times”; newsletters such as “Across the Outback”, regional publications for Wrightson Seeds Australia, and publications for various government and statutory bodies.

A Roseworthy graduate, he has worked with a wide range of agricultural and environmental clients in country areas. Richard spent many years living in the Adelaide Hills, breeding Murray Grey cattle, but has moved to Adelaide to allow him more time to travel Australia.
 

Emma Angus, Office & Media Unit Manager

Emma Angus combines superior organisational skills, enthusiasm and an exceptional work ethic in her role as the office and media unit manager with Porter Novelli Adelaide. She has more than four years experience as an event coordinator, database manager, administrative assistant and manager with the company.

Emma heads Porter Novelli’s media unit and is responsible for distributing media products for all of the company’s clients. One of her primary responsibilities is the development and maintenance of specialist media and client distribution lists, utilising Porter Novelli’s unique global database of more than 400,000 individual media outlets and journalists.  She provides high-level strategic support for the logistics of all media campaigns. As an industry leader in this field, hers is an essential contribution to media and event management activities on behalf of all of Porter Novelli’s clients.

She has coordinated events such as the 2006 Elders Landcare partnership launch in South Australia, the 2005 “Celebrity Milk-Off” for Dairy Australia, and the 2004 and 2005 Telstra Rural Media Awards for Rural Media South Australia.

Before joining Porter Novelli, Emma worked for over three years at a leading Australian high-technology company. She also has experience working in the real estate and global fabric industries.

Emma is currently studying a Bachelor of Tourism and Hospitality Management at the University of South Australia.

 

Natalie Jones, Administrator

Natalie Jones brings five years experience in customer service and administration to her role as Porter Novelli’s office administrator.

A recent addition to the team at Porter Novelli, Natalie combines full-time work at the consultancy with her studies in communication and media management at the University of South Australia, which involves courses in public relations, professional and technical writing, marketing, writing for the media and event management.  Her studies have enhanced Natalie’s already-excellent written and verbal communication skills, which she applies diligently as the ‘face’ of Porter Novelli.

Natalie’s role at Porter Novelli sees her provide complete administrative support to the consultancy and all clients. In addition to these duties, she also provides assistance in the maintenance and operation of Porter Novelli’s unique media database.

Prior to joining Porter Novelli, Natalie worked for a small Adelaide transport company.  Her work involved administrative support for the office manager specialising in accounts receivable, database management and operations.  She also worked closely with the chief executive officer as his personal assistant, a role requiring effective liaison with stakeholders, clients and employees.
 

Barry Hern, Finance Manager

Barry joined Porter Novelli in September 1998 in the part-time position of Finance Manager. In this position his main responsibilities are financial account management, including accounts receivable and payable; financial reporting for management and tax accountants; staff payroll, workcover and superannuation; banking and reconciliations.

Prior to joining Porter Novelli Barry spent 31 years in banking, followed by part-time work in market research and retail.

Outside activities include many years involvement with Neighbourhood Watch and Apex. Since June 2000 Barry has been Assistant Treasurer of the Neurosurgical Research Foundation in a voluntary role, and is currently Treasurer of Southern Triton Woodworkers.