Lighthouse Communications Group’s strength lies with its team of communications experts.

We are staffed by a team of consultants with expertise in a vast number of industries. Our team consists of former journalists, senior managers of large multinational communications consultancies, press secretaries to political leaders, senior communications advisors to major Australian corporations and public affairs managers for peak industry associations.

At Lighthouse, a specialist team serves both your tactical and strategic needs. Beyond your dedicated account team, your organisation can draw on a broader pool of talent who meet weekly to share best practices and create a culture of constant experimentation and improvement.

Our principal, Peter Laidlaw, has been behind a number of high profile and successful communications campaigns which have resulted in their clients enjoying improved regulatory environments, increases in sales, improved shareholder value and productivity improvements.

Lighthouse Communications Group’s Consultants include:

Peter Laidlaw

Peter has almost 20 years’ experience in the communications industry.

He has worked as a senior journalist, marketing communications executive, media advisor to a former government environment minister, a senior consultant for leading public relations agencies in Australia and the United Kingdom, corporate relations manager and a senior public relations executive for major corporations and industry groups.

As a consultant, Peter has assisted a number of blue chip corporations and small start up companies influence regulation, reposition themselves with stakeholders, enhance reputation, launch new brand and products and manage media.

In addition to holding senior consulting positions, Peter has held senior public relations positions with the London Housing Unit, Australian Hotels Association, the State Chamber of Commerce NSW and one of Australia’s largest corporations, Telstra.

Craig Regan

Craig has worked in public affairs and media for 30 years.

Craig worked for Fairfax, News Limited and the national wire service, Australian Associated Press, before moving into PR and media liaison for the NSW Police and Press Secretary roles for three NSW Ministers.

Craig worked in Government and Opposition in Canberra, was Chief-of-Staff to a Federal Minister and operated as a State-based media officer for the Prime Minister's Press Office.

Prior to joining Lighthouse Communications Group, Craig managed a healthcare PR division in an intergrated PR and advertising agency. He was State Public Affairs General Manager for a national PR consultancy and ran his own business consulting to clients in I.T., banking, gaming, transport and tourism.

Craig has a Masters degree in Organisational Communications and has lectured in media studies, crisis management and media presentation at a business college and the NSW Police Academy.

Michael Grealy

Michael is a communications professional and trusted adviser with 38 years experience in journalism and communications management in the political and corporate sectors in Australia.

Michael's experience between 1972 and 1989 included State Political Reporter for Fairfax's Sun Herald, Local Government Reporter for The Sydney Morning Herald, and Chief Industrial Relations Correspondent and Sydney, Melbourne and Whyalla representative for The Adelaide Advertiser.

Between October 1989 and July 1994, Michael was Assistant Director of the NSW Premier's Media Unit for Premier Nick Greiner and Press Secretary to Premier John Fahey. As media director of the Olympic Co-ordination Authority for five years, he led communications with domestic and international media in promoting the construction program and the rehabilitation of the Homebush Bay site.

Michael spent a decade at Telstra Corporation, firstly as National General Manager Media & Communications and adviser to CEO Ziggy Switkowski and later as Director Executive Services for CEO Sol Trujillo.

John Hanrahan

John has more than 25 years experience in daily newspapers in Australia, the UK and US, business magazines, television production and reporting, and corporate public relations and advertising.

For eight years he was the Senior Reporter and Producer for the Nine Network’s national Small Business Show. Prior to that he was Editor of Dynamic Business Magazine. He has also worked for John Fairfax and Sons, News Limited, Channel Seven and The ABC.

His experience includes managing an Australia/US television company and corporate communications companies.

For the Nine Network he reported on business across Australia and from European trade shows (CeBIT, BioTechnica) and Silicon Valley in the US. While at the Nine Network, he created and managed both the National Small Business Software Awards and the Business Website Awards.

As well as a wide range of business writing skills, he is also experienced in business website content development and search engine optimisation, and media training.

Elizabeth Coad

Elizabeth has over 10 years experience as a communications consultant having worked both within marketing, media and public relations roles.

She began her career in a boutique media agency specialising in music and entertainment clients and later moved into public relations utilising her knowledge of Australia's entertainment industry to work on key client, Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for over four years.  Throughout this period Elizabeth also worked in an account team servicing high profile media outlets such as Fairfax newspapers including the Sunday Herald Sun and major Fairfax events such as the City to Surf, the Half Marathon and Good Food and Wine shows.

In addition to Fairfax, Elizabeth also worked on a suite of Next Media magazine titles including Rolling Stone and Soap World magazines, the Foxtel channel – CNN and managed media relations for Jigsaw Entertainment's program the Jonnie John's Half Hour.

Since then she has managed a wide variety of consumer / lifestyle accounts including IT (download movies and games), automotive, environment, food and lifestyle. Elizabeth also has worked within an integrated communications agency managing several leading Australian fashion retailers ensuring their television media spend, advertising creative and public relations approach achieved marketing objectives.

In addition to a strong track record in media relations and account management, Elizabeth has a broader range of skills such as event production, social media management, talent management, creative / production coordination and negotiating joint marketing partnerships. Elizabeth holds a bachelor of Economics (Social Science) degree from the University of Sydney and undertook an additional year of study in media and cultural studies.

Natasha Ciesielski

Natasha’s career spans over ten years in public relations/marketing communications and media both in Australia and the UK.

She began her career in journalism with ACP publications, SHE magazine and then went on to expand her media skills working in television production for Beyond Productions and Network Ten.

Natasha has a strong understanding of event management, having worked at the Bath and Edinburgh Fringe Festival and throughout the UK in events catering. She also managed art exhibition programs for a major multinational company (Canon Australia).

Natasha’s public relations agency experience includes working across the technology, healthcare and consumer space. Prior to joining Lighthouse Communications Group, Natasha worked within a healthcare division in an integrated PR and advertising agency.

Marcela Balart

Marcela is an experienced communications professional with broad experience in corporate public relations. Her expertise includes providing strategic communications counsel, media training, brand positioning, event management, product launches, and the execution of media relations and stakeholder programs.

Marcela's clients have included a number of leading ASX listed blue chip and emerging companies across the business, financial services, human resources, education, mining and resources and consumer sectors.

Prior to joining Lighthouse Communications Group, Marcela held positions in the corporate divisions of two public relations consultancies.

Marcela has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Public Relations and Organisational Communications. During her studies, Marcela also worked as a journalist, producer and presenter for a community radio station.

Julie Sheather

Julie is an experienced media and issues manager, communications adviser and media trainer.

Julie has worked as a journalist, government press secretary and public affairs director for some of Australia’s largest listed entities including Macquarie Bank, CUSCAL/ABACUS and a number of leading ASX listed blue-chip organisations.

Her experience includes managing the reputation of her employers and the outcomes of various court cases and parliamentary inquiries. Julie has undertaken major corporate positioning programs and helped her clients achieved financial and regulatory outcomes both in Australia and overseas.