Thrive PR + Communications

🎯 What They Do

Thrive PR + Communications is a prominent, independent strategic communications agency with a significant presence across Australia and New Zealand, including offices in Melbourne, Sydney, Brisbane, Gold Coast, and Auckland.

• ●Founded in Melbourne in 2000 by Leilani Abels, the agency has consistently been a leader in the public relations and communications landscape for over two decades.
• ●Initially focusing on consumer expertise, Thrive diversified its offerings in 2001 to include corporate communications, growing into a full-service agency that blends corporate and brand communications under one independent umbrella.

📖 Their Story

Thrive is distinguished as the largest family-owned, female-run independent PR agency in Australia and New Zealand.

• ●This independence allows it to operate with an entrepreneurial spirit and flexibility, offering clients the best of both worlds: the resources and best practices of a large agency combined with the hands-on, accountable approach of a boutique firm.
• ●The agency serves a diverse clientele, ranging from major enterprises and established businesses undergoing transformation to emerging brands and local communities, operating in what they term the 'corp-sumer' space.
• ●Their client portfolio spans various industries, including technology, corporate, sport, health and wellness, food and beverage, travel, retail, gaming, financial services, and automotive.

⚡ What Sets Them Apart

A cornerstone of Thrive's methodology is its proprietary 'Excess Earned Attention' framework, which drives measurable, disproportionate results for brands beyond traditional organic earned media, owned media, and paid media.

• ●This approach leverages strategic communications, extensive relationships, and a deep understanding of brand reputation to create impactful campaigns.
• ●Thrive's services encompass a broad spectrum of public relations and digital media, including internal communications, crisis management (offering 24/7 support), earned media strategy, corporate reputation programs, thought leadership, content production, LinkedIn strategies, awards and speaking engagements, executive profiling, media training, content and social media management, creator advocacy campaigns, and bespoke brand experiences and customer activations.

🏆 Track Record

Under the leadership of Founder and CEO Leilani Abels, Thrive has fostered a "Limited by Nothing" culture, attracting and retaining top talent.

• ●The executive leadership team includes Clare Basire (Managing Director, Sydney), Snezna Kerekovic (Acting Managing Director, Melbourne, and head of People & Culture), and Carol Qiu (Executive Director).
• ●Tiana Miocevich leads Thrive Aotearoa New Zealand, and Kyra Shakspeare is Client Partner leading Thrive Queensland.
• ●In March 2026, Marty O'Halloran, former Global Chairman of DDB Worldwide, joined Thrive PR & Communications in a strategic advisory role, further strengthening the agency's leadership and commitment to innovation and creativity.
• ●Key achievements include consistently ranking among the top PR firms in Australasia and attracting world-class partners like LEGO, NewsCorp, Diageo, TikTok, Cisco, Stihl, Harley Davidson, Blackmores, Chobani, Optus, Coles, AGL, Ubisoft, and ANZ.
• ●Their success is rooted in their ability to combine logic and creativity to build smart campaigns that resonate with diverse audiences.