Strategic Communications Lead | Marketing, Media & Stakeholder Engagement | Sydney-based

A strategically minded and deeply experienced Communications and Marketing leader with a rich international career spanning healthcare, not-for-profit, fintech, advertising, and global corporate environments. Kirsty brings a rare and highly valued combination of strategic communications expertise and hands-on marketing capability — with the ability to unite teams, shape narratives, and deliver measurable outcomes across complex, multi-stakeholder organisations.

Known as a trusted advisor to senior executives and boards, she brings genuine depth across internal and external communications, media and government relations, crisis management, content strategy, and brand development. Multilingual and globally experienced, she is equally comfortable crafting a compelling campaign for a mass audience or navigating a high-stakes reputational challenge with precision and calm.

Key Strengths & Experience:

• Strategic Communications Leadership: A proven communications leader with experience reporting directly to CEOs and Boards, developing and executing integrated internal and external communications strategies that build brand awareness, drive engagement, and protect reputation across complex organisations
• Marketing & Campaign Delivery: Demonstrated success leading integrated marketing campaigns across digital, OEP, social, and multi-channel environments — including growing a subscriber base from 6,000 to 11,500 and exceeding revenue and satisfaction targets for an internationally recognised dementia conference
• Media & Government Relations: Exceptional media relations capability, including securing a landmark one-hour ABC Catalyst episode and delivering government engagement programs that resulted in ministerial visits and new funding for palliative care — a testament to both strategic instincts and relationship-building skill
• Crisis Communications & Reputation Management: Experienced managing significant reputational risk, including leading crisis communications planning and response, serving on COVID crisis committees, and handling media issues with the composure and judgement that high-stakes situations demand
• Stakeholder Engagement: Skilled engaging and communicating across highly diverse stakeholder groups — from patients, donors, and government ministers through to global executives, media partners, and board members — with empathy, clarity, and impact
• Content Strategy & Brand Development: Deep expertise developing thought leadership platforms, multi-media content, and brand strategies across healthcare, aged care, fintech, and corporate sectors, with a strong eye for narrative and a commitment to accessible, audience-centred communication
• International Experience & Languages: A career spanning Australia, the UK, Spain, and Europe, with fluency in Italian and Spanish and conversational French and Portuguese — bringing genuine multicultural awareness and global perspective to communications strategy

A Sydney-based communications leader of exceptional calibre, available now for the right permanent opportunity. An outstanding fit for organisations seeking a strategic, creative, and commercially minded communications professional who can both lead and deliver.

Additional Information:

• Permanent opportunity
• Salary expectation: $160k + super
• Sydney-based

Want to meet this candidate? Contact Becky Gibson on 02 9220 3400 / 0429 501 618  or email beckyg@coxpurtell.com.au