We build brands, transform businesses and change behaviours
Icon is a Melbourne-based, digitally native creative communications agency specialising in behaviour change. We believe that the innovation of ideas, technology and platforms gives us the power to amplify and connect with people on new levels, and produce a profound impact for our clients.
Together, our creative, digital and PR teams offer clients powerful, integrated campaigns and one-stop-shop marketing and digital solutions. Recognising that each business operates differently, we fine-tune our marketing and communications recommendations based on what's best for our clients and their customers.
Leadership team
Joanne Painter
Joanne brings more than 25 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. As a pioneer of digital PR in Australia Joanne leads a team of digital and social media experts skilled in designing and executing integrated PR and activation campaigns. Joanne is the 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. In November 2016, Joanne was appointed a Fellow of the Public Relations Institute of Australia, and recently secured Icon Agency’s membership with the prestigious Public Relations Organisation International, an international partnership of independent PR agencies.
Chris Dodds
Chris is a designer and digital strategist with more than 20 years' industry experience. He is a passionate technologist who has been at the forefront of numerous digital upheavals, including the desktop publishing revolution, birth of the web, online advertising, ecommerce, mobile platforms, apps, and the social media boom. Chris has been a key driver of Icon’s integrated model, using our extensive digital knowledge-base to inform and drive campaign strategy and implementation. He is a keen believer in allowing all divisions (PR/comms, creative, and digital) a 'seat at the table' when formulating our approach and deliverables, and believes in-house digital capabilities are needed for agencies to remain relevant and sought after by clients. Chris leads our talented web team as they build next-generation solutions, and is a member of RMIT University's Digital Media Program Advisory Commitee.
Ed Bechervaise
Ed is an experienced brand theorist, creative and integrated campaign specialist with extensive experience working across the government, not-for-profit and commercial sectors. He brings his own visionary style to conceptual ideation, with a particular ability to execute across all channels including above-the-line, digital, social media, direct response and activations. Ed has headed up agencies in Australia and more recently served at executive creative level at TwoFish Amsterdam. Ed balances advertising with a duel career in urban contemporary art, and has held exhibitions in New York, Amsterdam, Paris, and Melbourne.
Rod Clausen
Rod is one half of the joint creative director team at Icon, overseeing the agency’s creative output. He is a creative hybrid: an Art Director, Copywriter and Creative Director with more than 25 years’ experience delivering award-winning work across government, not-for-profit, B2B and consumer brands. His experience includes 14 years in London producing campaigns for some of the world’s leading brands. A prominent industry leader, Rod is a member of the RMIT Alumni and has served on several industry advisory panels for the School of Media and Communication. He has also appeared as a guest lecturer and student mentor sharing his industry experience with RMIT students.