Third Avenue Consulting Promotes Julie Wright to Managing Director

Third Avenue Consulting Principal Rochelle Burbury today announced the appointment of Julie Wright as the leading PR firm’s managing director, following a strong period of growth in new business.

In addition, Leigh Fenech has been appointed as consultant, further supporting the company’s expanding client roster and ambitions for continued growth.

In the newly created managing director role, Julie will work closely with Rochelle to lead Third Avenue, help further grow the business, and provide her expertise and counsel to clients.

Julie joined Third Avenue as a senior consultant in 2021 and has proven herself to be a valuable addition to the team and to the company’s clients. Julie has 20 years’ experience in PR and strategic communications in Sydney and London. She has extensive hands-on experience crafting effective public relations strategies and optimising the way companies communicate and connect with stakeholders.

Julie spent a decade of her career managing public relations campaigns in paediatric healthcare for the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Network, leading the communications team responsible for The Children’s Hospital at Westmead and Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick's $1.3 billion infrastructure program. She has also worked with Access PR in Sydney and 3 Monkeys in London across clients in the media, entertainment, healthcare, infrastructure and not-for-profit sectors.

As well as being a judge for a number of industry awards, she was also named as a finalist in Mediaweek’s Next of the Best Awards in 2024.

Joining Julie in the Third Avenue team is Leigh, who will work across a range of clients in her new role. She brings more than 15 years' experience to the business across multiple industries, including ecommerce, digital content management, inventory control, and marketing. Throughout her career, Leigh has held key roles at Seafolly, Universal Music Australia, and HOYTS Group, where she developed expertise in digital content, inventory management, and large-scale project management.

Rochelle said the new roles will enable Third Avenue to bring the best of senior expertise and experience to its clients in the media, advertising, marketing, ad tech and research sectors, as the company continues to grow.

“It’s been a big couple of years for Third Avenue, recording double digit revenue growth for three consecutive years; and it’s recognition of the fact that experience, effectiveness and being connected are core to bringing to life successful, specialist public relations programs. We work with a range of clients, from start-ups to large global companies, however the fundamentals remain the same. It’s about really knowing our clients’ business and the landscape in which they operate, and supporting them to build reputations and achieve business objectives,” she said.

“Jules has grown to become my right hand person at Third Avenue. She’s the conch to my chaos, she brings process to my pedantry, and she has been a welcome and valuable addition to our clients. Jules’s appointment to the newly-created role of Managing Director is both a reflection of the growth in our business but also her incredible contribution to our clients, and to me. I could not be more delighted that I’ve finally convinced Jules to take on this new role, boss me around, and take Third Avenue to the next level. About time.

“Leigh recently joined us as a much-needed account coordinator and has quickly established herself as invaluable for both our team and our clients.

“I am incredibly proud to say Third Avenue is 100% female and we are all working mothers - our firm policy is family first - we help and support each other when required, we all work bloody hard, and have a lot of fun along the way, celebrating in the success our clients achieve.”

Commenting on her appointment, Julie said she was looking forward to taking on the new role and for the next chapter of Third Avenue.

“I’m really excited to be stepping into the managing director role at Third Avenue. Rochelle and I have worked together on and off for more than 15 years now, and remained good friends in between. We bicker like an old married couple, but truly do have a good time working together with our team and our clients. I have always believed you should walk towards the opportunities that excite you and feel good in your gut so I am really looking forward to this next chapter,” she said.

Third Avenue also launches a refreshed website today at https://www.thirdavenue.com.au/.

Both appointments are effective from 1 January 2025.