AKIN ~ Who We Are

Meet The Team

Kate Lord

Chief Executive Officer and Founder

Kate has more than 20 years of experience in public affairs. She brings a strong balance of skills and perspectives combining strategic campaigning and careful stakeholder management. She has appeared before Senate Estimates and has managed significant media events as a spokesperson, including leading crisis response situations. Kate regularly provides media and crisis response training for C-Suite executives and government leaders. She has strengths in leadership, high-level corporate advocacy, delivering stakeholder campaigns, writing, ministerial-level government engagement and communications. Kate led the launch of the Technology Council of Australia and continues to manage its portfolio, along with multiple other corporate clients.

In December 2022, Kate’s media expertise was recognised when she was named one of the winners of Campaign Asia’s 40under40.

Meet The Team

Kate Lord

Chief Executive Officer and Founder

Kate has more than 20 years of experience in public affairs. She brings a strong balance of skills and perspectives combining strategic campaigning and careful stakeholder management. She has appeared before Senate Estimates and has managed significant media events as a spokesperson, including leading crisis response situations. Kate regularly provides media and crisis response training for C-Suite executives and government leaders. She has strengths in leadership, high-level corporate advocacy, delivering stakeholder campaigns, writing, ministerial-level government engagement and communications. Kate led the launch of the Technology Council of Australia and continues to manage its portfolio, along with multiple other corporate clients.

In December 2022, Kate’s media expertise was recognised when she was named one of the winners of Campaign Asia’s 40under40.

Meet The Team

Naomi Wilton

Principal Consultant and Executive Director

Naomi is a professional communications specialist with experience in both the Australian Public Service and the private sector. Naomi has developed, facilitated and implemented communications across all levels of government.

Her experience includes strategic communication planning and delivery, discovery and segmentation of users and their needs, and ensuring stakeholders are engaged effectively. This has included digital content development, event planning, ministerial liaison and executive messaging.

Meet The Team

Naomi Wilton

Principal Consultant and Executive Director

Naomi is a professional communications specialist with experience in both the Australian Public Service and the private sector. Naomi has developed, facilitated and implemented communications across all levels of government.

Her experience includes strategic communication planning and delivery, discovery and segmentation of users and their needs, and ensuring stakeholders are engaged effectively. This has included digital content development, event planning, ministerial liaison and executive messaging.

Meet The Team

Jordi Procel

Senior Consultant – Head of Government Relations and Stakeholder Engagement

Jordi is a policy and government relations professional with extensive experience in federal government as well as in the corporate sector and communications. Most recently, Jordi was a senior public policy and government affairs associate at Uber, managing Uber’s response to the government’s decision to set minimum standards for gig workers.

Jordi has previously served as a policy and stakeholder engagement adviser in the Office of the Prime Minister, a policy and media adviser to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, and has held other communications, media and campaign advisory roles in federal politics. Jordi is skilled at navigating complex political landscapes and engaging with key stakeholders to build robust relationships with policymakers.

Meet The Team

Jordi Procel

Senior Consultant – Head of Government Relations and Stakeholder Engagement

Jordi is a policy and government relations professional with extensive experience in federal government as well as in the corporate sector and communications. Most recently, Jordi was a senior public policy and government affairs associate at Uber, managing Uber’s response to the government’s decision to set minimum standards for gig workers.

Jordi has previously served as a policy and stakeholder engagement adviser in the Office of the Prime Minister, a policy and media adviser to the Minister for Veterans’ Affairs, and has held other communications, media and campaign advisory roles in federal politics. Jordi is skilled at navigating complex political landscapes and engaging with key stakeholders to build robust relationships with policymakers.

Meet The Team

Sofia Polak

Senior Consultant

Sofia more than 14 years’ experience in communications, account management and events across government and the corporate sector. Her expertise includes public relations, events, stakeholder engagement, campaign management and leadership.

Sofia is a creative thinker who is focused on delivering outcomes that exceed her client’s expectations, raise their profile and cut through to the right audiences. She has a keen eye for anything visual and is passionate about delivering campaigns that elevate her client’s brand profile and engage target audiences through the power of storytelling.

Meet The Team

Sofia Polak

Senior Consultant

Sofia more than 14 years’ experience in communications, account management and events across government and the corporate sector. Her expertise includes public relations, events, stakeholder engagement, campaign management and leadership.

Sofia is a creative thinker who is focused on delivering outcomes that exceed her client’s expectations, raise their profile and cut through to the right audiences. She has a keen eye for anything visual and is passionate about delivering campaigns that elevate her client’s brand profile and engage target audiences through the power of storytelling.

Meet The Team

Adelaide Haynes

Consultant

Adelaide has more than seven years of experience working in communications, marketing, web, social media, events and media across government, not-for-profit and the university sector. Adelaide is passionate about creating and nourishing meaningful relationships to understand and exceed clients’ needs.

She is a creative and strategic operator, who applies care to her work to achieve excellent results. Adelaide is a natural storyteller who is driven by curiosity to get to the heart of any story and connect with diverse audiences across multiple platforms to engage with and inspire audiences.

Meet The Team

Adelaide Haynes

Consultant

Adelaide has more than seven years of experience working in communications, marketing, web, social media, events and media across government, not-for-profit and the university sector. Adelaide is passionate about creating and nourishing meaningful relationships to understand and exceed clients’ needs.

She is a creative and strategic operator, who applies care to her work to achieve excellent results. Adelaide is a natural storyteller who is driven by curiosity to get to the heart of any story and connect with diverse audiences across multiple platforms to engage with and inspire audiences.

Meet The Team

Peta Willis

Consultant

Peta is a passionate communications specialist, with more than six years’ experience in behavioural insights methodology, service design and user research within the Australian Public Sector and private enterprise. She has led user research and service design for major service transformation programs across the Australian Government.

Peta has also led the design, testing and implementation of behavioural insights interventions that have garnered multiple innovation awards in the workers compensation rehabilitation sector. She brings a keen ability to synthesise complex research findings into simple actions end-users can adopt.

Meet The Team

Peta Willis

Consultant

Peta is a passionate communications specialist, with more than six years’ experience in behavioural insights methodology, service design and user research within the Australian Public Sector and private enterprise. She has led user research and service design for major service transformation programs across the Australian Government.

Peta has also led the design, testing and implementation of behavioural insights interventions that have garnered multiple innovation awards in the workers compensation rehabilitation sector. She brings a keen ability to synthesise complex research findings into simple actions end-users can adopt.

Meet The Team

Megan Dingwall

Consultant

Megan is an experienced media professional who has worked in journalism and communications for more than 15 years. She has extensive experience across content development, stakeholder management, social media and digital communications.

Megan is passionate about helping clients tell their story and finding the audiences they want to reach. Many years in a newsroom has developed her strong understanding of the media landscape and a sharp eye for writing and editing. She is a skilled problem solver who approaches tasks creatively and strategically, and enjoys collaborating to deliver quality communications products.

Meet The Team

Megan Dingwall

Consultant

Megan is an experienced media professional who has worked in journalism and communications for more than 15 years. She has extensive experience across content development, stakeholder management, social media and digital communications.

Megan is passionate about helping clients tell their story and finding the audiences they want to reach. Many years in a newsroom has developed her strong understanding of the media landscape and a sharp eye for writing and editing. She is a skilled problem solver who approaches tasks creatively and strategically, and enjoys collaborating to deliver quality communications products.

Meet The Team

Priscilla Gordon

Consultant

Priscilla is interested in all areas of communications and media and knows that great outcomes start with great relationships. Prior to joining Akin, Priscilla worked in a community engagement role where she provided support for the Board, coordinated sponsorship, and managed a variety of social media channels and events. Priscilla brings strong attention to detail and consideration to her work to ensure clients are supported to achieve their goals.

Meet The Team

Priscilla Gordon

Consultant

Priscilla is interested in all areas of communications and media and knows that great outcomes start with great relationships. Prior to joining Akin, Priscilla worked in a community engagement role where she provided support for the Board, coordinated sponsorship, and managed a variety of social media channels and events. Priscilla brings strong attention to detail and consideration to her work to ensure clients are supported to achieve their goals.

Meet The Team

Deanna Thomson

Executive Assistant

Deanna is the Executive Assistant for Akin Agency. With over 25 years of experience working as an Executive Assistant in vastly different companies throughout her career, Deanna has worked to improve processes, communication, and policies in her workplace.

Deanna is highly organised with an eye for detail. She is flexible, accommodating of others and able to work under pressure. In addition to supporting our CEO, she is essential to ensuring our Agency and team run smoothly by organising events, managing schedules and assisting the team and clients in any way she can.

Meet The Team

Deanna Thomson

Executive Assistant

Deanna is the Executive Assistant for Akin Agency. With over 25 years of experience working as an Executive Assistant in vastly different companies throughout her career, Deanna has worked to improve processes, communication, and policies in her workplace.

Deanna is highly organised with an eye for detail. She is flexible, accommodating of others and able to work under pressure. In addition to supporting our CEO, she is essential to ensuring our Agency and team run smoothly by organising events, managing schedules and assisting the team and clients in any way she can.

Advisory Board

Jessica Ridley

Specialist Consultant

Jessica has worked for Australia’s largest commercial TV and radio networks – Channel 9, Channel Seven and radio station 2GB. Jessica has developed a reputation as a highly engaging and versatile journalist, having spent the past decade waking up to a 3AM alarm for breakfast television on both Sunrise and more recently the Today Show.

During this time she has covered major news events including the COVID-19 pandemic, state and federal elections, bushfires, floods and high profile court cases, while also working on finance, business news, technology, health and real estate stories. Jess has also worked as a news producer, making decisions about what goes on air.

Jessica trained in Broadcast Journalism at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), after completing her communications degree with PR and advertising majors. She has a strong understanding of how the national news cycle works and now helps her clients learn how to secure reputation-building media exposure.

Advisory Board

Jessica Ridley

Specialist Consultant

Jessica has worked for Australia’s largest commercial TV and radio networks – Channel 9, Channel Seven and radio station 2GB. Jessica has developed a reputation as a highly engaging and versatile journalist, having spent the past decade waking up to a 3AM alarm for breakfast television on both Sunrise and more recently the Today Show.

During this time she has covered major news events including the COVID-19 pandemic, state and federal elections, bushfires, floods and high profile court cases, while also working on finance, business news, technology, health and real estate stories. Jess has also worked as a news producer, making decisions about what goes on air.

Jessica trained in Broadcast Journalism at the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), after completing her communications degree with PR and advertising majors. She has a strong understanding of how the national news cycle works and now helps her clients learn how to secure reputation-building media exposure.

Advisory Board

Sara Goldsworthy

Specialist Consultant

Sara is a senior public policy leader with a passion for tackling the big issues at the intersection of national security, technology, economic prosperity and international relations. After 15 years in the Australian Public Service, Sara decided it was time for a new challenge and, subsequently joined Canva, as their Chief of Staff and now leads leads federal public policy engagement at Amazon Web Services.

Throughout her distinguished public service career she led multidisciplinary teams through crises, government reform, and major event delivery at the commonwealth and state level. This includes her instrumental leadership roles establishing the Cyber and Critical Technologies Intelligence Mission at ONI, the Critical Technologies Policy Coordination Office and Centre for Counter-Terrorism Coordination , leading the taskforce which oversaw establishment of the Home Affairs portfolio and coordinating Australia’s G20 Presidency.

Sara is a passionate advocate for increasing the representation of women in national security and STEM and is a proud mentor of women in these fields. Sara is on the Board of Women in STEM Australia and is a mentor for Future Women. Sara served as Vice President of the RSPCA ACT from 2015-20 and remains a determined ‘cat-herder’ in her professional and personal life.

Advisory Board

Sara Goldsworthy

Specialist Consultant

Sara is a senior public policy leader with a passion for tackling the big issues at the intersection of national security, technology, economic prosperity and international relations. After 15 years in the Australian Public Service, Sara decided it was time for a new challenge and, subsequently joined Canva, as their Chief of Staff and now leads leads federal public policy engagement at Amazon Web Services.

Throughout her distinguished public service career she led multidisciplinary teams through crises, government reform, and major event delivery at the commonwealth and state level. This includes her instrumental leadership roles establishing the Cyber and Critical Technologies Intelligence Mission at ONI, the Critical Technologies Policy Coordination Office and Centre for Counter-Terrorism Coordination , leading the taskforce which oversaw establishment of the Home Affairs portfolio and coordinating Australia’s G20 Presidency.

Sara is a passionate advocate for increasing the representation of women in national security and STEM and is a proud mentor of women in these fields. Sara is on the Board of Women in STEM Australia and is a mentor for Future Women. Sara served as Vice President of the RSPCA ACT from 2015-20 and remains a determined ‘cat-herder’ in her professional and personal life.

Advisory Board

Scarlett McDermott

Specialist Consultant

Scarlett is the Founder and Principal of Longitude Advisory, where she leverages over a decade of experience in the technology sector to help organisations navigate the complexities of cybersecurity and technology.

An expert in translating complex tech trends into actionable strategies, Scarlett has held leadership roles at the Tech Council of Australia and as a Chief Technology Officer. She is passionate about empowering leaders to make technology decisions that drive growth and enhance security in an increasingly digital world.

Advisory Board

Scarlett McDermott

Specialist Consultant

Scarlett is the Founder and Principal of Longitude Advisory, where she leverages over a decade of experience in the technology sector to help organisations navigate the complexities of cybersecurity and technology.

An expert in translating complex tech trends into actionable strategies, Scarlett has held leadership roles at the Tech Council of Australia and as a Chief Technology Officer. She is passionate about empowering leaders to make technology decisions that drive growth and enhance security in an increasingly digital world.

Advisory Board

Anne-Louise Brown

Specialist Consultant

Anne-Louise Brown is a cyber security expert who specialises in articulating the intersection between public policy and cyber security, national security, governance and law in a ‘human’ way, demystifying what can be highly technical and complex areas.

She is currently Director of Policy at the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, where she leads a program of work focused on cyber security and critical technology. She was previously Chief of Staff of PwC’s Cyber Security and Digital Trust practice and worked all over Australia as a journalist.

Anne-Louise has co-authored several key policy papers about AI-related cyber issues, ransomware, cyber insurance and IoT cyber security, and has a deep interest in cybercrime and its continuing evolution. She has appeared as an expert witness at numerous parliamentary inquires and is also a co-author of the CSCRC/AICD Cyber Security Governance Principles and Governing Through a Cyber Crisis.

Advisory Board

Anne-Louise Brown

Specialist Consultant

Anne-Louise Brown is a cyber security expert who specialises in articulating the intersection between public policy and cyber security, national security, governance and law in a ‘human’ way, demystifying what can be highly technical and complex areas.

She is currently Director of Policy at the Cyber Security Cooperative Research Centre, where she leads a program of work focused on cyber security and critical technology. She was previously Chief of Staff of PwC’s Cyber Security and Digital Trust practice and worked all over Australia as a journalist.

Anne-Louise has co-authored several key policy papers about AI-related cyber issues, ransomware, cyber insurance and IoT cyber security, and has a deep interest in cybercrime and its continuing evolution. She has appeared as an expert witness at numerous parliamentary inquires and is also a co-author of the CSCRC/AICD Cyber Security Governance Principles and Governing Through a Cyber Crisis.

Advisory Board

John Mandeville

Specialist Consultant

John is a Hong Kong-based executive with extensive experience across marketing and communications. Originally from Scotland, he started in political communications in London and Brussels, before covering PR, events, digital and social media in markets across Asia.

John’s career has touched every technology trend since mobile – through the cloud, AI, IOT, blockchain and advertising technology. The connecting thread for all roles – both agency-side and in-house – has been the impact – and potential – of technology across the economy and society. He creates ideas, moments, stories and campaigns that help diverse audiences learn more.

Advisory Board

John Mandeville

Specialist Consultant

John is a Hong Kong-based executive with extensive experience across marketing and communications. Originally from Scotland, he started in political communications in London and Brussels, before covering PR, events, digital and social media in markets across Asia.

John’s career has touched every technology trend since mobile – through the cloud, AI, IOT, blockchain and advertising technology. The connecting thread for all roles – both agency-side and in-house – has been the impact – and potential – of technology across the economy and society. He creates ideas, moments, stories and campaigns that help diverse audiences learn more.