Sound Story appoints new strategic and corporate comms specialists
Communications and reputation consultancy Sound Story has made two key hires and an internal promotion to bolster its offering across Australia’s East Coast.
Joining as strategic communication lead is Melbourne-based Kate McCabe.
McCabe will work across reputation and risk for Sound Story clients, with a focus on government and policy positioning, issues and crisis management, and industry advocacy.
She has experience from the ABC, Remote Control Records, Museums Victoria, and most recently, the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet, where she spent five years as a senior advisor of strategic comms.
Kate McCabe
“I’ve had my eye on Sound Story for some time – what they’re doing feels different. They are providing our local creative sector with proven corporate-inspired strategic comms expertise, and that’s exciting,” she said in a release announcing her appointment.
“I’m looking forward to working with Sound Story and sharing my learnings from the issues-rich wheelhouse of government.”
Meanwhile, Nick Price joins as corporate communications specialist from Bespoken Agency. Based in Brisbane, he will work closely with Zanda Wilson, who has just been promoted to head of corporate communications.
Price’s experience include full-time and contract roles at Ivy PR, SGC Media, The Red Republic, and Unitywater. Wilson has been with Sound Story since its launch in 2023.
The addition of McCabe and Price, along with Wilson’s promotion, aim to strengthen the Sound Story team’s capabilities, two years on from its launch. Led by managing partner Jake Challenor and Brian Lawlor, the agency works with “leaders and challengers” in the creative industries including music, media, technology, and fashion.
“The way stories are told – and the way they spread – is always evolving. We built Sound Story to help creative industry leaders and challengers make sense of that complexity and turn it into opportunity,” Challenor said in the release.
The news this week follows other recent appointments, including Melbourne-based Geoff Cope-Watts as senior communications specialist and Sydney-based Brooke Boland as consumer communications specialist. The pair work closely with communications director Jane Elliot, who joined from Nova Entertainment in 2023.
“The addition of Kate, Nick, Geoff and Brooke, alongside Zanda stepping up as head of corporate communications, further strengthens our capabilities with the depth and expertise needed to help our clients manage their reputation on the world stage,” Challenor said.
Keep up to date with the latest in media and marketing
Got a tip?
Lauren McNamara is a freelance journalist contributing to Mumbrella. She previously spent three years at the publication, most recently as the associate editor. She first joined in 2022 after completing a Bachelor of Communications (Journalism) at UTS. She left her staff role at Mumbrella in August 2025.
Linkedin
Have your say