Think HQ launches in Sydney with team of four

(Pictured L-R: Blake Mason, Nickie Flambouras, Tom Hines and Jen Sharpe)

Melbourne-founded social change agency Think HQ has expanded its footprint to Sydney opening an office in Surry Hills with a team of four.

Comprising group account director Blake Mason, account directors Tom Hines and Nickie Flambouras, plus account manager Evie McCullough, the team will be working out of Sydney laying the groundwork for the agency’s expansion into the harbour city.

Says Jen Sharp, founder and managing director, Think HQ: “At a time when many brands and agencies are just embarking on their journey addressing social impact and purpose, Think HQ has been operating for 13 years with an unwavering positive impact at our core. We believed it was time we entered the country’s biggest market to share our unique approach to inclusive communications and creative with even more organisations.

“I can’t think of a better team to kick off our Sydney operations in earnest. Their diverse and complementary skills cover so many bases, and they will work in seamlessly with our expert CALD, First Nations, creative and production teams and resources in Melbourne as needed too.”

Mason brings more than 12 year’s marketing and communications expertise with NPF, government and corporate organisations including across strategy, stakeholder engagement, CALD and Indigenous communications, media, arts and tourism, environment, and financial, health and human services. He joined Think HQ from Herd MSL where he spent over five years in roles including as diversity and inclusion lead.

A highly experienced engagement leader across government, not-for-profits and commercial organisations, Flambouras joins from a four-year role as manager, community engagement at Multicultural NSW. Prior to that, she spent seven years as manager, multicultural programs and engagement at the Australian Football League (AFL). Her diverse background in for-purpose work also includes roles with the Children’s Medical Research Institute, The Shepherd Centre and Youthsafe. On the creative production front, Nickie is also an Impact Producer for Think Films.

Says Flambouras: “It is a real privilege to join Think HQ. I’m looking forward to sharing my skills and experience with the team across the network and embarking on my own journey of growth and opportunity. Multiculturalism continues to add a real vibrancy to Australia, and I am happy to be doing my bit to connect projects to people.

“The values at Think HQ were very appealing and aligned nicely with what I wanted from my next position. To also know I would be working on social impact projects and continuing to promote social cohesion and community harmony across Australia was a real bonus. There’s so much to learn, so much to share, and plenty to be curious about. I can’t wait to get stuck into the work.”

Hines joined Think HQ from Bite Communications where he worked as senior account manager, and brings creative skills across content, editorial and digital publishing gained in roles with AthletesVoice and Fox Sports Australia.

McCullough has spent four years working in communications and event management roles in the NFP sector, most recently as communications manager at Ireland’s leading international affairs think-tank, the Institute of International and European Affairs.

Think HQ is having a very successful 2023 with a number of senior appointments including Fiona Nixon as head of strategy and research, and Taryn Marks as head of First Nations engagement and communication, as well as client wins including hybrid/EV battery innovator Infinitev and Watertrust Australia. Sharpe was recently named as a finalist in this year’s B&T’s Women in Media Awards – in the Social Change Maker category.