Think HQ makes two more senior appointments as inclusive communications booms

Following a raft of recent hires, purpose-driven integrated communications agency Think HQ has announced two more senior appointments as a result of sustained growth.

Matt Thomas joins as group head of integrated communications and Lani Cush as head of research and strategy.

Cush will build Think HQ’s new research and strategy team, including a dedicated creative strategy function, informed by ISO-certified research, to take Think HQ’s creative offering to new heights.

Cush joins from her role as head of strategy at Hardhat, where she helped the agency to build its strategic and creative capability. An exceptional and well-rounded strategist, Cush has 16 years’ experience working at creative, media and digital agencies, including Carat and Publicis, and client side as head of marketing at a global business school. Cush is passionate about using data, research and creativity to influence and change behaviour for purposeful good.

Thomas leads Think HQ’s new integrated communications group, a multidisciplinary team of 25+ communicators drawn from PR and activations, content and owned strategy, and CultureVerse, the agency’s CALD engagement and localisation specialists.

He joins from Icon Agency, where he was most recently director of PR and content. A true sector-agnostic marketing communications professional, Thomas brings more than 20 years’ experience working in consultancy, agency, government, corporate, NFP and higher education environments.

Says Jen Sharpe, founder and managing director at Think HQ: “I’m excited to welcome Lani and Matt to the team. Their appointments add incredible skills and experience to our senior team. They lay a solid foundation for sustainable growth as we scale our business to meet growing client demand for communications and strategies devised and delivered through an inclusive lens.”

Cush welcomed the chance to join such an inclusive-focused business: “I’m thrilled to be working with such a smart bunch of people, on clients that are making a huge impact on our culture and environment. As an industry, we can often fall short of inclusivity, so I’m proud to join an agency driving change and championing the impact that inclusive communications can make in the world.”

Thomas said he was drawn to the agency’s reputation for great people, work and values: “Australia is past ready for the paradigm shift to a more inclusive way of communicating – and Think HQ is leading the way. I am deeply excited to be part of that work, heading up Australia’s leading inclusive integrated communications team.”

The new appointments follow Think HQ’s announcement of five new hires across new business, research, digital and PR in August.