NAFA selects PR partner

Powerhouse Communications has made a series of new appointments, including Anthony Dennis as Senior Counsel.

Anthony is a former journalist with over 25 years’ experience in travel and tourism journalism and publishing. He’d spent nearly 15 years as a former travel editor of The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and was founding editor of the Australian edition of Travel + Leisure.

As Senior Counsel, he will advise Powerhouse and its clients on engaging with the media, drawing on his editorial experience and understanding of the travel and tourism sector. His role includes contributing to a new media-insider strand within the agency’s crisis and media training practice, editorial input into Powerhouse Intelligence, the agency’s sector insights product in development, and advising on live client media strategy.

“Anthony brings an exceptional understanding of travel and tourism journalism and the stories that earn an audience’s attention as well as an awareness of the issues confronting the travel and tourism industries,” said Gaynor Reid, Director & Chief Relationship Officer at Powerhouse Communications.

“His counsel will be invaluable as we help clients find their footing in a media world which is undergoing a series of unprecedented change and challenges.”

Powerhouse has also welcomed a bench of new consultants, with Cynthia Dammerer, Natalie Brown, Nicole Ford, and Ginni Post joining the agency’s 'Powerhouse Amplifiers' network.

Cynthia brings experience across travel, aviation, tourism, and lifestyle communications in Asia Pacific. She has worked with brands including Accor, Scoot, W Hotels, Airalo, and AirAsia.

Natalie has more than two decades’ experience in tourism PR, destination marketing, and communications across Australia, New Zealand, and international markets. Her career includes senior roles at the Hong Kong Tourism Board, GTI Tourism, and Hills Balfour, spanning PR strategy, media relations, influencer engagement, and broadcast.

Nicole is backed by over 20 years’ experience in strategic PR, communications, and marketing for hospitality and lifestyle brands. Her career spans Australia and APAC, including senior roles at Salter Brothers Hospitality, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Four Seasons, and Accor. Her experience includes luxury hotel openings and consumer media-led storytelling across experiential travel, culinary, and wellness.

Ginni has over 20 years’ experience in agency and in-house communications across the UK, Australia, New Zealand, and the South Pacific. Based in New Zealand, she has represented brands including Accor, EVT, IHG Hotels & Resorts, Millennium & Copthorne Hotels, and Pro-invest Group.

The appointments come as Powerhouse adds new clients to its portfolio, including Mulpha Group, covering Development & Real Estate, Sanctuary Cove Marina & Retail, and the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show; Hunter Valley Operations, including Bimbadgen Estate, Palmers Lane, and The Lane Retreat; Brady Hotels; Plaza Premium Group; The Ascott Limited / Quest Apartment Hotels; and Scenic Group.

Powerhouse has also signed a memorandum of understanding with Saigontourist in Vietnam, in partnership with Australia Vietnam Tourism Promotion (AVTIP).

(Pictured, from left: LJ Loch, Chris Waite, and Gaynor Reid. Individual portraits, from top: Anthony Dennis; Cynthia Dammerer and Ginni Post; Natalie Brown and Nicole Ford)

The Sandpiper Group has appointed Aliyah Dar (pictured, left) and Isabelle Trick (pictured, right) to senior advisory roles based in Dubai and Singapore, respectively.

From Dubai, Aliyah will spearhead the next stage of growth of Sandpiper's public affairs offering across the Middle East, supporting clients as they navigate the region's ambitious national transformation agendas and deepen their engagement with government and institutional stakeholders.

Aliyah has 20 years’ experience in economic and policy advisory roles in the Middle East and Europe, including a senior strategy role at a Dubai-based investment firm and more than a decade in the UK government, including as Chief of Staff to His Majesty's Trade Commissioner for the Middle East and Pakistan. Prior to joining Sandpiper, she led the UAE operation for Global Counsel.

From Singapore, Isabelle will further grow Sandpiper's public affairs capabilities across Southeast Asia and Asia Pacific, advising clients on engaging with governments, regulators, and policymakers, and helping them anticipate and respond to policy change.

Isabelle brings political risk experience advising private equity firms, institutional investors, and multinational corporations across the energy, financial services, healthcare, and technology sectors, with a deep focus on emerging markets, Asia, Europe, and Africa. She also joins Sandpiper from Global Counsel, where she headed Investor Services and Global Macro projects, following earlier experience directing an international non-profit organisation.

Both will work closely with Sandpiper's leadership and teams across Asia Pacific and the Middle East to deliver integrated counsel that brings together public affairs, strategic communications, and research, supporting clients through regulatory change, market entry, and moments of heightened political and public scrutiny.

Kelly Johnston, Chief Operating Officer of Sandpiper, said, "Public policy is now one of the defining factors shaping how businesses across Asia Pacific and the Middle East grow and protect their reputations. Isabelle and Aliyah bring deep expertise and strong relationships in two of the most important hubs in our network. Their appointments significantly strengthen our ability to help clients understand the policy landscape, engage constructively with governments, and turn regulatory complexity into strategic advantage."

Aliyah Dar, Associate Director, Public Affairs, Sandpiper, said, "The Middle East is undergoing extraordinary transformation, creating significant opportunities for organisations that can engage thoughtfully with government priorities and national visions. I'm excited to join Sandpiper and to help clients build the relationships and insight they need to succeed in the region."

Isabelle Trick, Associate Director, Public Affairs, Sandpiper, said, "Singapore sits at the centre of the region's policy conversations, and clients increasingly need advisors who can connect the dots between regulation, reputation, and investment. I'm delighted to join Sandpiper and look forward to building on the firm's strong foundations across the region."

Clint Thomas has been welcomed at Pyne & Partners as Partner. He was at the Department of the Premier and Cabinet of Western Australia for three years, most recently as Senior Policy Adviser. Prior to this, Clint worked in the NFP sector, following a career in journalism at the ABC.