January 2026 - Verian Group is delighted to announce the appointment of Melanie Wiese as Managing Director for Australia, effective immediately. Melanie will also continue in her role as Chief Innovation Officer for APAC and Principal for the Verian Institute for Public Impact, reinforcing our commitment to innovation and growth across the region.
With over 20 years’ strategic communications and advisory experience, Melanie brings a wealth of expertise in consumer insight, organisational and behavioural change, cultural alignment, and product and experience design. Her career spans senior leadership roles in global agencies, including Chief Strategy Officer at Wunderman Thompson Australia and VML, and Planning Director at Grey New York, working with private and public sector clients across energy, finance, health, and education, delivering purpose-driven strategies and innovative solutions.
Since joining Verian in 2025 as Chief Innovation Officer, Melanie has been instrumental in driving our innovation agenda, fostering collaboration between research and creative teams, and championing behavioural change methodologies and emerging technologies. Her leadership has strengthened Verian’s ability to deliver impactful, end-to-end solutions for clients across the APAC (Asia-Pacific) region.
Melanie holds a master’s degree from RMIT and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Western Australia. She is also a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and an active non-executive director.
We would also like to say thank you to our previous Managing Director, Kirsty Macmillan for her significant contribution to Verian and Kantar Public over many years. We wish her well in her future endeavours.
Gavin Bain, CEO APAC commented:
"Melanie’s appointment marks an exciting chapter for Verian in Australia. Her proven track record in strategic leadership and innovation will be pivotal as we continue to grow our impact and deliver exceptional value to clients."
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