Joanne brings more than 30 years’ experience in journalism, public relations and digital communications. Prior to founding Icon with partner Chris Dodds, Joanne was an award-winning journalist and media commentator. After starting her career with News Limited, Joanne spent eight years with Fairfax’s The Age, first as education reporter then as national industrial correspondent and senior business writer. She now leads a 30+ team of digital and social media experts skilled in designing and executing integrated PR and activation campaigns. Her expertise includes issues and crisis management, brand reputation, corporate communications, brand communications and stakeholder engagement.Joanne is the former Victorian Chairperson of the PRIA Registered Consultancies Group, a member of the Public Relations Institute of Australia and a member of the Australian Marketing Institute. She is a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia and a member of the Public Relations Organisation International (PROI), an international partnership of independent PR agencies.Under her leadership, Icon has emerged as one of the most exciting and fast-growing agencies in Australia. The firm has won six Agency of the Year accolades over 2021/22, including Global Digital PR Agency of the Year at the 2022 SABRE Awards in Washington, DC. In June 2022, Joanne was named the PR Asia 'Agency Leader of the Year'. This prestigious award follows a remarkable two years for the firm during which it doubled revenue and staff numbers. Joanne is a sought-after public speaker, panellist and facilitator. She has hosted panels at the Australian Marketing Institute (2016), the PRIA National Conference (2015 and 2014) and the World PR Forum in Melbourne (2012). Her recent international engagements include delivering a keynote address at the PROI Asia-Pac conference in Queenstown NZ, and a keynote speech on digital disruption in PR to the Leaders in Communications Conference in Hong Kong, December 2016.In her role as MD, Joanne leads Icon’s growth strategy, including expansion into the ACT (2018) and NSW (2020). In February 2022 the agency opened its fourth office – a purpose-built 600sqm production studio, The Content Garden. Located in Melbourne's Cremorne innovation precinct, The Content Garden meets the growing need for 'snackable' digital and social media content, along with webinars, Vlogs and podcasts. Joanne has a BA (Hons) Degree and a Master of Arts Degree from the University of Melbourne.