Published on: July 21, 2026
Influential Australia has expanded its leadership team with the appointment of Kelson Ong as Group Director for Melbourne and Erin Hunter as Group Director for Sydney, reinforcing the agency’s focus on strengthening client relationships and driving growth across its social and influencer marketing business.
In their new roles, Ong and Hunter will be responsible for deepening client partnerships, accelerating commercial outcomes, and delivering innovative social and influencer marketing solutions for brands.
Ong rejoins Publicis Groupe after nearly a decade, bringing extensive experience in social, creator, and integrated marketing. Hunter joins the agency with 17 years of industry expertise, having built a career spanning social media, influencer marketing, and traditional brand communications.
Commenting on the appointments, Catherine Wilkinson, General Manager of Influential Australia, said, “As brands put social at the centre of their marketing, Influential Australia is assembling a team that’s redefining what a modern influencer and social agency looks like.”
“We’re attracting exceptional talent, creating work that shapes culture instead of chasing it, and building a workplace where people are encouraged to do brilliant work without taking themselves too seriously.”
Kelson Ong said, “Influential Australia is building something genuinely different — an agency that treats social-first thinking and creativity as a strategic craft in its own right. I’m excited to help brands grow by putting that thinking into practice, connecting culture, creators, and commerce from the start.”
Erin Hunter added, “The pace of social right now is electric. Influential is building something special, not just because of its momentum, but because it’s investing in people as much as the work.
“That’s exactly the kind of environment I want to help grow.”
Established in September 2025, Influential Australia is Publicis Groupe Australia’s dedicated influencer and social agency. The agency was created to help brands build stronger connections with culture, creators, and commerce through integrated social-first strategies.
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