Purple boosts health communications arm

We are excited to be expanding our practice in the health sector, with the addition to our team of experienced practitioner Jean Perkins.

Jean has previously specialised in health as a journalist, as an adviser to the WA government and in public relations roles in Perth, Sydney and London.

Her arrival increases our capacity to service clients in one of the fastest-growing sectors in the Australian economy.

“Jean brings extensive experience in developing and implementing strategic communication plans for health and pharmaceutical clients,” Purple Managing Director Warrick Hazeldine said.

“The healthcare sector has experienced rapid growth in recent years, and Jean’s knowledge and understanding of the issues and opportunities will help us significantly expand our work in this area.

“With a career in the field spanning more than 20 years, Jean has a proven track record of implementing and executing strategic communications plans for clients across the full spectrum of the healthcare sector – including award-winning global campaigns.”

Purple’s strong health sector credentials are already well-established, with departmental and ministerial experience at state and federal levels and work with leading health companies and not-for-profit organisations.

Jean’s appointment comes as our Corporate Affairs team is also boosted by the addition of Emily Coates.

Both Emily and Jean will work closely alongside Account Manager Carina Tan-Van Baren, National Director Karen Brown and Government Relations Director Astrid Serventy to broaden offerings to clients in the health sector.

Karen was until 2017 a director of Rural Health West and Rural Health Workforce and has decades of experience in government relations, communications and media. Astrid has advised several past state and federal government ministers – including former health minister Jim McGinty – and has consulted to the WA Department of Health and St John of God Health Care.

Carina has a background as a journalist and government adviser, and prior to joining Purple worked as a commercial solicitor specialising in property law.

“Carina’s skills are particularly suited to servicing the needs of clients in the aged-care sector, which – like health in general – is one of great activity and change,” Mr Hazeldine said.

“The intersection of aged care and property in particular is a growing area in the industry, and one in which Carina’s tremendous attention to detail, thorough knowledge of legal issues and commitment to staying across industry issues mean she is perfectly placed to advise clients in a constantly-changing environment.

“As a public affairs officer in the Department of Health and Ageing, Carina was part of the crisis preparation team for the Sydney Olympics and the lead media responder during a national recall of paracetamol products following product tampering.”

The health sector has also been heavily implicated following the introduction of Australia’s new Notifiable Data Breaches scheme laws, around which Purple has been a market-leader through a crisis response planning product spearheaded by Director of Design and Digital Jamie Wilkinson.

Over the first four-plus months of the scheme’s existence, health service providers accounted for close to 21 per cent of all breaches – the biggest percentage of any one sector.

Contact Jean Perkins.

Contact Carina Tan-Van Baren.