Powerhouse Communications expands team and welcomes new clients

Rebecca Dawson has started as Communications Manager at Monash Health on a maternity cover contract through to May 2027. She moved to the healthcare sector from London Agency, where she was most recently Senior Account Director.

Prior to that, Rebecca spent time at various agencies in Australia, New Zealand, and the UK, including Edelman, Mango Communications Aotearoa (now FleishmanHillard), and the former Pagoda Porter Novelli.

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.