WRIGHT COMMUNICATIONS - Key Persons

Job Titles:

• Account Manager
• Senior Account Manager

Amy McWhannell currently serves as an Account Manager at Wright Communications. She has a passion for communication and building meaningful relationships. Originally from Hamilton, Amy ventured to Auckland after completing her Bachelor of Communication Studies, where she majored in PR and specialised in event management. Her academic journey also includes a graduate diploma in Marketing, showing a deep understanding of the industry. Prior to joining Wright Communications, Amy honed her skills as the Marketing and Fundraising Coordinator at Middlemore Foundation, where she acted as media spokesperson and found a love for media relations. Amy thrives on the adrenaline of agency life, with a love for developing stories and seeing their impact across all media platforms. At Wright Communications, Amy is an integral part of a skilled team, bringing industry expertise. She takes pride in working with clients across all sectors, assisting them in sharing their positive and sustainable stories. Amy's genuine connections with journalists and understanding of the media trends, result in extensive media coverage.

Job Titles:

• Group Account Director - Consumer and NGO

Amy is a trained journalist with more than 25 years' communications experience across corporate and consumer disciplines in both public and private sectors. She has represented a broad range of businesses and individuals in New Zealand and Europe from multi-nationals to iconic kiwi companies, not-for-profits, and entrepreneurs.

Job Titles:

• Senior Account Director
• Secretary for the Attorney General

Ellie Martel has more than 20 years' experience in corporate communications, specialising in corporate communications across crisis and change management, stakeholder relations and government relations. Ellie has a wealth of top level experience as one of the few Kiwi PR practitioners with a strong background in the industrial sector, on the executive or leading external communications for some of New Zealand's highest profile companies, including Fletcher Building, Refining NZ (now Channel Infrastructure) and KiwiRail. She is currently supporting Oji Fibre Solutions through significant transformation. She has led or worked on M&A projects, annual reports, market updates, capital raises, annual meetings, investor road shows, iwi relations, government relations, resource consent projects, site closures, openings and launches, crisis and issues management and community relations. Ellie is a former press secretary for the Attorney General, Minister for Building, Minister for Treaty Settlements, Minister of Commerce and Minister of Labour. As a TV and multi award-winning press journalist for many years, she was a political editor for Stuff (focusing on business including Budget analysis), wrote Wakeup Call for BusinessDesk and wrote for The Listener. She has also written for the Sydney Morning Herald and The Times in London with a focus on business and personal finance.

Job Titles:

• Group Account Director - Corporate & Sustainability

Job Titles:

• Associate Director Communications, Justice Programs Office American University

I joined Wright Communications because I knew it was in the business of helping people do the right thing. It was a privilege to help clients across a range of sectors celebrate this by working with them to tell their story in an authentic way. I loved working with the incredibly professional, dedicated and talented Wright team, but also the opportunity to become an extension of our clients' teams and work with them at a strategic level. It was a pleasure to engage in real stakeholder engagement and mentoring in the public and private sectors, as well as reporting that focuses on the performance of all aspects of a business. Those are values that Wright shares, and that comes through every day, in every way.

Job Titles:

• Senior Communications Adviser, ATEED

I first met Nikki Wright in 2009 when I served as the Communications & Media Relations Manager at Leukaemia & Blood Cancer New Zealand. Wright Communications was instrumental in helping our team gain significant media coverage and engage stakeholders for Shave for a Cure, our signature event. Years later, I jumped at the chance to join Wright Communications as an Account Director. I was delighted for the opportunity to work with a mix of clients where I focused on sustainability, supply chain, the environment, and communities and how these issues intersect. I am certain that experience enabled my next role as Communications Manager at Greenpeace International. Wright Communications has an unshakeable commitment to professionalism and quality that is paired with a work culture that values people and family. It was a pleasure to work with Nikki and the Wright team.

Job Titles:

• Marketing and Communications Consultant, Freelance

My time at Wright Communications involved being part of a highly capable and fun team, and being encouraged to build trusted bonds with clients, both small and large. Nikki leads a results-driven and highly professional workplace where quality is paramount - an environment that I'd like to think brought out the best in me. Wright's expertise in sustainability communications and reporting, and Nikki's long-term trusted relationships with some of New Zealand's most respected companies, meant I got to work on some really satisfying corporate responsibility projects - for Toyota NZ in particular. When I left after 2.5 years, I took with me some great friendships, valuable new skills, and a lot of personal confidence.

Job Titles:

• Finance Manager

An experienced finance professional who has previously worked as Practice Manager for major accounting firm WHK Gosling Chapman, Mary-Anne Parker now provides financial management to successful SMEs. She is skilled in numerous areas of financial management, including process improvement, budgeting and financial modelling. Mary-Anne is a popular member of the Wright Communications team and not just because she is the one who pays their payslips. In her role as Finance Manager, Mary-Anne makes sure that the bills are paid on time, and everything goes smoothly from a financial perspective. She also provides valuable assistance with reporting and analysis. Mary-Anne lives in Ponsonby and with two young children, she enjoys the occasional peace and quiet of a yoga session or swimming. "Working with a firm that truly centres sustainability and people is an absolute pleasure." Mary-Anne Parker

Job Titles:

• Public Affairs and Communications Manager, EMA

Job Titles:

• Office Manager
• PA to Managing Director

Wright Communications Office Manager and PA to Managing Director Nikki Wright is Nicki Pearce. Nicki joined the agency after 35 years at Auckland University of Technology in a variety of administrative roles and says she's loving the different PR environment working with a small group of dedicated professionals. Her main role at Wright Communications is to support Nikki and keep the office ticking over for the team. When not at work, a big focus for Nicki is the finalisation of her Master of Business thesis that deals with older workers and informal eldercare, but she also spends a lot of time with her grandchildren in their leisure and sport - be it watching hockey or lacrosse or getting her feet sandy at Red Beach Surf Life Saving Club. She doesn't neglect her own fitness though and enjoys keeping fit, including taking a weekly session with a personal trainer. "The team at Wright Communications is amazing to work with and I love being part of an organisation that has sustainability as one of its core values." Nicki Pearce

Job Titles:

• Founder

Nikki Wright is one of New Zealand's leading PR practitioners with a wealth of experience across many of New Zealand's most high profile companies. As the founder of Wright Communications with recognition as a three-time Agency of the Year winner, Nikki's experience covers the full range of corporate affairs activities including CEO advisory roles, media management and public relations, brand/reputation management, legal and regulatory processes, sustainability (in all senses of the word), internal communications and crisis planning/management. She is sought after for reputation management services, often working alongside other professional advisors such as legal counsel in high profile cases. Renowned for her objectivity, Nikki is valued by organisational leaders for delivering candid insights based on wide experience. With an expansive network cultivated through extensive consulting, judging PR awards and insights backed by Institute of Directors certification in Company Direction, she possesses a unique panoramic view of industry dynamics and emerging trends. She is known for the quality of her advice on climate and sustainability reporting requirements. As a trusted advisor to private sector and NGO CEOs, Nikki and her boutique agency maintain long-term relationships with clients. This includes a 17-year partnership with Toyota New Zealand, where Nikki personally oversees corporate narrative, messaging, positioning, and communications strategy. As a co-founder of the Corporate Reputation Index in partnership with Kantar, Nikki assists leading businesses in cultivating trust and ensuring businesses take multiple audiences - including customers, communities, stakeholders, government and iwi - on the journey in supportive rather than obstructive roles. With her business certified as a B Corp and Toitū net carbon zero, Nikki is proud that her stakeholder-led business contributes $100,000 pro bono support annually to leading NGOs. "What sets Wright Communications apart is the professionalism and integrity of our team. We set high standards and we work collaboratively to ensure every client gets top-quality service and results." Nikki Wright Founder Nikki Wright is always available to help the team achieve their professional goals Nikki Wright deals personally with every client, and each consultant enjoys building valued client relationships.

Job Titles:

• Group Account Director - Corporate & Sustainability

Richard is a highly experienced corporate communications professional with over 30 years' expertise, including deep knowledge of the energy sector and highly regulated industries. A trained journalist, he specializes in corporate affairs, investor relations, reputation and risk management, financial and legal communications, and sustainability reporting. Richard has held senior in-house roles, including at Genesis Energy and AMP Ltd, leading major projects such as capital raisings, IPOs, shareholder communications, and crisis management. At Genesis Energy, he successfully: Managed pre-IPO capital raising and investor relations strategy Built strong relationships with equity analysts, fund managers, and investment media Developed and delivered investment narratives, presentations, and public investor campaigns Led post-IPO investor relations, including Investor Days, AGM communications, and retail investor engagement His extensive background includes working across energy, finance, transport, technology, and property sectors, where he has earned a reputation as a trusted advisor. Richard is also New Zealand's go-to expert for cyber security breach management. "I joined Wright Communications because it aligns with my strengths: delivering communications that balance regulatory requirements and stakeholder expectations." Richard Gordon

Job Titles:

• Group Account Director - Corporate & Sustainability

With more than 10 years' corporate communications experience, including with major multinationals in the energy and transport sectors, Rob has played a key role in some of New Zealand's highest profile media and public policy issues in recent years. Through this work Rob has developed an in-depth understanding of the issues facing emissions-intensive sectors, and their pathway to decarbonisation. Rob's expertise spans the public relations spectrum, including CSR, stakeholder engagement, iwi engagement, issues management and public policy advocacy. He brings a warm enthusiasm to every project he's involved in, thoughtfully crafting and implementing his communications approaches to diverse stakeholders and audiences.

Job Titles:

• Strategic Communications Manager, High Performance Sport New Zealand

I was proud to be a part of a communications agency that does things ‘the right way' and with an insistence on delivering actual substance for its clients. When I went to Nikki to advise her I was resigning to take up a position with the global governing body for motor sports in Paris, she could not have been happier for me - and demonstrated the genuine interest in her employees that make Wright Communications such a fantastic place to work.