Snack Drawer opens Sydney office, adds three more hires to social and creative teams

Melbourne based internet-first creative agency Snack Drawer has expanded its footprint with the opening of a Sydney office and added three new hires. The expansion to Sydney follows a rush of new business wins, including the Netflix ANZ social account that saw Snack Drawer assume responsibility for driving conversation across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter channels.

Joining the Snack Drawer team are head of social media and content Andrew Brentnall (above left), editorial lead Steph Panecasio (centre) and creator Patrick Ilagan (right).

Brentnall joins from NOVA Entertainment where he spent the past two years as managing producer, overseeing a team of producers and editors to create a suite of award-winning original podcast series, including Brenda, Call Me! with Courtney Act and Vanity, and The Space with Casey Donovan. His experience also includes two years as a creative director at Amplify; and as senior content manager at Universal Music where his live music video for Troye Sivan won an ARIA Award.

Panecasio is an award-winning journalist with almost a decade of experience in the digital space, spanning tech, science, entertainment, health and culture. She joins from CNET, where she worked as an editor in the culture team, prior to which she worked across the Pedestrian Group titles as a native content writer. Panecasio also runs a Patreon newsletter, Tell The Bees, and has worked as a freelance presenter, copywriter and MC for the last four years.

Ilagan’s creative background includes roles as video editor and animator with Healthily and as a freelance video editor at Pause Fest and Melbourne Queer Film Festival. He graduated from Swinburne University of Technology with a diploma in film and television as well as a degree in Digital Media Design in 2020.

With executive oversight from agency co-founders, Brentnall is reporting to MD Jamie Searle whilst Panecasio and Ilagan are reporting to chief creative officer Hannah McElhinney.

Says Searle: “We’re so excited to expand our operations with a new office in Sydney on the back of new business wins. We’re equally thrilled to welcome our new talented trio who are already making an impact as key members of the team.”

Snack Drawer’s growing client roster includes NBCUniversal, Dr. Martens, Smiling Mind, and Swinburne University.

The new Sydney office is located in The Hub Hyde Park at 223 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010.