About ICON
We make it meaningful.
Make it original.
Make it loved.
By blending expertise from different communications disciplines and learning from different lived experiences, we see opportunities that others may not and create solutions that others cannot.
Our approach guarantees clients the best possible outcome - to create the work that matters.
We think big. We collaborate. We bring the right message, to the right audience, at the right time.
OUR JOURNEY
Founder-owned and led, we turn up to make a positive impact on the world. Our journey has been marked by ambition, commitment, and a bold, entrepreneurial spirit.
OUR JOURNEY
Founder-owned and led, we turn up to make a positive impact on the world. Our journey has been marked by ambition, commitment, and a bold, entrepreneurial spirit.
Our makers
We’re a diverse group of creators, thinkers, writers and technologists. Our craft is our passion, our value is our impact. We’ve mastered interdisciplinary thinking and integrated delivery.
Our makers
We’re a diverse group of creators, thinkers, writers and technologists. Our craft is our passion, our value is our impact. We’ve mastered interdisciplinary thinking and integrated delivery.
- Meet the team
OUR PARTNERS
It takes a village. We built a world.
OUR PARTNERS
It takes a village. We built a world. As members of Public Relations Organisation International (PROI) we have on-the-ground access to over 90 agencies in 65 countries.
We tap into language, cultural and demographic insights with 2M Language Services, Polaron Language Services, YoungBloods, Man Cave, Max Solutions, Polity Research, AP2, Island Spirit and GARUWA to bring lived experience to complex challenges.
Other partners include Communication and Public Relations Australia (CPRA), Atomic 212, Xenai Digital, and Shine Solutions.
Our ethos
Being independent means we choose our work and focus on what really matters – navigating shifts in culture and technology that impact people and the planet.
Founders
Joanne Painter
Group Managing Director
As Group Managing Director, Joanne leads the ICON team across four Australian offices, driving the company’s strategic growth agenda while continuing to nurture our purpose-driven culture. Since 2017 she has spearheaded ICON’s national expansion program, opening our first interstate office in Canberra followed closely by Sydney and Brisbane.
With 25 years of experience in communications, Joanne is a recognised leader in Australian public relations, serving on several industry boards and the national Board of the Public Relations Institute of Australia.
With a proven track record in strategic communications, Joanne consults widely to business owners, Directors and the C-Suite on change management, media strategy, creative integration and behaviour change.
Chris Dodds
Managing Director, Digital
Chris manages ICON's digital division to help drive strategy, innovation, and client service.
Based in Melbourne, Chris started his career in graphic design before completing a Masters Degree in Digital Media at RMIT University. Since founding ICON in 2002, he has helped build and guide the agency’s integrated service model – combining creative, digital and PR thinking into a cohesive team driven by respect and innovation. Chris oversees ICON's safe implementation of AI across the agency, and is passionate about creating accessible services for people of all backgrounds and abilities.
Chris is a member of RMIT University's Industry Advisory Committee and a board member of Express Media, an NFP dedicated to developing, supporting, and promoting young writers.
Leadership team
Alex Wadelton
Creative Director
Alex is one of Australia's most respected creative minds. He was the mastermind behind the creation of a statue honouring Indigenous footballer Nicky Winmar's iconic stance against racism. He helped put an end to Australian supermarket's obsession with short-term plastic promotions with his social activist group Future Landfill, and has raised millions of dollars for a range of charities through creative thinking.
He is the co-author, with Russel Howcroft, of the best-selling The Right-Brain Workout Volumes 1 & 2, which have helped more than 20,000 people to re-train their brains to be more creative.
Alex has won more than a hundred international advertising awards, and as Creative Director and Writer, created a wide array of powerful behaviour change advertising campaigns for Respect Victoria, the Victorian Responsible Gambling Foundation, Suicide Prevention Australia, Vision Australia, and many more.
Kenneth E. Parris III
Creative Director
Ken is a senior creative and art director specialising in visual design and brand building across all mediums, from concept development to polished final production. With over 15 years of experience creating and executing multichannel advertising campaigns, Ken has refined the craft of visual storytelling, blending advertising, design, and fine art to produce culturally resonant, shareable content.
Previously a Creative Director at DDB on Madison Avenue, Ken led global advertising and brand initiatives for Hasbro, boosting sales, empowering diverse voices, and launching new product segments. Beyond agency life, he has collaborated with luxury brands, musicians, and has shared his expertise as a lecturer and panelist. Maintaining a fine art practice, Ken’s work has been critically acclaimed by respected platforms including WalkerArt.org, National Public Radio, Fine Art Connoisseur, and Time Out New York.
Mark Forbes
Director of Reputation
Mark is a Walkley-award winning journalist and former Editor-in-Chief of The Age in Melbourne. He has also worked at Four Corners and Channel Seven, in the Federal and State parliament press galleries and as an overseas correspondent.
Mark brings almost 30 years of success at the highest levels of communications practice to his strategic communications services, including issues management, crisis management, interview coaching and media relations.
Specialising in reputation building communications strategies, he has raised the profile of major companies, guided global manufacturers through controversial issues and assisted CEOs enhance their reputations.
Matt White
UX Design Director
Matt is an award-winning UX design lead with two decades of experience in Australia and the UK. With a deep understanding of digital branding and visual design, Matt designs enriched digital experiences based on user-centred principles. He is passionate about helping brands communicate their story online, and believes in building seamless digital products through championing the people he is designing for.
Matt’s design work has received many awards and accolades including the AWWWARDS, CSS Design Awards, AMI and Golden Target Awards. He has led UX design for clients such as the Department of Defence, Air Force, Mondelez, NDIS, Maurice Blackburn Lawyers, Artbank, ABCC, ASEA, iSelect, Kinetic Super, MCRI, The Royal Melbourne Hospital, Sustainability Victoria, and MyGuestList.
Georgina Rees
Executive Director, Creative and Campaigns
Georgina has 13 years of experience in marketing and communications. Having worked for nearly 10 years in London before moving to Sydney, she has led the planning and execution of branding, creative, marketing and communications campaigns across the UK, Europe, ANZ, Asia Pacific and Global.
Georgina has worked with multi-national businesses such as Salesforce, ABB, Novartis, IHG, and Google and has run major programs for the World Health Organization, the World Food Programme, the United Nations, and Financial Fraud Action UK.
Drawing from her breadth of experience in different regions, sectors, subject matter, and audience segments, Georgina advises on brand strategy, creative development, and branding best practices, as well as full-funnel creative campaign planning and production across channels and audience touchpoints.