Strategic communications agency, Sound Story has expanded their team with the appointment of Kirsty Rivers in the newly-created role of Industry Relations Director. With over 35 years experience, she has worked across the full gamut of the music industry, from retail and recorded music to government and policy.

Kirsty joins the team from Creative Australia, where she served as Head of Music in the sector development and advocacy team for the past three and a half years. Prior to that, Kirsty led Creative Victoria’s contemporary music division, oversaw the Victorian Government’s Music Works program, formed numerous awards and fellowships for music professionals, and completed a 17-year tenure as National Manager for Writer Services at APRA AMCOS.

Sound Story's Co-Founder and CEO, Jake Challenor said: "Kirsty’s reputation as a fierce advocate and champion for the Australian music ecosystem within industry and government is of enormous value to Sound Story’s incredible partners. As our clients grow, so too does Sound Story. Our mission is to help ambitious brands to launch, grow, and manage their reputations on the world stage - we do this through strategic storytelling, and Kirsty is one of the best in the business."

The agency has also appointed Vivienne Kelly as Senior Communications Specialist and Maddie Koczanowski as Communications, Culture and Events Specialist, as previously reported by Telum.

An editor and journalist of over 13 years, Vivienne joins Sound Story from The Brag Media, where she worked across the publisher’s titles including Rolling Stone AU/NZ, Variety Australia and more. She was previously Managing Editor for Momentum Media Group, Editor of Mumbrella, and Editor and Content Director for Radio Today and The Music Network.

Maddie first started her media career at Klick Communications, before spending almost six years with Spotify in Australia and the UK, in various roles across Business Marketing, Project Management, Workplace Culture, Event Management and PR.