ICON Agency

🎯 What They Do

ICON Agency is a full-service, award-winning creative communications agency headquartered in Melbourne, Australia, with additional offices in Sydney, Brisbane, Canberra, and Fiji.

• ●Founded in 2002 by husband and wife team Joanne Painter and Christopher Dodds, the agency was established with a vision to integrate public relations, digital marketing, and advertising into a cohesive, creatively led communications model.
• ●ICON Agency is independently owned and founder-led, which allows for long-term strategic thinking, ethical decision-making, and genuine accountability, free from the constraints of global holding companies.

📖 Their Story

The agency specialises in complex behaviour change and brand transformation, operating at the intersection of earned media, advertising, and digital marketing.

• ●Their interdisciplinary approach combines strategy, creativity, communications, and digital to deliver impactful work for a diverse clientele.
• ●ICON Agency serves government bodies, B2B entities, major corporate organisations, large Australian enterprises, not-for-profits, and small to medium-sized businesses.
• ●They have particular expertise across key sectors including technology, health, education, digital transformation, government, defence, cyber security, financial services, energy, sustainability, renewables, and legal and professional services.

⚡ What Sets Them Apart

What sets ICON Agency apart is their pioneering approach to purpose-led communications and their commitment to making a positive impact on people's lives and minimising harm to the planet.

• ●They boast in-house capabilities spanning creative, planning, data, content, video, and media buying.
• ●The agency has also established a Metaverse and AI lab, actively exploring Web 3.0 technologies and their impact on Australia's creative industry.
• ●ICON Agency has been recognised as Australia's most awarded independent PR agency, earning nine 'Agency of the Year' accolades in 2021 and 2022, including seven gold and two bronze awards.
• ●In 2026, they were appointed to the Queensland Government's Creative Advertising Panel.

🏆 Track Record

Leadership at ICON Agency includes co-founders Joanne Painter, who serves as Group Managing Director and Company Secretary, and Christopher Dodds, Managing Director of Digital.

• ●Joanne Painter is recognised as a leader in Australian public relations with over 25 years of experience.
• ●Christopher Dodds oversees the agency's digital division and the safe implementation of AI.
• ●The agency also strengthened its national leadership in July 2025 with the appointment of Georgina Rees to the expanded role of Executive Director, Brand, Creative and Communications.
• ●They are a female-led agency, reflecting a commitment to diversity in leadership.