Data at the core
Every decision is powered by insight, not guesswork.
About us
Rapid Media is a next-generation integrated agency built for brands that move fast. We combine advanced analytics, audience intelligence, creative craft, and performance marketing to build campaigns that don’t just look good, they deliver measurable results.
Built on speed, strategy and deep industry experience, we help brands grow through an end-to-end ecosystem spanning Media, Strategy, Creative, Production, Social Media, Digital, Paid Search and SEO.
Since 2009
Operating as Rapid Media, with agency roots to 2001
WPP network
Access to wider research, tools and specialist expertise
Full Service
Media, digital, creative and data under one roof
4 Locations
Brisbane, Gold Coast, Lennox Head and Melbourne
Meet the Team
Vaughan O'Connor - Managing Director
Vaughan O’Connor leads Rapid Media and Informatic Communication Investment with a clear purpose: helping ambitious businesses create measurable growth. With 25 years at Rapid Media, Vaughan has worked across a diverse range of sectors including not-for-profit, retail, automotive, tourism, FMCG, property, aviation, professional services, politics and agriculture. His client experience includes organisations such as Mater Foundation, Royal Children’s Hospital Foundation and ENDed, along with established brands and emerging challengers seeking a sharper competitive advantage. Vaughan is known for combining strategic thinking with commercial discipline. Clients value his directness, transparency, media expertise, negotiation strength, speed and ability to solve complex problems.
Katrina O'Connor - Director
Katrina O’Connor is the co-founder and Director of Rapid Media, bringing a strong background in media, sales and business leadership to the company. Katrina served as Rapid Media’s General Manager from its inception, leading the business through its formative first decade before stepping back from day-to-day operations to take on a Director role while raising her four children. Prior to Rapid Media, Katrina built her career across both media and corporate sales, including time in radio with Southern Cross Austereo in Brisbane and sales roles with Hilton Hotels. As Rapid Media grew, the business required her full-time focus, and she played a key role in establishing the company’s foundations, culture and client relationships.
Jess O'Reily - Client Service Team Leader
I have over 18 years of media agency experience, working across clients in the government, lottery, aviation, charity, tourism, retail, and corporate sectors. I’m passionate about building strong relationships with my clients and media partners, and managing outstanding campaigns from start to finish that deliver real impact for brands. Having worked across a diverse range of industries, I’ve built a reputation for keeping projects running smoothly, building trusted relationships, and delivering campaigns that exceed expectations.
Gemma Pilon - Senior Account Director
I have over 18 years of experience working across the Marketing and Media agency sectors, with a background spanning QSR, fashion retail, power tools, and corporate industries. I’m passionate about building strong brands and creating meaningful customer connections, and I enjoy producing work that is both strategic and creatively impactful. I have a proven ability to lead integrated campaigns, foster strong client relationships, and deliver results in fast-paced environments. Outside of work, I’m busy being a mum to two little ones or finding another renovation project for my husband and I to tackle.
Kate Turner - Account Director
With over 15 years of media agency experience, I’ve worked across clients in the Government, Automotive, Hospitality/Entertainment/Gaming, Retail/FMCG, Pharmaceuticals and Technology industries. I pride myself on building strong, long-term client relationships and working as a true extension of my clients’ teams — bringing a collaborative, proactive approach to every partnership. Throughout my career, I’ve built a reputation for being reliable, solutions-focused, and committed to delivering work that makes a real impact.
Benson Smith - Account Director
I bring more than 28 years’ experience across media agencies and media sales, working with clients across a diverse range of sectors including gambling and gaming, pharmaceuticals, retail, FMCG, travel, B2B, automotive, appliances, education and charities. I am passionate about using research, data and analytics to deliver real-world outcomes for clients’ marketing campaigns. I value a collaborative approach to campaign development, bringing together media, PR, creative, CRM and other disciplines to deliver measurable results and tangible business impact.
Caitlin Grant - Account Director
I have over seven years’ experience in the media agency industry, with a strong focus on the construction and agriculture sectors. My background spans media buying, with a specialisation in TV trading across negotiations, buying, optimisation and inventory management to deliver high-impact campaigns. I’m passionate about building smart, audience-led strategies that align with clients’ core audiences while driving meaningful, measurable results. I thrive in collaborative environments and enjoy creating strong client partnerships along the way.
Hayley Zantiotis - Account Director
I have over 7 years of media agency experience, working across clients in the retail, automotive, lottery, events, travel, and charity sectors. I’m passionate about building strong relationships with my clients and media partners, and managing outstanding campaigns from start to finish for our brands. I thrive on negotiating with the media on behalf of my clients, to deliver campaigns that go beyond the brief and leave a lasting impact.
Lucy Butler - Media Co-ordinator
Hi, I’m Lucy! I’m currently working in the Account Services team in my first role within the media industry. I bring a strong background in Communications, and I thrive in dynamic environments that allow me to showcase my adaptability, curiosity and strong work ethic. I’m passionate about building genuine client relationships, collaborating across all teams and bringing campaigns to life from strategy through to execution, helping to create meaningful impact for clients along the way.
Elsie Cooper - Operations Manager
I have over 4 years of experience working across the advertising and data sectors, supporting a diverse range of clients and campaigns. With a background in operations management and data analytics, I am passionate about creating efficient processes and delivering insights that drive strong campaign outcomes. I thrive in fast-paced environments and enjoy working collaboratively across teams to ensure seamless delivery and exceptional results for clients.
Bridget Wright - Head of Digital
I have over 12 years of experience working across sectors including online gambling, financial services, travel, education, and consumer product, with a background in performance marketing, digital strategy and brand growth. I’m passionate about creating data-driven marketing solutions and enjoy creating work that is both strategic and creative. I have a proven ability to deliver digital marketing strategies that align business objectives with innovative campaigns to drive growth and engagement.
Imogen Hunn - Senior Digital Account Manager
I have over 13 years of experience working across the media and market research sectors, with a background in client service, media strategy and campaign planning. I’m very passionate about staying across the ever-changing digital media landscape, understanding audience behaviour and executing campaigns that make big impacts. I enjoy ensuring campaigns perform strongly while delivering valuable learnings and measurable outcomes. I have a proven ability to combine research and media thinking to help brands drive meaningful results.
Laura Petherbridge - Digital Account Manager
I have over 3 years of experience working in digital marketing, with a background in account management and business operations. I'm passionate about building strong relationships with clients to build digital solutions that actually help their businesses grow. I have a proven ability to support multiple accounts and projects efficiently, whilst making sure the client feels supported along the way. Outside of work, you'll find me planning my next weekend getaway, playing touch football or catching up with friends.
Nicholas Langford - Digital Coordinator
I have over 4 years of experience working across the legal services, marketing and media sectors, with a background in client success, campaign coordination and performance reporting. I’m passionate about developing creative, data-driven solutions that ensure the right message reaches the right audience, and enjoy creating work that is both strategic and results-focused. I have a proven ability to manage multiple campaigns, track budgets, analyse performance and optimise media activity to maximise return on spend. Outside of work, I’m an active member of the rowing community and currently coach at a school level.
Shashank Mujumale - SEO Director
I have over 10 years of experience in SEO, SEM, and digital marketing, with a strong background in Information Technology and web development. As Director of Search at Rapid Media, I lead our search team and work with clients across a range of industries to improve their online visibility, drive growth, and deliver measurable results. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time with my family, travelling, following cricket, and exploring emerging technologies and AI innovations.
Akshay Gawli - Paid Search Specialist
I have over 6 years of experience working across media agencies and sectors including FMCG, fintech, retail, healthcare and ecommerce, with a background in integrated media planning and client servicing. I’m passionate about data-driven thinking and emerging technologies and enjoy creating work that is both strategic and impactful. I have a proven ability to build strong client relationships, bring structure to complex challenges, and turn data insights into actionable recommendations. Outside of work, I’m a quant/derivatives trading enthusiast and enjoy watching movies.
Samuel Matthews - Paid Search Specialist
The way customers discover and interact with businesses has changed drastically in the last decade. Part of this new-wave marketing Vanguard, Samuel has spent the last 6+ years learning, mastering and innovating in these changing spaces. Delivering holistic, full funnel strategies that are highly effective in the modern SEM space.
George Yaldho - Search Executive
Hello, I’m George! I have 2 years of experience working across paid media, with experience managing campaigns across industries including automotive, finance, technology, FMCG, travel, health and real estate. Passionate about combining data with marketing, I enjoy interpreting performance insights and turning them into data-driven strategies that deliver meaningful growth and measurable results. Outside of work, I’m a huge soccer fan and a loyal Manchester United supporter.
Grace Martin Bates - Head of Content
I believe the best content sits at the intersection of creativity, culture and performance. With more than 6 years' experience leading content strategy across the OPE, Sports, Automotive, FMCG and Education sectors, I specialise in turning brand objectives into creative campaigns that deliver measurable results. My favourite ideas are the ones that not only stop the scroll, but start conversations and build brands people genuinely want to be part of. Throughout my career, I've helped brands expand their presence through insight-led strategy, creative storytelling and integrated campaigns across social, digital and broadcast. Whether I'm developing content strategies, leading creative ideation or bringing multi-channel campaigns to life, I'm always focused on creating work that delivers lasting impact.
Joclyn Warner - Social Media Manager
Hi, I’m Joclyn! I have over six years of experience in social media and a strong background in marketing. I’m passionate about helping brands showcase what makes them unique through content that is creative, engaging, and genuinely valuable. I specialise in creating content that feels authentic, relatable, and aligned with each brand’s voice, while delivering meaningful results and building strong audience connections.
Robyn Vawdrey - Social Media Manager
I have over 5 years of experience in marketing, with a background across all areas of digital marketing, but specialising in social media management and content creation. I’ve worked across a wide variety of industries from beauty, automotive, fitness, travel, and everything in between! I’m passionate about working with clients to build a relationship that feels like I am extension of their in-house team, and using my expertise to create content strategies that stand out from the crowd.
Ollie O'Connor - Social Media Coordinator
I have over 1 year of experience within the social media management space. As a part-time worker, I have gained experience from both my university studies and my work at Rapid Media. I look after a range of different clients social media accounts, whether that is through monthly reporting, sourcing content or building out content calendars. Outside of work, you will find me surfing or hanging out with my mates.
Jason 'JJ' Jamieson - Video Editor
Hello, I’m JJ! I have over 20 years of experience working across the television, film, corporate, live events and digital media industries, with a background in video editing, motion graphics and post-production. Passionate about cinema, theatre and visual storytelling (probably expected given my profession), I enjoy creating work that is both creatively engaging and technically refined, with a proven ability to deliver high-quality content across a wide range of formats and platforms throughout an Emmy Award-winning career.
James Burnell - Senior Graphic Designer
I have over 27 years of experience working in print and media, with a strong background in graphic design. I thrive in fast-paced environments, combining a passion for design with a sharp eye for detail. I believe in genuine client collaboration. I don’t see myself as just a contractor, but as an extension of my client’s team. This approach fosters seamless workflows, clearer communication, and consistently results-driven creative outcomes. Outside of work you’ll find me spending time with family or watching live music. I’m also a test cricket tragic!
Jayden McDonald - Multimedia Content Designer
I have over 11 years of experience working across video and static design, with a specialisation in motion graphics. I’m super passionate about design trends, trying new things in media, experimenting with mediums and bringing otherwise static and still images to life with visual effects and sound design. I enjoy working in a fast-paced environment and really excel in my ability to delivery work with time to spare. Outside of work I continue my creative pursuits through my own personal art and creating music.
Che Halafihi - Graphic Designer
I have over two years of experience working across marketing communications and creative services, with a background in branding, social media, and content creation. I’m passionate about creative expression and visual storytelling, and I enjoy producing work that is both visually compelling and impactful. I have a proven ability to translate ideas into design outcomes across a range of creative outputs and platforms. Outside of work, I’m usually outdoors or on the move, hiking, swimming, playing basketball, training, and recently trying my hand at golf.