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PR People

Our People

Our collective way of thinking, extensive PR experience, diversity and integrity are what makes us uniquely Porter Novelli. 

Our people are a special combination of talent…

Porter Transformer

When you work with us, we don’t just become your trusted advisors, we become an extension of your team.

Porter Transformer

We have deep connections across media, business and the public sector as well as the right skills to nurture partnerships that benefit everyone.

Porter Transformer

We’re a creative bunch of people with a never-ending supply of smart, innovative ideas that reach the right people and outcomes for you.

Porter Transformer

We’re straight-up and gutsy, advocating what’s right over what’s easy. We’re also a calm, experienced set of hands under pressure when you need it. 

Porter Transformer

We also know our way around business and whatever we do, our work is designed to make yours even better – for good.

Porter Transformer

We love what we do and also have a lot of fun along the way.

So let’s introduce ourselves…

Brad Pogson

Managing Director

Amber McEwen

Executive Director

Courtney Stayte

Account Director

Estelle Dippie

Account Manager

Hinemoana Douglas

Account Executive

Adrienne Sutton

Executive Assistant

Louise Wright

Managing Director

Let's Talk

Our actions speak even louder than our words. Talk to us today about how we can tell your story - for good.
CONTACT US TODAY
Brad Pogson - Managing Director

Managing Director Brad Pogson is a senior PR consultant with 11 years’ experience split across agency and in-house teams.

He’s worked with and for some of the world’s most exciting technology companies – from start-ups to multinational brands – and that’s where he’s found his passion.

With a knack for connecting the dots between stakeholder interests, Brad brings specialist consultancy that combines industry knowledge and social awareness with communication excellence.

Brad returned to Porter Novelli after a stint running his own successful tech PR consultancy – Press Office – and four years’ in London’s top technology and B2B agencies. While in the UK, Brad led communications strategy, content and events for Canon’s Professional Imaging business across Europe, Middle East and Africa and managed the in-bound press office for BT, the UK’s largest mobile and broadband provider as well as a raft of PR campaigns for SaaS and B2B brands.

Prior to this Brad was a consultant on brands including Microsoft and worked in-house with Vodafone in both internal and external communications roles. While he is focused on growing Porter Novelli’s technology practice, his sector experience spans education, construction, consumer products, retail, telecommunications and professional services.

Highly networked and a natural connector of people and ideas, Brad sees the bigger picture and helps clients deliver communications that have a lasting impact.

Outside of PR, Brad has just completed a Certificate in New Zealand Wine and is quietly working on a project to bring Aotearoa’s queer communities together. He lives in Muriwai with his husband.  

Brad Pogson
Amber McEwen – Executive Director

Amber McEwen is an accomplished communications professional with more than 17 years’ experience working in both in-house and consultancy roles. She has worked across multiple sectors including finance, retail, FMCG, manufacturing, transport, infrastructure and healthcare. Her knowledge spans corporate and internal communications, brand and consumer PR, and government relations. She is adept in managing a crisis and has a passion for developing and delivering sustainability strategy that drives tangible business outcomes. Amber sits on the Porter Novelli New Zealand leadership team.

Previously corporate affairs director for DB Breweries, Amber sat on the executive team and played an active role in producing and embedding the organisation’s strategic and annual plans. As part of this role, she sat on the Packaging Forum Board, Chaired the Glass Packaging Forum Steering Committee and was a member of the Food & Grocery Council’s Sustainability Working Group. 

With experience working in both in-house and agency teams, she brings a well-rounded and considered perspective to any challenge or opportunity. She has advised a broad spectrum of organisations both in NZ and the UK, including Tesco Mobile, Paymark, Fairfax, Foodstuffs, Auckland District Health Board & Bayer.

Away from the office Amber has a young family and loves nothing more than running, spending time at the beach and attempting to cook some of the tasty international cuisine she’s tried during her travels.

 

 

Amber McEwen
Courtney Stayte - Account Director

Award-winning account director Courtney has wide-ranging experience in PR and is a detail-orientated, media savvy, results driven professional. She has a background in both corporate and consumer communications, and has worked across a range of sectors including FMCG, retail, utility, insurance, entertainment, health and beauty, fashion, travel and finance, in Europe and New Zealand.

From developing integrated programmes of communications activity that build reputation and brand over time, to stakeholder alignment for Minister visits, community announcements and internal communications, Courtney thrives on the variation that PR brings – no two days are the same.

Courtney has recently returned from the UK where she worked at fellow Omnicom PR agency, Ketchum, for two years’, gaining experience on multiple health and beauty brands that are part of the multinational consumer goods corporation, Procter and Gamble. She is highly skilled in leading integrated campaigns involving multiple stakeholders.

In her spare time, Courtney loves to check out the latest culinary hotspots, whether it’s a Saturday market or an undiscovered cafe, travel far and wide to find the ultimate scenic spot and tick off her bucket list and spend quality time with family and friends. 

Courtney Stayte
Estelle Dippie – Account Manager

Born and raised in Dunedin, Estelle is a driven communications professional committed to delivering successful campaigns that challenge standard thinking and help a brand stand out from the crowd. 

After graduating from the University of Otago with a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts, Estelle used her business acumen and entrepreneurial spirit to set up her own fashion distribution business in Auckland.

Impressed by her smarts and start-up business mentality, Porter Novelli came knocking. Her creative approach to problem solving and idea development gets outstanding results and she has established strong relationships with business media as well as lifestyle media and influencers across New Zealand.

Sticking to the Porter Novelli mantra, Estelle understands the importance of utilising the art of communication for good, helping to shape brand stories into strategies that have a strong impact where it matters most.

Whether it be across consumer or corporate communications strategy, helping New Zealand businesses thrive is constantly at the core of Estelle’s approach. A people person at heart and a born-storyteller, she thrives on building meaningful relationships to develop communications that engage and inspire an audience.

Outside of work, Estelle can be found escaping the city for a weekend away at the beach, dropping into a gym class or catching up with friends over a glass of wine and delicious food. 

Estelle dippie
Hinemoana Douglas – Account Executive

Hinemoana (Ngati Maniapoto, Te Arawa) is an account executive at Porter Novelli with a double degree; a Bachelor of Communications majoring in Public Relations and a Bachelor of Laws. 

Alongside her studies she has been involved with various public relations internships and opportunities over the last four years, working across a range of corporate, consumer and pro-bono clients. Her public relations background ranges across sectors including FMCG, health and beauty, technology, finance, infrastructure, tourism, energy and sustainability.

An inquisitive communicator, Hinemoana is enthusiastic about research and attention to detail. She enjoys the pace of creative, collaborative campaigns being implemented from start to finish and the satisfaction of conveying meaningful storytelling.

Following the fundamental Maori whakataukī that people are of the utmost importance in our world, Hinemoana maintains that authentic client and stakeholder relations are to be at the forefront of her work. With a passionate focus on mental health, policy analysis, issues affecting society, minorities and the environment,  it is rewarding and important for Hinemoana to be collaborating on projects that are all about working with the people, for the people to ultimately create long-term change –  an approach that ties well into the Porter Novelli mantra of doing PR for good.

Away from the agency, Hinemoana has a passion for music, film, photography, art, design, travelling, fashion, and especially spending too much time (and money) exploring the food scene.

 

Hinemoana Douglas
Adrienne Sutton – Executive Assistant

Her client service, institutional knowledge and ability to make all administration matters about our agency hum is what makes Adrienne Sutton such a star. Our longest serving staff member, Adrienne joined Porter Novelli in 2011, and there’s nothing she doesn’t know about the PR industry.

Adrienne worked previously in events, sales, marketing, recruitment, project management and advertising. A skilled project manager, from building relocations, environmental and diversity accreditations, business conferences and large events plus the day-to-day running of the office, she brings a suite of experience and expertise.

She has proven herself as a safe pair of hands from the smallest of details to important confidential client business. Her  attention to detail is second-to-none and no stone is left unturned when she is on the case.

Adrienne is a keen volunteer at local clubs and her children’s schools, she enjoys socialising with friends and family, enjoys walking the dog and relaxing at home during her downtime.

Adrienne Sutton
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James Walker – Sustainability Consultant

Having previously held sustainability leadership roles in central government and the private sector, James works with the Porter Novelli team to offer strategic counsel to clients. 

James has worked at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade and the Ministry for the Environment. Between the two, he worked in the high-octane world of retail grocery at Woolworths Group in both Australia and New Zealand.

At Countdown his team led the demise of plastic bags. When he moved to the Ministry for the Environment, he led the work on the government ban too. Today, he lives in fear of being caught at check-out without a reusable.

James has been involved in leading innovative sustainability initiatives and communications programmes – for example, New Zealand’s first workplace transgender transitioning policy, the establishment of an online foodbank, the development of the government’s Plastic Packaging Declaration, the public consultation on the Zero Carbon Bill and the launch of The Aoteaora Circle.

He’s also very resourceful. James has undertaken Antarctic survival training with the Royal New Zealand Air Force and, with no notice, cooked a four-course dinner for Helen Clark in an ambassador’s kitchen when the chef fell ill. She was polite about it.

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Rhiannon Hughes – Account Manager

Rhiannon has several years’ experience in the PR industry, having worked in a handful of Auckland PR agencies.

She’s worked across sustainable lifestyle brands, namely the beauty, health, and food sectors and has helped to successfully launch multiple skincare and cosmetic brands into the New Zealand market.

More recently, she has enjoyed getting stuck in to the corporate and business sectors and developing communications strategies that deliver impactful results. Her PR experience also spans the not-for-profit sectors and how best to deliver impressive results with limited resources.

Over the past few years, she’s made strong connections across lifestyle media and influencers and prides herself on strong written communication. She has a passion for event management and a sound knowledge of social media.

Outside of work, you can find Rhiannon with her family at Papamoa or out socialising with friends. She’s also partial to a cup of earl grey and a thrilling novel.

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