Our Team

Combining local knowledge with experience the closely-knit Comacon team includes some of the most experienced consultants in stakeholder engagement and communication. Our consultants are high performing, practical specialists who thrive in working collaboratively with our clients and stakeholders to make their projects a success and realise true benefits for stakeholders and local communities.

Our overarching centralised management provides leadership and common support, including administration, graphics, media, HR and finance, as part of a structure that permits a scalable approach, so staff and resources can be added or demobilised without disruption depending on your requirements.

Donna Groves

Managing Director and Principal Consultant

Donna is a stakeholder/community engagement and communications professional with over 25 years’ experience. Donna specialises in infrastructure, natural resources/energy and governance projects and has worked on over 200 infrastructure projects. Donna has held senior community and stakeholder relations/communications positions with the NSW, Victorian and Australian Governments, CPB Contractors, Abigroup (now Lendlease), Sydney Catchment Authority and South Sydney Council. As a consultant, she has worked with all the major contractors in some capacity and on both the client and the contractor side. Donna’s undergraduate qualifications are in psychology and her postgraduate qualifications are in Planning and Government, Communications and Aboriginal Studies.

Coral Reynolds

Executive General Manager

Over 15 years’ experience in developing and implementing internal and external communications programs, marketing strategies and stakeholder engagement activities for major infrastructure projects nationally. Senior communications and stakeholder engagement including roles with; Port Authority NSW, NSW Department of Planning, Industry and Environment, NSW Public Service Commission, Transport for NSW, NSW Health Infrastructure, John Holland, CPB Contractors, Fulton Hogan, Downer, Australian Rail Track Corporation, Transdev and Advisian.

Shannon O’Connell

Senior Communication and Engagement Consultant

Shannon has over 18 years’ experience working in the water, community housing, education and insurance sectors. She is skilled in project and change management, corporate and strategic communications, publications and brand management, stakeholder engagement, media relations, reputation management, issues and crisis management, corporate sponsorship, and Annual Report and speech writing. Shannon is passionate about helping others communicate in plain English, particularly with people from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds.

Grace Pundyk

Senior Communication and Engagement Consultant

Grace is a skilled communication professional with extensive experience in writing and editing, public speaking, event organisation, the publishing industry and the performing arts. Her expertise crosses a diverse spectrum of subjects and working environments both in Australia and internationally where she has worked with various government departments and agencies (Arts, DPC, Indigenous Affairs, Parliament, Justice, and Education) and corporate sectors (the arts, business, oil, technology, finance, travel).

Jo Williams

Communication and Engagement Consultant

Jo is an experienced stakeholder engagement practitioner with exceptional communication skills. Her specialties are managing complex and demanding relationships and contracts for small and large corporate and government environments across a variety of industry sectors. Jo has effectively managed local government programs, NSW councils, health and aged care portfolios, and acted in national account manager and director roles for major corporations such as Wesfarmers, BP, Integral Energy and GE Capital Finance. In her limited spare time, Jo enjoys volunteering to support communities in need.

Rita Buttenshaw

Business Manager

Originally from the USA, but now considered an ‘Aussie’, Rita adds a wealth of business acumen to Comacon gained from working on both sides of the Pacific in a wide variety of industry sectors. Rita holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications providing a solid foundation and versatility to excel in marketing, communications and business development roles, while maintaining an operational focus.

Maria Mobjer

Consultant

Maria brings experience from a diverse career including paralegal work with Hamilton Law Firm in Stockholm, leading a team of sports statisticians at the Swedish News Agency and assistant editor at JP Infonet where she tailored legal news and analyses for clients and government departments. Since arriving in Australia and starting a family, Maria turned her hand to managing the head office for kikki.K and is now keen to develop her skills as an engagement practitioner.

Tayla Iakovidis

Graduate Consultant

Tayla is a focused and hardworking graduate consultant with strong communication and teamwork skills developed through years of face to face customer interaction and casual employment in social environments. Tayla has an energetic attitude, a strong work ethic and a willingness to expand her current knowledge so she is a definite asset to any project team.

Joe Pereira

Principal Consultant

Joe is a leader in external engagement and he brings versatility, insight and a grace under pressure that keeps projects on time, within budget and leaves clients satisfied. He also brings excellent skills in conflict resolution and strategic thinking that have delivered breakthrough solutions. Joe has been instrumental in restoring calm to controversial and challenging projects, and is accredited in team development training, which continues to prove invaluable.

Pauline Jacob

Principal Consultant

Pauline is a stakeholder, communication and government relations professional with over 20 years’ experience on more than 30 key projects including 10 years’ experience in policy and legislation reform. She specialises in strategic planning relating to stakeholder and government relations and has led this component for some of Australia’s most controversial projects and policy reforms.

Jen Langusch

Human Resources Manager

Jenny is an experienced human resources professional able to improve corporate, team and individual performance. Jenny provides innovative and strategic solutions and on one major project introduced reforms that greatly increased employee efficiency.

Veta McCulloch

Graphic Designer

Veta is a communications professional with more than 20 years’ experience in the areas of graphic design, marketing and communications; establishing and maintaining strong working relationships with clients. Veta specialises in web design, graphic design and branding, creating engaging, memorable and cohesive designs for clients and major projects.

Comacon International

Comacon has community engagement, environmental management and social analysis teams in eight international locations. In London, Paris, Berlin, Barcelona and Auckland, our staff have become indispensable to the large infrastructure projects they’re working on. They’re now permanently embedded within their respective teams, working exclusively on these projects. In Apia and The Hague, our consultants are working with our social partners to implement pro-bono programs supporting clean water supplies in a number of developing countries.

Our Hong Kong office supports our Infrastructure community relations partner training, which we have facilitated throughout China since 2014. In addition to the above locations, we’ll soon be opening offices in the USA (San Francisco and New York) and in also plan further expansion in Asia.
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To contact our international teams please email comaconinternational@comacon.com.au

Our Experience

Our Promise