Meet our 2025 board

The NSW Chapter is led by a talented team of communication professionals with breadth and depth of skills and experience. The board manages the day to day operations, administration, and financials of the Chapter, representing the IABC at a local level.

Nominating board members are sponsored by existing IABC members and then subjected to the scrutiny of an evaluation committee. The NSW board works very closely with the other IABC Chapters across Australia, the Asia Pacific Region, and at an international level to ensure that our members extract exceptional value from their membership.

IABC members in good standing are encouraged to nominate themselves to join the IABC NSW board. The nomination process generally starts in September/October of each year with appointments endorsed at the IABC NSW Annual General Meeting.

If you are interested in serving on the Board next year, please reach out to the current President or Vice-President for more information.

Patrick Armstrong, SCMP®

Program Communication Lead, Westpac
IABC NSW President

Patrick is a strategic communication management professional with over 20 years’ experience. His career has taken him around the globe spanning financial services, consultancy, government, higher education, IT, utilities and journalism. He specialises in corporate communication strategy, crisis management, employee engagement, and communication training. Patrick is a globally certified Strategic Communication Management Professional (SCMP®) and an academic at UNSW Business School where he educates in communications, marketing and brand management.

Asha Oberoi

Asha Oberoi

Managing Director and Head of Digital Insights, FTI Consulting

IABC NSW Co-Vice-President and Treasurer

A digital media and strategic communications professional with 25 years’ experience, Asha is a consultant and leads a team of digital, data, and communications practitioners and advises her clients on solutions that establish and enhance brand reputation, manage crises and deliver stakeholder engagement in a digital environment. Asha is a well known LinkedIn specialist providing training and profile management support to boards, C-suite executives, and marketing communication teams across Australia.

Jeremy Hyman

Head of Communications, Baker McKenzie, Australia

IABC Co-Vice-President

Jeremy is a strategic communicator with over 20 years of experience working for peak industry bodies and leading global law firms. He has served on a number of boards including the American Chamber of Commerce’s trade advisory board, the Tristan Jepson Memorial Foundation, Giving One Per Cent, and Mr Perfect. Having obtained a masters in communications management, Jeremy’s areas of specialty include media relations, issues management, stakeholder relations, and government relations.  

Megan Thomas SCMP®

Owner/Director
Buzz Communications 

IABC NSW Immediate Past President 

Megan is a strategic communication and change management leader. After more than two decades advising C-suite and heading up teams in financial and professional services, media, health insurance and government, Megan now runs her own consultancy, Buzz Communications. She loves helping organisations achieve outcomes that matter and is particularly active in the AI space.

Hallie Donkin

Communications Director, Mahlab

Hallie has more than 15 years’ experience in content and communications strategy and execution, having launched and managed programs to help clients across technology, financial services, health, education, leadership and more to build meaningful relationships and trusted reputations via media, events, publishing and social platforms. As Mahlab’s Communications Director, she helps clients understand their audiences and members, craft and tell their stories, and manage difficult issues.

Helen Pennock

Principal, Employee Communication, Retail Insurance Australia

Helen is a seasoned communications professional with over 25 years of experience in Marketing, event Management and Employee communication in the UK and Australia. Currently, she is an Internal Communications Business Partner at IAG, working across the NRMA Insurance and CGU brands. Helen excels at advising senior leaders on impactful communication strategies, creating engaging campaigns, and content that resonates with employees.

Mionne Collins

IABC NSW Board Director

Mione is a communications leader with 20 years’ experience in Australia and the UK.

She’s passionate about helping organisations tell their story, grow and protect their reputation through strategic, insight-based comms strategies.

After starting her career as a journalist and editor, Mione has spent time working in government, financial services and ESG roles. She’s also spent a large portion of her career innovating communications functions in order to continually improve and reflect best practice.

Rhys Kelly

The Smith Family


Rhys has specialised in communications for 20 years and has brand, communications, and marketing experience across the NFP, education, entertainment, and consumer goods sectors.

She currently leads a NFP communication team supporting leaders to shape engaging narratives and solve communication challenges.

She is deeply experienced in media relations, crisis management, storytelling, brand overhauls, digital communication innovation and employee engagement and change management. 

As a current Board director and executive, she has certified governance training and experience.

Lucy Hose

Senior Communications Manager, HealthShare NSW

Lucy is a strategic marketing and communications professional with a track record of award-winning advertising and brand campaigns. Lucy joined the National Health Service (England’s publicly funded healthcare system) in 2013 and found her happy place in health communications. She then moved to Sydney and has worked for NSW Health since 2018, specialising in internal, crisis and change communications. Chartered Institute of Marketing qualified, she enjoys developing thriving teams and is passionate about health, innovation, diversity, inclusion and belonging.

Paula Batho

Communications Manager,
BIG W

Paula Batho is an accomplished communications professional with over eight years of experience spanning England and Australia, working for the Greater London Authority (Mayor of London) and one of Australia's largest companies, the Woolworths Group. Having studied performing arts, Paula started her career as a professional singer with Carnival Cruise Line and later went on to study business, strategic communications and graphic design, which is demonstrated in her creative approach to corporate communications and passion for creating connections and engagement.

Anne Wall

Public Policy Campaigns,
Amazon

Anne has led communications across a range of industries including media, technology, insurance, F&B and the arts. With extensive experience navigating complex environments in listed multinational companies, supporting leaders to communicate their strategy and deliver business growth, Anne is passionate about delivering in highly competitive environments. A AICD graduate, Anne also holds a Masters in Communications Management and specialises in corporate communications, crisis and issues management and employee engagement.