Melia Rayner joins agtech company

HAVAS Red and First Nations advocate, Mundanara Bayles, have launched HAVAS Blak, a communications offering designed to reshape Australia’s Indigenous communications landscape. 

HAVAS Blak will deliver:

• First Nations-led strategic communications and storytelling. 
• Provide cultural capability training and consultancy services to enable leaders, corporate and government to work more effectively with members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, businesses and communities.  
• Media training and leadership visibility to help strengthen First Nations voices. 
• Programs that elevate representation across business, policy and public discourse. 
• Broader consulting to HAVAS Village agencies to accelerate the growth and momentum of the First Nations partnership offer across the wider client ecosystem.  

Commenting on the partnership, James Wright, Group CEO HAVAS ANZ, Global CEO HAVAS Red and Global Chair HAVAS PR Network, said: "HAVAS Blak is about action, not intention. The communications industry has a responsibility to help shape a more inclusive national narrative, and that starts by creating greater space for First Nations voices to lead.

"Partnering with Mundanara ensures this is built on authenticity and focused on impact. Launching during National Reconciliation Week under the theme ‘All In’ is a clear reminder that meaningful progress requires collective and sustained accountability."

Mundanara Bayles, Founder of BlackCard and Co-Founder of HAVAS Blak, said: "This partnership is about shifting power, ensuring First Nations perspectives are embedded, respected and heard at the highest levels. HAVAS Blak creates a platform for culturally grounded storytelling that reflects truth, drives understanding and delivers real outcomes for our communities.

"'All in' means walking together to reinforce Aboriginal self-determination through economic resilience, and that's exactly what this partnership with HAVAS is designed to achieve." 

Zatalini Zulkiply has been appointed Head of Communications and Corporate Affairs for Asia and ANZ at Kimberly-Clark.

Based in Malaysia, she oversees communications activities across the region, including public relations, media engagement, government relations, digital communications, culture and internal communications, for the company’s international family care and professional business.

Zatalini brings more than two decades of experience from organisations including GE Vernova, General Electric, Honeywell, and Procter & Gamble. 

Strategic communications and marketing firm, Via, strengthened its bench with the appointment of Jose Verbeek as Communications Director and Kate Evans as Senior Account Manager.

Jose joins from H+K, where she served as an Account Director in the corporate communications team, and previously held roles within the investor communications practice at WE Communications. She brings close to a decade of experience advising clients across financial services, fintech, professional services and ASX-listed companies.

At Via, Jose will focus on strengthening its corporate, financial and investor communications solutions and providing strategic media relations support to clients across all of Via’s client groups.

Kate Evans joins from Burson as a Senior Account Manager, bringing seven years of experience across financial services and corporate communications in Australia and the UK. At Burson, Kate advised clients on integrated communications programmes spanning corporate reputation, brand building, and digital and social media strategy across earned, owned and paid channels.

Kate's appointment will deepen Via's integrated global marketing and communications capabilities.

Tala Booker, CEO and Founder of Via, said: "We know our clients are increasingly looking for senior, high-touch partners who understand how to weave together commercial acumen with brand and reputation. We partner with our clients in high-stakes situations, where pace matters but judgement prevails. I’m confident that Jose and Kate bring discernment, bold thinking and passion to how we show up and deliver for our clients."

Commenting on her appointment, Jose said: "What drew me to Via is how it knits together communications, investor relations and marketing so commercially for its clients. These are moments where decisions carry real commercial and reputational weight for our clients so I’m excited for the opportunity to build on that, supporting clients in a way that is more integrated, more strategic, and aligned to how businesses are operating across borders today."

Kate Evans added: "Via has built a strong reputation for combining strategic thinking with high-quality execution across communications and marketing. I’m looking forward to helping clients deliver integrated communications programs that support long-term business growth, increase stakeholder confidence and build cross-border recognition for clients."