About Purple | Award-Winning Communications

Fran Lawrence

Chief Executive Officer

Fran is Purple’s Chief Executive Officer. With almost three decades of experience in media and communications, she remains actively involved in supporting Purple clients and specialises in Board-level strategy, crisis and reputation management and media and presentation coaching and training across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.

A WA native, Fran began her career as a newspaper journalist and remains a news enthusiast, unable to start her day without consuming several newspapers and at least one large coffee.

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Emily Young

Director

With over a decade of experience across government relations, advocacy, communications and campaigning, Emily is a full-suite corporate affairs specialist who helps clients deliver innovative, data-driven solutions, high-impact media and stakeholder campaigns, and sharp strategic messaging.

Her expertise extends to crisis and issues management, where she navigates reputational risk and sensitive stakeholder negotiations with clarity and calm – ensuring organisations are protected and well-positioned when the stakes are highest. Emily’s particular strength lies in translating complex challenges into practical, actionable strategies for organisations of all sizes, from ambitious start-ups to established enterprises.

A trusted adviser to senior leaders and boards, Emily delivers clear, solution-focused counsel that cuts through complexity. Whether guiding major property and infrastructure projects or shaping compelling narratives for critical government engagement, her approach is always direct, pragmatic and results-driven.

As part of Purple’s training team, Emily is a dynamic coach offering tailored solutions across media training, executive development and personal brand. Clients value her ability to build confidence, sharpen communication and unlock authentic leadership presence. Emily is also an engaging MC and facilitator, bringing energy and focus to events, workshops and large-scale forums.

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Glenn Langridge

Director

Glenn is Purple’s Director, leading studio services across brand, marketing, digital and integrated communications programs. He brings strategic clarity, commercial discipline and delivery expertise, helping organisations translate ambition into clear positioning and measurable outcomes.

Working at the intersection of leadership, brand and digital, Glenn partners with organisations to define how they position in market and show up consistently across every touchpoint. He leads integrated strategy across brand positioning, marketing and digital experience, while maintaining close oversight of delivery to ensure work is aligned, accountable and built for implementation.

He is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, an accredited Agile project management coach, and holds degrees in Commerce (Marketing, Management, Entrepreneurship & Innovation) and Arts (Communication Studies).

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Caroline Thomson

Director

Caroline is a corporate communications advisor with 20+ years’ experience helping organisations manage change, build stakeholder relationships and strengthen reputations.

Caroline has developed and delivered strategic communications programs across the resources, energy, education, NFP, healthcare and land development sectors, supporting clients including Shell, South32, BHP, Minderoo Foundation, DevelopmentWA, St John of God Health Care and Curtin University. Her expertise includes internal communications, stakeholder engagement and issues management. She holds a Bachelor of Arts (Mass Communications), majoring in Public Relations and Journalism.

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Ruth Callaghan

Director

Ruth uses two decades of experience as a media strategist, communications adviser and journalist to develop, deliver and distribute messages that cut through. She specialises in providing strategic digital and content services for clients, using the principles of newsworthy and engaging content to tell compelling stories. She is a skilled media trainer and works with professionals both within and outside the communications industry to develop their digital, writing and media skills.

Ruth’s work in this field has included developing digital and inbound marketing strategies for clients, including use of lead generation software, content marketing and social media. She works with emerging technologies including virtual reality in campaigns and continues to write for publications including the Australian Financial Review. When not distracted by the next shiny digital tool, Ruth likes to holiday in cooler climates with her family or hang out with her stubborn Scottish Terrier Maisie.

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David Edwards

People & Culture Manager

David is a dynamic People & Culture Manager with a multifaceted background spanning events, hospitality management, and communications. With a career built on creating meaningful employee experiences and fostering inclusive workplace cultures, he combines strategic insight with hands-on operational expertise. David’s professional journey began in the fast-paced hospitality and events sectors, where he developed a deep understanding of customer service, team leadership, and operational excellence. This foundation shaped his people-first approach to culture and engagement, ensuring business success through empowered, motivated teams.

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Cameron Wong

Director

Cameron is a masters-degree-educated marketing professional. He is a problem solver, delivering complex, integrated projects. He uses data and insights to inform decision-making and has extensive experience crafting marketing strategy, leading marketing operations, campaign development, and reporting on impact. Cameron leads Purple’s Research and Insights practice and is passionate about using evidence based strategy that is measurable and delivers on objectives.

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Chris Leitch

Associate Director

Chris is a trusted advisor to clients across many sectors, including professional services, aged care and health. A journalist and digital editor before turning to corporate communications, Chris develops content and media engagement strategies, supports Purple clients with issues management, and shapes cyber and crisis preparedness, including facilitating desktop exercises.

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Danika Ferguson

Senior Associate Director

Danika advises clients across construction, healthcare, technology, professional services, legal, and not-for-profit sectors. With 10 years’ experience in strategic communications, content development, and event management, she provides clear, actionable advice that delivers tangible results.

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Hayley Emmett

Design Manager

Hayley is Purple’s Design Manager, ensuring visual direction and design elements are fresh and aligned with brand integrity. She collaborates with stakeholders across accounts and brings expert knowledge to every project.

Hayley’s energy stems from her sporting background, love of outdoors, fashion, and live music.

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Keira McConkey

Associate Director

Keira is a strategic communications and stakeholder engagement specialist, helping organisations navigate complex issues at the intersection of government, community and reputation.

She provides clear, practical advice across government relations, media and communications, supporting clients from early positioning through to delivery. Her experience spans mining, energy, infrastructure, not-for-profit and local government, with a focus on achieving meaningful outcomes in complex stakeholder environments.

Keira is a former councillor for the Shire of Serpentine Jarrahdale, bringing valuable insight into local and state government processes. She holds a Bachelor of Communications, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Community Directors, and a qualified IAP2 practitioner.

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Mel Newcombe

Director

Mel is a communications specialist with more than 10 years’ experience in strategic corporate, consumer and crisis communications, issues management, community engagement and stakeholder management.

Mel has experience in providing strategic advice to her clients on complex projects across multiple sectors, including property and construction, health and aged care, and retail, and a proven track record in successfully creating and implementing communications strategies that meet clients’ objectives and reach their targeted stakeholders every time.

She has proactively guided clients through many high-profile situations, managing front-page issues, and a range of stakeholders and audiences.

Distilling complex information into simple and engaging communication pieces is one of Mel’s core skill sets. Understanding audiences is at the heart of her approach to her work, which is balanced by strong business acumen to ensure the advice she provides to clients is pragmatic and commercially sound.

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Michael Cairnduff

Director

Michael is a trusted government relations and public affairs adviser and Director within Purple’s Industry, Government and Community team.

He brings experience across Australia’s major export and infrastructure sectors, including resources, energy and agriculture.

Michael provides specialist advice and facilitation support to boards and senior executives on government and stakeholder engagement, issues and reputation management, and public and media communications.

He has 25 years of experience in industry analysis and technical communication, and a deep understanding of WA’s core exploration, mining and refining sectors, as well as the supply chains that underpin them.

More recently, Michael has also provided specialist advice to domestic and foreign investors around energy transition projects, critical minerals developments and emerging government policy shaping those projects.

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Peter Klinger

Director

Peter is a strategic communications professional specialising in financial communications, speech writing, issues and crisis management, media relations and media training. Formerly head of Purple’s Investor Relations team, he advises ASX and unlisted companies, particularly in the resources sector. Since 2017, Peter has supported communications for more than $12 billion in corporate transactions, including cross-border deals, IPOs and schemes of arrangement. Previously, he spent 20 years in journalism with the Kalgoorlie Miner, The West Australian, Australian Financial Review and The Times of London. He holds a Bachelor of Arts (Journalism & Politics) and an MBA from Curtin University.

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Renée Wilkinson

Director

Renée has over 20 years’ experience in stakeholder engagement and government relations. A consultant with Purple for 18 years, she works across resources, infrastructure, agriculture, health, and education. She guides clients from project inception to official openings, ensuring corporate, government, and community stakeholders are effectively engaged.

Previously, Renée worked in state Government communications, including for the WA Health Minister. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and is a qualified IAP2 Practitioner.

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Andrew Edge

Senior Account Manager

Andrew is a strategic investor relations adviser who helps listed and unlisted companies sharpen their capital markets positioning, engage investors and navigate major corporate moments. He brings specialist expertise in IR strategy, investor targeting, M&A advisory and transaction communications, supported by a Bachelor of Commerce from Curtin University and a Diploma of Investor Relations from the Australasian Investor Relations Association.

At Purple, Andrew supports clients across resources, technology and property, drawing on more than a decade of external advisory and in-house investor relations experience. He has worked with leading ASX-listed and unlisted companies through initial public offerings, mergers and acquisitions, and equity capital raisings worth billions of dollars in aggregate.

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Dan Wilkie

Content Editor

Dan is an accomplished journalist, editor, and content creator with more than 12 years’ experience in financial media. He held senior roles at Business News, launched Australia China Business Review, and was editor-in-chief at Australian Property Investor. Dan crafts high-quality, tailored content for clients across industries.

Outside work, he enjoys Houston Rockets basketball, tropical holidays and exploring WA’s forests with his family.

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Elli Swanson

Account Manager

Elli is a strategic communications and PR specialist, helping organisations make sense of complex issues and communicate them in a way that resonates.

Elli works at the intersection of media, government and community, supporting her clients to manage risk, shape reputation and deliver clear, effective messaging. Her experience spans government, not-for-profit, health and corporate affairs, with work covering media strategy, crisis and internal communications and stakeholder engagement.

Whether through her writing, PR expertise or facilitating key partnerships, she is skilled at reaching audiences. Well-versed in the digital sphere, Elli brings an integrated approach and creative flair to every project, applying her expertise across all communication mediums to deliver outcomes for her clients.

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Lainey Smith

Senior Consultant

Lainey is a communications strategist with a proven record in shaping campaigns that inspire action and influence public opinion. In her years at Purple, she has worked across high-profile state and national initiatives, delivering behaviour change programs, awareness strategies, and thought leadership pieces that resonate across both traditional media and the fast-moving digital sphere.

Her experience spans campaign management, media relations, stakeholder engagement, and crisis communications, bringing both adaptability and precision to every project. Holding an IAP2A qualification in engagement, she approaches every brief with a focus on clarity, impact, and human-to-human connection, whether navigating sensitive issues, managing fast-moving media environments, or building momentum for long-term change.

Lainey’s strength lies in translating complex ideas into compelling, accessible narratives, ensuring the right messages reach the right audiences, at the right time.

Outside of work, she rides thousands of kilometres each year in the Hawaiian Ride for Youth, raising funds and awareness for youth mental health. She’s also happiest near salt water, clocking ocean swims and diving below the surface whenever she can.

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Ben Cole

Account Manager

Ben is a communicator and consultant specialising in storytelling, media relations, and content creation. Working since 2014 across the private and public sectors, including defence, telecoms, cybersecurity, and network intelligence, he ensures messaging is clear and accessible. Ben creates thought leadership campaigns with the aim of securing regional, national, and international press coverage. He is a stickler for telling the right story to the right people – all to ensure the maximum positive impact possible.

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Adam Elovalis

Art Director

Adam is an Art Director with expertise in branding strategy, UX/UI, print, and digital design. He works across web design, logo design, infographics, animation, corporate video, and documents. Adam has worked across real estate, government, mining, not-for-profit, and IT industries. Adam lives and breathes branding strategy and design. Today, Adam applies his design thinking, with a particular focus on corporate branding strategy and design, through a range of services including web design, user interface, and user-experience design; logo design, infographic design, animation, and corporate video; and document design, style-guide design, and annual-report design.

Born and bred in Perth, Adam started working with Purple on a contract basis in 2013, becoming a full-time team member within two years. Adam enjoys the beach, playing music and snowboarding.

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Liliana Moreno

Design Consultant

Liliana transforms words into compelling visual concepts, maintaining consistent branding and delivering high-quality results. She creates innovative, user-centric websites, VR interfaces, logos, presentations, and brochures. Outside work, she enjoys traveling, staying active with Pilates, and keeping up with design trends.

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Ella Haines

Consultant

Ella works across Purple, delivering diverse client projects. A University of Western Australia graduate, she holds a Bachelor of Arts, double-majoring in Communications and Media, and Political Science and International Relations. She is passionate about media and government.

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Olivia Warner

Associate Consultant

Olivia supports communication outcomes across Purple. She assists with research, media relations, strategy development, events, and media training. Olivia is proactive, results-driven, and committed to continuous learning.

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Rick Filocamo

Finance Manager

Rick is a commercially focused finance leader and CPA with more than 15 years experience across public and private practice. Most recently, he spent several years in the wine industry, where he partnered with business leaders to support strategic decision-making and drive sustainable growth.

Rick brings a diverse skill set and broad commercial perspective, with a strong ability to translate complex financial information into clear, actionable insights that support confident, informed decision-making.

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Brie Becker

Finance Officer

Brie brings 20+ years’ experience across industries, supporting financial operations. In communications, she provides clear reporting, organisation, and financial assistance to enable confident, informed decisions. She works closely with the Finance Manager to ensure smooth operations and strong long-term growth.

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Justine Parker

Office Manager and EA

Justine manages the Purple office, overseeing operations, administration, and logistics. She began in consulting and arts, then worked for a Federal Senator in Canberra managing campaign administration and communications logistics.

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Karen Brown

Non-Executive Chair

Karen is a strategic thinker and expert communicator who has worked at the very highest levels of politics, media and business. Karen has experience across multiple industries including property, education, health, resources, agriculture and science, Karen brings practical, expert knowledge to resolve complex issues.

She devises and manages political and issues-based campaigns, formulates effective government engagement strategies and provides crisis communications and litigation support to a diverse range of clients.

Karen joined Purple in 2014 after a successful career in the media, having served as Chief of Staff and Deputy Editor at The West Australian and WA Editor at The Australian. She went on to work at both the State and Federal level of politics, serving as a senior media and policy advisor, and Chief of Staff to the Leader of the Government in the Senate and Federal Minister for Tertiary Education, Skills, Science and Research.

She works as a Director for several not-for-profit, community and charitable organisations. Away from the office, Karen is a keen cyclist, an average banjo player and enthusiastic Eagles supporter.

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David Corney

Company Secretary

David Corney brings 30-plus years’ chartered accounting experience in both the private and public sectors to his role as Purple’s Finance Manager. He brings a sound commercial focus to the team.

David has helped develop the Rottnest Channel Swim to its world class status during his 10-plus years as committee member and president. He also is closely involved in the annual Ride for Youth charity event as rider, committee and support member.

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Annette Ellis

Annette Ellis is a Non-Executive Director of Purple.

Annette specialises in corporate communications, reputation management, crisis communications, change management and stakeholder relations and is an accomplished corporate editor, speechwriter and a highly regarded coach in executive presentation skills.

With more than 25 years’ experience gained primarily in the global resources and logistics sectors, Annette ran her own successful communications agency before joining Purple in 2008. Over the course of her career, she has provided community engagement, media management, internal communications and issues management support to major project developments both in Australia and around the world.

Annette provides pro bono public relations advice and support to a number of community and industry associations. She is a Non-Executive Director of Football West, and served as a member of the Salvation Army’s Corporate and Philanthropic Advisory Group for 11 years, including two years as chair.

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Jamie Wilkinson

Non-Executive Director

Jamie Wilkinson shapes the discussion on digital and social platforms. He’s a recognised leader in corporate digital strategy, cyber and data-breach response, and also runs Perth’s first boardroom-focused social media governance masterclass.

A former BBC broadcaster in the UK, Jamie has been published on some of the more trusted traditional platforms like The West Australian and Company Director Magazine, but, as you’d expect, has also been recognised as one of the top 10 most influential social media users in Western Australia.

Jamie’s a coffee drinker by day, craft ale drinker by night, and grammar compulsive the rest of the time.

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Warrick Hazeldine

Non-Executive Director

Purple’s Co-Founder, Warrick Hazeldine is an experienced director and business and community leader. He is an expert Board-level adviser in the areas of investor relations, mergers and acquisitions, crisis and reputation management. Winner of Business News’ “40 Under 40 Award”, which recognises the top 40 entrepreneurs aged under 40, he is recognised as an expert in crisis management, corporate strategy and is a widely-published thought leader on the subject of corporate trust.

Since starting Purple in 2004, Warrick has led the business to become one of Australasia’s leading communications agencies, with a staff of more than 40 industry-leading experts across investor relations, government relations, corporate affairs, stakeholder engagement and design and digital. Under his leadership, Purple has advised on more than 115 mergers and acquisition transactions with a combined value of US$130 billion over the past 12 years. Warrick and the rest of the Purple team seek to “start and shape conversations that matter” to help valued clients capitalise on opportunities and deal with challenges but, most importantly, to create positive impacts for the communities in which they operate.

Warrick received the 2018 Curtin Faculty of Business and Law Professional Achievement Award, reflecting “outstanding accomplishment and a standard of excellence in his field.” Joining Curtin University as a member of the Faculty of Business and Law Advisory Council in 2021, Warrick provides insights to the way the business community wants to interact with universities. He is a former Chair of Pilbara-focused lithium company, Global Lithium Resources and is a Director of Surfing WA, the peak body for surfers in WA, and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

As a father of two daughters, Warrick is passionate about creating conversations and change focused on diversity and inclusion, with a key focus on a sustainable environment for the benefit of society.

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Steve Harris

Non-Executive Director

Steve Harris is the Chair and CEO of The Brand Agency, Perth’s largest advertising and marketing communications business with offices in Perth, Melbourne and Auckland. Steve is a former President of the Fremantle Dockers Football Club, former Vice President of the WA Chamber of Commerce & Industry and a current Director of Healthway.

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Richard Harris

Special Counsel

Richard has several decades of experience in WA’s energy and resources sectors at strategic project and policy development level, in both the private and public sectors. Richard worked for more than 20 years in senior levels of government in both the federal and state jurisdictions and has an extensive network with senior bureaucrats and politicians.

Richard’s roles in the private sector have included WA Director of ERM Power and Managing Director of Mid West Energy. Richard also chairs the WA Independent Power Association and is spokesperson for the DomGas Alliance.

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Martha Rousselet

Virtual Chief Information Officer

Martha is the Virtual Chief Information Officer (VCIO) at Purple, responsible for overseeing the strategic direction and operational management of Information & Communication Technology (ICT). She is an experienced technology executive and technical expert, having worked for major companies in the US and Australia. In the US she worked at Paramount Pictures, Columbia Pictures, Rio Tinto’s US Borax Chemical Corporation, and IBM. In Australia, she has held senior management and executive roles at IBM, Bankwest, Western Power, Rio Tinto, HBF, Landgate, WA Health, Department of Premier & Cabinet, Relationships Australia WA, GESB, Epic Energy, BHP, Adecco, and IT consulting firms like Ajilon, Fujitsu, and Seisma Group.

She has significant experience in leading digital transformation programs, ICT operations, IT negotiations, stakeholder engagement, vendor management, IT tendering process, and implementing IT strategies, enterprise architectures, cybersecurity frameworks, business process automation, capability models, strategic business cases, business continuity plans, and innovative digital solutions supported by next-generation cloud technologies and methodologies.

Martha’s passion for innovation and her commitment to excellence have earned her a reputation as a trusted leader in the ICT industry. The authentic value she brings to Purple is her technical expertise, visionary abilities, collaborative approach to stakeholder engagement, alignment with business objectives, organisational policies, result-driven targets, IT governance, financial and risk management. She also stays current with technology industry trends. At Purple she is committed to leverage emerging technologies to establish a sustainable, secured, and adaptable technology ecosystem that will support the organisation into the future.

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