Ex-Thrive PR talent joins acre agency as director

August 29, 2024 11:55

With its first birthday approaching, acre agency – an integrated communications and marketing agency focusing on agricultural brands and regional Australia – has named former Thrive PR employee, Anna Laskaris, as its new director.

The agency expert spent close to four years working at Thrive PR + Communications, after joining the company at the beginning of 2020 as an account executive. During her stint, Laskaris rose through the ranks, eventually becoming senior account manager in October 2022.

Working across New Zealand and Australia in the senior role, Laskaris helped spearhead earned-led campaigns for several significant brands, including Airbnb, MG Motors, ANZ Bank, Afterpay, the LEGO Group, Optus and more.

Prior to Thrive PR, Laskaris worked at Edelman for just over a year and a half in account executive positions.

It is that diverse experience that acre agency’s founder, Emma Williams, says will help the organisation bolster its solutions for customers.

“This breadth of experience and capabilities not only enhances our ability to deliver smart, strategic, and innovative solutions to our clients’ challenges but also infuses our work with a fresh and unique perspective,” said Williams.

“Ensuring that we not only drive creativity within the industry but also service the highest standards of execution.”

When asked about her new gig, Laskaris said being able to to work with acre team behind the scenes gave her a new perspective on agricultural and regional Australia’s potential.

(L-R): Emma Williams, Anna Laskaris

“I am thrilled to officially be a part of Acre Agency,” she enthused.

“Having supported the team behind the scenes for a few months, I’ve been inspired by the significant potential and opportunities within regional and agricultural Australia.

“This has been a major motivation for joining forces with Emma. Emma has done such an incredible job establishing the agency over the past year and I’m eager to work closely with her to lead the day-to-day operations and help drive future growth.”

Currently, the agency’s client roster contains regional entities that operate within corporate and consumer bodies. It covers retail, technology, food and machinery sectors.

Both Williams and Laskaris credit acre’s success to its integrated, strategic methodologies.

“The inception of acre agency was driven by a clear observation: many regional and agricultural businesses struggle with a lack of education and resources necessary to define a comprehensive marketing and communication strategy,” Williams said.

“Without this foundation, it becomes challenging to identify which activities will genuinely drive success and resonate with their target audiences.

“At acre agency, we believe that every effort should be purposeful and intentional, with the goal of creating meaningful impact and adding real value to the communities and industries we serve.

“It’s not just about following trends or adhering to standard processes for the sake of it; it’s about understanding the unique needs of each business and crafting strategies that make a positive tangible difference.”

Anna Laskaris

Moving forward, acre’s goal is to help connect metro and corporate entities with agriculture and regional Australia, resulting in “a more prosperous future for businesses across the board.”

“Cultural and communication barriers… have long existed between regional Australia and corporate and metro Australia,” said Laskaris.

“These barriers often hinder effective collaboration and mutual understanding, leading to missed opportunities for growth and innovation.

“With a gross value of $94 billion the agriculture sector and regional Australia is a significant contributor to the lifeblood of this country, so we are on a mission to dismantle these barriers ensuring that the strengths of each region are leveraged to their fullest potential.”