Founded on April 1, 2002, Block is the love child of (formerly) globe-trotting creative couple Tanya Sim and Mark Braddock. From its less-than-salubrious beginnings in Mark’s parents’ poolroom, Block has grown into Western Australia’s first (and we would argue, only) full-service brand-first agency delivering strategic creative advertising and design outcomes. From our inception, we have stayed true to our founding ambition to produce communications that are once exciting and sensible. We’ve been committed to thinking big and delivering bigger; to crafting solutions that extend naturally from the personality of our clients’ businesses, services, and products. As we enter our third decade in business, we continue to produce work that is honoured at major award shows across Australia, Asia, North America and Europe, all thanks to a world-beating team of exceptionally smart people who have chosen to work with us and to make Block their own.
Block is a curated team of internationally-experienced, multi-talented, world-class questioners, thinkers, creators, and doers. We’ve got the depth, experience, and track record to deliver projects of any scale on your deadline, while ensuring that our senior team is always directly involved.
We don’t believe in ‘off-the-shelf’ or ‘one-size-fits-all’; we always go deeper. We identify opportunities, expand thinking, and craft practical solutions that help your business stand out, communicate effectively, and succeed.
Tanya Sim
Co-Founder & CEO
Tanya Sim
Co-Founder & CEO
Mark Braddock
Co-Founder & Creative Strategy Director
Mark Braddock
Co-Founder & Creative Strategy Director
David Storey
Partner & Creative Director
David Storey
Partner & Creative Director
Jack McAuliffe
Senior Creative
Jack McAuliffe
Senior Creative
Kate Higson
Junior Creative
Kate Higson
Junior Creative
Cameron Cruz
Junior Creative
Cameron Cruz
Junior Creative
Chantal Brouwer
Studio & Production Manager
Chantal Brouwer
Studio & Production Manager
Nic Beer
General Manager
Nic Beer
General Manager
Melissa Mailey
Director of Client Service
Melissa Mailey
Director of Client Service
Adam Poole
Director of Business Development
Adam Poole
Director of Business Development
Katie Hauth
Account Manager
Katie Hauth
Account Manager
Georgia Sharman
Account Manager
Georgia Sharman
Account Manager
Tanya Sim
Co-Founder & CEO
Tanya is the ‘cultural compass’ of Block. She’s also the CEO and Co-founder, alongside Mark Braddock, her partner in all things, including raising their two children and growing the company into one of Australia’s leading brand-first agencies—from the pool room of his parents' home. Not bad for a sporty schoolgirl who wasn’t sure what she wanted to do until she got into interior design after meeting Mark, before landing a plum job in the US, designing a store and spa in Soho, NY, for Helena Rubinstein. But Tanya has a grit and tenacity that belie her immediate warmth, humanity, and charm.
At Block, you’ll find her behind it all, juggling competing demands, with management and financial oversight on everything, plugging holes, troubleshooting, and supporting every employee and every client, even when the going gets tough.
As Tanya explains, “I’m proud of building a business with Mark that has stood the test of time—through lots of ups and downs. I’m proud of all the great people we’ve employed and all the great clients we’ve helped succeed. It’s really satisfying.”
And Tanya hasn’t just stopped at building Block. As a mental health advocate and campaigner, she fights hard for social causes close to her heart and sits on so many boards, groups, committees, councils, and leadership programs it’s impossible to list them all here. So don’t tangle with Tanya unless you’re ready to join her at 5.30am for a boxing session!
Tanya Sim
Co-Founder & CEO
Tanya is the ‘cultural compass’ of Block. She’s also the CEO and Co-founder, alongside Mark Braddock, her partner in all things, including raising their two children and growing the company into one of Australia’s leading brand-first agencies—from the pool room of his parents' home. Not bad for a sporty schoolgirl who wasn’t sure what she wanted to do until she got into interior design after meeting Mark, before landing a plum job in the US, designing a store and spa in Soho, NY, for Helena Rubinstein. But Tanya has a grit and tenacity that belie her immediate warmth, humanity, and charm.
At Block, you’ll find her behind it all, juggling competing demands, with management and financial oversight on everything, plugging holes, troubleshooting, and supporting every employee and every client, even when the going gets tough.
As Tanya explains, “I’m proud of building a business with Mark that has stood the test of time—through lots of ups and downs. I’m proud of all the great people we’ve employed and all the great clients we’ve helped succeed. It’s really satisfying.”
And Tanya hasn’t just stopped at building Block. As a mental health advocate and campaigner, she fights hard for social causes close to her heart and sits on so many boards, groups, committees, councils, and leadership programs it’s impossible to list them all here. So don’t tangle with Tanya unless you’re ready to join her at 5.30am for a boxing session!
Mark Braddock
Co-Founder & Creative Strategy Director
A kid who just loved to draw. Well, Mark Braddock is still that kid, but he’s also the brilliant, brave, ballsy creative entrepreneur who, together with his partner Tanya, grew Block out of his parents’ poolroom into one of Australia’s leading brand-first agencies. Mark pretends it was all by accident, involving his dad forcing him to study design instead of art, a series of dull ad agency jobs, a lucky winning entry to Cannes Young Lions to represent Australia, and of course, the Tanya factor. But don’t let that fool you—Mark is one of the most naturally gifted creatives around and a lot more ambitious, gutsy, and driven than his bearded and mumbling appearance suggests.
After winning his ticket to Cannes, his talent earned him senior roles at Ogilvy New York on IBM, American Express, and Jaguar, and later at the creative powerhouse of The Martin Agency on Target, Olympus, Saab, and US Trust.
Despite the big awards and major accounts, Mark always dreamed of building something with Tanya that meant more than just success. A place where creativity can unleash real positive change for clients, consumers, and the world. It didn’t exist when they returned to Perth, so they built it.
Mark Braddock
Co-Founder & Creative Strategy Director
A kid who just loved to draw. Well, Mark Braddock is still that kid, but he’s also the brilliant, brave, ballsy creative entrepreneur who, together with his partner Tanya, grew Block out of his parents’ poolroom into one of Australia’s leading brand-first agencies. Mark pretends it was all by accident, involving his dad forcing him to study design instead of art, a series of dull ad agency jobs, a lucky winning entry to Cannes Young Lions to represent Australia, and of course, the Tanya factor. But don’t let that fool you—Mark is one of the most naturally gifted creatives around and a lot more ambitious, gutsy, and driven than his bearded and mumbling appearance suggests.
After winning his ticket to Cannes, his talent earned him senior roles at Ogilvy New York on IBM, American Express, and Jaguar, and later at the creative powerhouse of The Martin Agency on Target, Olympus, Saab, and US Trust.
Despite the big awards and major accounts, Mark always dreamed of building something with Tanya that meant more than just success. A place where creativity can unleash real positive change for clients, consumers, and the world. It didn’t exist when they returned to Perth, so they built it.
David Storey
Partner & Creative Director
David’s calm demeanour and insatiable creative curiosity make him a perfect leader here at Block. A down-to-earth Yorkshireman whose love of design has taken him across the world, he now drives our creative teams to transform the business of our clients. David’s career has always reached higher and further than expected. Starting from humble beginnings, in what he describes as “a creative blackspot in North Yorkshire”, he learned his craft as an art worker for one of the major UK banks, before rapidly rising through the ranks of design agencies on both sides of the globe, from Junior Designer to Design Director, and today, Block’s Creative Director.
His business sector experience is equally broad, spanning brand design and campaigns from Finance, Automotive, Property, and Infrastructure to The Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Retail, and FMCG. And though his work has been recognised by Graphis, ARC Awards, AGDA, and Best Awards New Zealand, his passion has always been for creativity that results in real change.
As David explains, “Outcomes that transform someone’s business is what I’m here to lead. And never being satisfied with work that’s just ok, because that’s never ok with me.”
David believes in the philosophy of his design hero Neville Brody, who revolutionised design and typography by focusing on the impact it has on how you perceive, react, and interact with it. High standards indeed, but as David concludes, “You better go big, or go home!” As a partner in Block’s future, you can expect big things from him and us.
David Storey
Partner & Creative Director
David’s calm demeanour and insatiable creative curiosity make him a perfect leader here at Block. A down-to-earth Yorkshireman whose love of design has taken him across the world, he now drives our creative teams to transform the business of our clients. David’s career has always reached higher and further than expected. Starting from humble beginnings, in what he describes as “a creative blackspot in North Yorkshire”, he learned his craft as an art worker for one of the major UK banks, before rapidly rising through the ranks of design agencies on both sides of the globe, from Junior Designer to Design Director, and today, Block’s Creative Director.
His business sector experience is equally broad, spanning brand design and campaigns from Finance, Automotive, Property, and Infrastructure to The Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Retail, and FMCG. And though his work has been recognised by Graphis, ARC Awards, AGDA, and Best Awards New Zealand, his passion has always been for creativity that results in real change.
As David explains, “Outcomes that transform someone’s business is what I’m here to lead. And never being satisfied with work that’s just ok, because that’s never ok with me.”
David believes in the philosophy of his design hero Neville Brody, who revolutionised design and typography by focusing on the impact it has on how you perceive, react, and interact with it. High standards indeed, but as David concludes, “You better go big, or go home!” As a partner in Block’s future, you can expect big things from him and us.
Jack McAuliffe
Senior Creative
Jack’s designs are so cool, people wear them on their skin. But working as a tattoo artist after high school was just the beginning of his talents. Always looking for a bigger canvas, he worked at a signage shop while completing his degree in Graphic Design at Edith Cowan University, and then it was off to the creative cosmopolitan city of Amsterdam. Here, Jack found his first agency job at the aptly named Dentsu ACHTUNG!, and his passion for international, rule-breaking design in advertising, branding, and digital media—racking up six silver Cannes Lions. He also found his passion for his partner and the mother of their two amazing children.
In Jack’s words, “Amsterdam really changed my world. My time there gave me exposure to what progressive design can do when you have no fear, but just have fun, experiment, and explore.”
Bringing both his new loves back home, Jack’s career accelerated through agencies and clients, from automotive and healthcare to government, culture, and telecommunications, until we snagged him at Block as our Senior Creative. His award-winning work has continued breaking the mould for our clients, including Perth is OK!, while always pushing design to connect colour, image, motion, and tone to the bigger strategic and business picture. Jack is also a wonderful mentor for our younger creatives and the students of the Perth Advertising & Design Club, where he volunteers. His infectious positive attitude, strong work ethic, and fearless embrace of the new and different are inspiring for all around him.
Jack McAuliffe
Senior Creative
Jack’s designs are so cool, people wear them on their skin. But working as a tattoo artist after high school was just the beginning of his talents. Always looking for a bigger canvas, he worked at a signage shop while completing his degree in Graphic Design at Edith Cowan University, and then it was off to the creative cosmopolitan city of Amsterdam. Here, Jack found his first agency job at the aptly named Dentsu ACHTUNG!, and his passion for international, rule-breaking design in advertising, branding, and digital media—racking up six silver Cannes Lions. He also found his passion for his partner and the mother of their two amazing children.
In Jack’s words, “Amsterdam really changed my world. My time there gave me exposure to what progressive design can do when you have no fear, but just have fun, experiment, and explore.”
Bringing both his new loves back home, Jack’s career accelerated through agencies and clients, from automotive and healthcare to government, culture, and telecommunications, until we snagged him at Block as our Senior Creative. His award-winning work has continued breaking the mould for our clients, including Perth is OK!, while always pushing design to connect colour, image, motion, and tone to the bigger strategic and business picture. Jack is also a wonderful mentor for our younger creatives and the students of the Perth Advertising & Design Club, where he volunteers. His infectious positive attitude, strong work ethic, and fearless embrace of the new and different are inspiring for all around him.
Kate Higson
Junior Creative
Kate learned many professional and life skills in both the retail and service industries before landing at Block as our Junior Creative, but pouring the perfect Guinness while working in a London pub was not one of them. Fortunately, her creative skills proved far more impressive once she decided to study design at Curtin University upon her return to Perth. During her studies, she won the Perth Advertising & Design Club’s Student Skull for her solution to the Graphic Design Brief, and her creative pitch to the Perth Festival won her an internship, followed by a salaried position with the 2024 Festival Team.
It was also at university that she impressed us at Block, coming up with a rather unexpected solution to a brief we gave the students. Soon, Kate was sitting in our design department—or rather, running around it—and she hasn’t looked back since. Not only is Kate a naturally gifted designer, but she also loves getting into the strategy and critical thinking around any problem thrown at her. She invests herself fully, learning everything she can and coming up with original ideas. Though new to the team, Kate has shared Block’s DNA from day one.
Born in South Australia, she’s called Perth home since the age of one, and we’re so happy she’s now found her new professional home at Block. She seems to like her new teammates almost as much as she likes the office dogs.
Kate Higson
Junior Creative
Kate learned many professional and life skills in both the retail and service industries before landing at Block as our Junior Creative, but pouring the perfect Guinness while working in a London pub was not one of them. Fortunately, her creative skills proved far more impressive once she decided to study design at Curtin University upon her return to Perth. During her studies, she won the Perth Advertising & Design Club’s Student Skull for her solution to the Graphic Design Brief, and her creative pitch to the Perth Festival won her an internship, followed by a salaried position with the 2024 Festival Team.
It was also at university that she impressed us at Block, coming up with a rather unexpected solution to a brief we gave the students. Soon, Kate was sitting in our design department—or rather, running around it—and she hasn’t looked back since. Not only is Kate a naturally gifted designer, but she also loves getting into the strategy and critical thinking around any problem thrown at her. She invests herself fully, learning everything she can and coming up with original ideas. Though new to the team, Kate has shared Block’s DNA from day one.
Born in South Australia, she’s called Perth home since the age of one, and we’re so happy she’s now found her new professional home at Block. She seems to like her new teammates almost as much as she likes the office dogs.
Chantal Brouwer
Studio & Production Manager
Power comes in many forms. Thor has his hammer, Iron Man his suit, and Chantal her scheduling prowess. As an experienced studio and production manager, she knows pretty much every trick in the book when it comes to wrangling a group of wild, cold brew fuelled creatives. A tough job – trust us. Having embarked on a Masters in Business Admin at UWA earlier this year, her enviable time management skills come in handy outside of work hours too. Our money is on her being the student who submits their assignment a week before the due date.
Chantal Brouwer
Studio & Production Manager
Power comes in many forms. Thor has his hammer, Iron Man his suit, and Chantal her scheduling prowess. As an experienced studio and production manager, she knows pretty much every trick in the book when it comes to wrangling a group of wild, cold brew fuelled creatives. A tough job – trust us. Having embarked on a Masters in Business Admin at UWA earlier this year, her enviable time management skills come in handy outside of work hours too. Our money is on her being the student who submits their assignment a week before the due date.
Nic Beer
General Manager
Nic grew up so close to the Ernest Johnson Oval that she could hear the crack of a cricket bat. Today, we have her talent playing for us, and it’s big league talent indeed. As an Executive Producer, her career spans 30 years and hundreds of multi-media campaigns for some of the biggest players in Melbourne, London, and Perth. She’s managed teams of multi-disciplinary content creators and producers, while handling revenue, strategic planning, quality control, and agency culture.
Now, Nic brings all that big thinking and global experience to her role as General Manager, working with a more agile and dedicated team. Nic says, “Block lives their values every day. So many agencies talk about who they are and what they stand for, but their actions don’t align. Block walks the talk, day in and day out.”
Nic is still very much a creative producer at heart, and what she loves most is working with talented people who deliver—mentoring talent, building the right team for each project, and helping that creativity put us and our clients in a league of our own.
Her passion for artistic souls also extends outside the office, where she actively advocates for more sustainable careers for screen and arts practitioners in Western Australia, aiming to help their work reach a wider audience.
Nic Beer
General Manager
Nic grew up so close to the Ernest Johnson Oval that she could hear the crack of a cricket bat. Today, we have her talent playing for us, and it’s big league talent indeed. As an Executive Producer, her career spans 30 years and hundreds of multi-media campaigns for some of the biggest players in Melbourne, London, and Perth. She’s managed teams of multi-disciplinary content creators and producers, while handling revenue, strategic planning, quality control, and agency culture.
Now, Nic brings all that big thinking and global experience to her role as General Manager, working with a more agile and dedicated team. Nic says, “Block lives their values every day. So many agencies talk about who they are and what they stand for, but their actions don’t align. Block walks the talk, day in and day out.”
Nic is still very much a creative producer at heart, and what she loves most is working with talented people who deliver—mentoring talent, building the right team for each project, and helping that creativity put us and our clients in a league of our own.
Her passion for artistic souls also extends outside the office, where she actively advocates for more sustainable careers for screen and arts practitioners in Western Australia, aiming to help their work reach a wider audience.
Melissa Mailey
Director of Client Service
Melissa, aka ‘The Wrangler,’ grew up rounding up sheep and growing wheat on a farm in Ballidu—perfect credentials for our Director of Client Services. She knows how to steer everyone in the right direction with a few empathetic prods, a sharp eye for navigating obstacles, and a calm yet fierce determination to get the job done on time and ready for market. These qualities also drove Melissa’s career across continents and industries, from pharmaceuticals, medical, education, and government to finance, engineering, property, and naturally, agriculture. But the achievements she’s proudest of are what she calls “high-involvement brands” that really move people’s hearts and minds.
Melissa loves working with behavioural change organisations and purpose-led brands that shift people’s thinking and actions. She’s brilliant at reading the room, understanding the problem, thinking laterally, and negotiating a win for everyone. Her wrangling skills benefit almost every client, team member, and project at Block.
Not one for the spotlight, Melissa takes pride in having a hand in all the good that comes out of Block. As she says, whenever she mentions she works at Block, people are instantly impressed.
Melissa Mailey
Director of Client Service
Melissa, aka ‘The Wrangler,’ grew up rounding up sheep and growing wheat on a farm in Ballidu—perfect credentials for our Director of Client Services. She knows how to steer everyone in the right direction with a few empathetic prods, a sharp eye for navigating obstacles, and a calm yet fierce determination to get the job done on time and ready for market. These qualities also drove Melissa’s career across continents and industries, from pharmaceuticals, medical, education, and government to finance, engineering, property, and naturally, agriculture. But the achievements she’s proudest of are what she calls “high-involvement brands” that really move people’s hearts and minds.
Melissa loves working with behavioural change organisations and purpose-led brands that shift people’s thinking and actions. She’s brilliant at reading the room, understanding the problem, thinking laterally, and negotiating a win for everyone. Her wrangling skills benefit almost every client, team member, and project at Block.
Not one for the spotlight, Melissa takes pride in having a hand in all the good that comes out of Block. As she says, whenever she mentions she works at Block, people are instantly impressed.
Adam Poole
Director of Business Development
Adam loves it when the stakes are high, the deadlines are tight, and the stakeholder dynamics are complex, which makes him perfect for our Director of Business Development. He just thrives on the pressure, turning challenges into solutions, new clients into long-term partners, and tumultuous times into opportunities for success. How does he do it? Decades of experience in brand strategy and client relationship management across almost every industry sector in both the UK and Australia, coupled with a real-world understanding of both business and people through his unique global perspective.
From leading the rebrand of London’s iconic Albert Hall to managing the intricate refresh of Al Jazeera during the Arab Spring and shaping global narratives for EY and Qatar 2022, Adam’s cool head and warm heart have always brought the best out of both his client and agency teams.
As Adam points out, “I’ve learned that success in branding and marketing is deeply rooted in understanding people. Connecting with clients, leading teams, and resonating with audiences all hinge on the human element.”
He is well qualified to understand diverse perspectives. With a degree in commerce from the University of Western Australia, a globe-trotting career, and a passion for acting, Adam can see things from many different points of view and align them with calm precision, putting all the players and pieces in place to achieve the best result. As Adam simply concludes, “Whatever you want to create, you can build it at Block.”
Adam Poole
Director of Business Development
Adam loves it when the stakes are high, the deadlines are tight, and the stakeholder dynamics are complex, which makes him perfect for our Director of Business Development. He just thrives on the pressure, turning challenges into solutions, new clients into long-term partners, and tumultuous times into opportunities for success. How does he do it? Decades of experience in brand strategy and client relationship management across almost every industry sector in both the UK and Australia, coupled with a real-world understanding of both business and people through his unique global perspective.
From leading the rebrand of London’s iconic Albert Hall to managing the intricate refresh of Al Jazeera during the Arab Spring and shaping global narratives for EY and Qatar 2022, Adam’s cool head and warm heart have always brought the best out of both his client and agency teams.
As Adam points out, “I’ve learned that success in branding and marketing is deeply rooted in understanding people. Connecting with clients, leading teams, and resonating with audiences all hinge on the human element.”
He is well qualified to understand diverse perspectives. With a degree in commerce from the University of Western Australia, a globe-trotting career, and a passion for acting, Adam can see things from many different points of view and align them with calm precision, putting all the players and pieces in place to achieve the best result. As Adam simply concludes, “Whatever you want to create, you can build it at Block.”
Katie Hauth
Account Manager
Think of Katie as a creative spirit wrapped in a dynamo, and you’ll have a good idea of how she goes about things. There’s no mistaking that Katie “gives a shi*t”, and she confesses it’s both a blessing and a curse to care so much about her work, team, and clients.
Her past experience includes roles as a brand ambassador for Toyota, Subaru, Ocean Spray, and Crocs, as well as brand strategist for content and digital marketing across a swathe of industry sectors, including sports and lifestyle, craft beer, real estate, education, government, and mining. Today, we are lucky to have her passion, drive, and smarts as part of our client service team, ensuring both our work and client relationships are of the highest standard.
Born on the East Coast in Massachusetts, Katie was raised on the West Coast in Washington and Oregon. And now here she is on our west coast in Perth. Her father was in the Coast Guard, which might explain her roving ways. But it taught her to see the world from very different perspectives, and shifting trajectories for brands and clients is exactly what Katie does best.
Katie Hauth
Account Manager
Think of Katie as a creative spirit wrapped in a dynamo, and you’ll have a good idea of how she goes about things. There’s no mistaking that Katie “gives a shi*t”, and she confesses it’s both a blessing and a curse to care so much about her work, team, and clients.
Her past experience includes roles as a brand ambassador for Toyota, Subaru, Ocean Spray, and Crocs, as well as brand strategist for content and digital marketing across a swathe of industry sectors, including sports and lifestyle, craft beer, real estate, education, government, and mining. Today, we are lucky to have her passion, drive, and smarts as part of our client service team, ensuring both our work and client relationships are of the highest standard.
Born on the East Coast in Massachusetts, Katie was raised on the West Coast in Washington and Oregon. And now here she is on our west coast in Perth. Her father was in the Coast Guard, which might explain her roving ways. But it taught her to see the world from very different perspectives, and shifting trajectories for brands and clients is exactly what Katie does best.
Georgia Sharman
Account Manager
Georgia has always been a creative person, but one who prefers to improve the way creativity gets done. Thankfully, we now have her considerable skills to upgrade our processes and push our high standards as an Account Manager at Block. With a degree in Contemporary Fashion and Textiles, Georgia knows the creative process can be anything but straightforward. However, her unique mix of left- and right-brain thinking and artistic background make her brilliant at creative problem-solving, no matter what the project involves.
While working in natural history television production in Bristol, where she moved in 2017, Georgia became a seasoned Production Coordinator, collaborating with big names like National Geographic, Sky Nature, and Discovery Channel. We saw immediately how her skill set would enhance ours, and within just a few months of joining Block, she’s already made a big impact across the board. Her can-do attitude and quick banter make even tough challenges feel a lot less daunting.
Though there’s a Bristol-sized hole in Georgia’s heart, she is very happy to be back on the Perth shores, and we’re thrilled she chose to join Block, where we’re continuously pushing our creativity in radically new ways.
Georgia Sharman
Account Manager
Georgia has always been a creative person, but one who prefers to improve the way creativity gets done. Thankfully, we now have her considerable skills to upgrade our processes and push our high standards as an Account Manager at Block. With a degree in Contemporary Fashion and Textiles, Georgia knows the creative process can be anything but straightforward. However, her unique mix of left- and right-brain thinking and artistic background make her brilliant at creative problem-solving, no matter what the project involves.
While working in natural history television production in Bristol, where she moved in 2017, Georgia became a seasoned Production Coordinator, collaborating with big names like National Geographic, Sky Nature, and Discovery Channel. We saw immediately how her skill set would enhance ours, and within just a few months of joining Block, she’s already made a big impact across the board. Her can-do attitude and quick banter make even tough challenges feel a lot less daunting.
Though there’s a Bristol-sized hole in Georgia’s heart, she is very happy to be back on the Perth shores, and we’re thrilled she chose to join Block, where we’re continuously pushing our creativity in radically new ways.
Tanya Sim
Co-Founder & CEO
Tanya is the ‘cultural compass’ of Block. She’s also the CEO and Co-founder, alongside Mark Braddock, her partner in all things, including raising their two children and growing the company into one of Australia’s leading brand-first agencies—from the pool room of his parents' home. Not bad for a sporty schoolgirl who wasn’t sure what she wanted to do until she got into interior design after meeting Mark, before landing a plum job in the US, designing a store and spa in Soho, NY, for Helena Rubinstein. But Tanya has a grit and tenacity that belie her immediate warmth, humanity, and charm.
At Block, you’ll find her behind it all, juggling competing demands, with management and financial oversight on everything, plugging holes, troubleshooting, and supporting every employee and every client, even when the going gets tough.
As Tanya explains, “I’m proud of building a business with Mark that has stood the test of time—through lots of ups and downs. I’m proud of all the great people we’ve employed and all the great clients we’ve helped succeed. It’s really satisfying.”
And Tanya hasn’t just stopped at building Block. As a mental health advocate and campaigner, she fights hard for social causes close to her heart and sits on so many boards, groups, committees, councils, and leadership programs it’s impossible to list them all here. So don’t tangle with Tanya unless you’re ready to join her at 5.30am for a boxing session!
Mark Braddock
Co-Founder & Creative Strategy Director
A kid who just loved to draw. Well, Mark Braddock is still that kid, but he’s also the brilliant, brave, ballsy creative entrepreneur who, together with his partner Tanya, grew Block out of his parents’ poolroom into one of Australia’s leading brand-first agencies. Mark pretends it was all by accident, involving his dad forcing him to study design instead of art, a series of dull ad agency jobs, a lucky winning entry to Cannes Young Lions to represent Australia, and of course, the Tanya factor. But don’t let that fool you—Mark is one of the most naturally gifted creatives around and a lot more ambitious, gutsy, and driven than his bearded and mumbling appearance suggests.
After winning his ticket to Cannes, his talent earned him senior roles at Ogilvy New York on IBM, American Express, and Jaguar, and later at the creative powerhouse of The Martin Agency on Target, Olympus, Saab, and US Trust.
Despite the big awards and major accounts, Mark always dreamed of building something with Tanya that meant more than just success. A place where creativity can unleash real positive change for clients, consumers, and the world. It didn’t exist when they returned to Perth, so they built it.
David Storey
Partner & Creative Director
David’s calm demeanour and insatiable creative curiosity make him a perfect leader here at Block. A down-to-earth Yorkshireman whose love of design has taken him across the world, he now drives our creative teams to transform the business of our clients. David’s career has always reached higher and further than expected. Starting from humble beginnings, in what he describes as “a creative blackspot in North Yorkshire”, he learned his craft as an art worker for one of the major UK banks, before rapidly rising through the ranks of design agencies on both sides of the globe, from Junior Designer to Design Director, and today, Block’s Creative Director.
His business sector experience is equally broad, spanning brand design and campaigns from Finance, Automotive, Property, and Infrastructure to The Arts, Health and Wellbeing, Retail, and FMCG. And though his work has been recognised by Graphis, ARC Awards, AGDA, and Best Awards New Zealand, his passion has always been for creativity that results in real change.
As David explains, “Outcomes that transform someone’s business is what I’m here to lead. And never being satisfied with work that’s just ok, because that’s never ok with me.”
David believes in the philosophy of his design hero Neville Brody, who revolutionised design and typography by focusing on the impact it has on how you perceive, react, and interact with it. High standards indeed, but as David concludes, “You better go big, or go home!” As a partner in Block’s future, you can expect big things from him and us.
Jack McAuliffe
Senior Creative
Jack’s designs are so cool, people wear them on their skin. But working as a tattoo artist after high school was just the beginning of his talents. Always looking for a bigger canvas, he worked at a signage shop while completing his degree in Graphic Design at Edith Cowan University, and then it was off to the creative cosmopolitan city of Amsterdam. Here, Jack found his first agency job at the aptly named Dentsu ACHTUNG!, and his passion for international, rule-breaking design in advertising, branding, and digital media—racking up six silver Cannes Lions. He also found his passion for his partner and the mother of their two amazing children.
In Jack’s words, “Amsterdam really changed my world. My time there gave me exposure to what progressive design can do when you have no fear, but just have fun, experiment, and explore.”
Bringing both his new loves back home, Jack’s career accelerated through agencies and clients, from automotive and healthcare to government, culture, and telecommunications, until we snagged him at Block as our Senior Creative. His award-winning work has continued breaking the mould for our clients, including Perth is OK!, while always pushing design to connect colour, image, motion, and tone to the bigger strategic and business picture. Jack is also a wonderful mentor for our younger creatives and the students of the Perth Advertising & Design Club, where he volunteers. His infectious positive attitude, strong work ethic, and fearless embrace of the new and different are inspiring for all around him.
Kate Higson
Junior Creative
Kate learned many professional and life skills in both the retail and service industries before landing at Block as our Junior Creative, but pouring the perfect Guinness while working in a London pub was not one of them. Fortunately, her creative skills proved far more impressive once she decided to study design at Curtin University upon her return to Perth. During her studies, she won the Perth Advertising & Design Club’s Student Skull for her solution to the Graphic Design Brief, and her creative pitch to the Perth Festival won her an internship, followed by a salaried position with the 2024 Festival Team.
It was also at university that she impressed us at Block, coming up with a rather unexpected solution to a brief we gave the students. Soon, Kate was sitting in our design department—or rather, running around it—and she hasn’t looked back since. Not only is Kate a naturally gifted designer, but she also loves getting into the strategy and critical thinking around any problem thrown at her. She invests herself fully, learning everything she can and coming up with original ideas. Though new to the team, Kate has shared Block’s DNA from day one.
Born in South Australia, she’s called Perth home since the age of one, and we’re so happy she’s now found her new professional home at Block. She seems to like her new teammates almost as much as she likes the office dogs.
Cameron Cruz
Junior Creative
When Cameron sees something he created out in the real world he gets the greatest feeling. Which is probably because his greatest strength is creating 3D, video and motion designs on his computer screen all day long. What’s more impressive is that he taught himself these skills, in addition to spending three years studying graphic design at North Metro TAFE to gain an Advanced Diploma. But Cameron always loves a challenge and didn’t let a litany of failed renders and computer crashes stop him producing a stunning hoarding of a dinosaur that wrapped around the WA museum for our ‘Dinosaur of Patagonia’ campaign. As Cameron explains, “Creating something out of nothing always blows my mind. You start with a blank screen and then there it is. Out there. It’s an amazing feeling.”
Starting out at Block as a freelancer, his imagination and determination were soon noticed.
And at the end of his interview for Junior Designer, our Executive Creator Mark Braddock couldn’t wait to burst into the boardroom and give him a six-pack of ‘Otherside’ beer. Cameron is quiet and thoughtful, but always packs a creative punch when it comes to doing the hard work. His eye for detail in rendering complex 3D, video and motion graphics is impressive in such a young creative. And his passion for new design technology is only equalled by his passion for old vinyl records, That’s Cameron all over, an old school craftsman using the very latest tools. We’re glad he’s in the Block creative tool kit.
Chantal Brouwer
Studio & Production Manager
Power comes in many forms. Thor has his hammer, Iron Man his suit, and Chantal her scheduling prowess. As an experienced studio and production manager, she knows pretty much every trick in the book when it comes to wrangling a group of wild, cold brew fuelled creatives. A tough job – trust us. Having embarked on a Masters in Business Admin at UWA earlier this year, her enviable time management skills come in handy outside of work hours too. Our money is on her being the student who submits their assignment a week before the due date.
Nic Beer
General Manager
Nic grew up so close to the Ernest Johnson Oval that she could hear the crack of a cricket bat. Today, we have her talent playing for us, and it’s big league talent indeed. As an Executive Producer, her career spans 30 years and hundreds of multi-media campaigns for some of the biggest players in Melbourne, London, and Perth. She’s managed teams of multi-disciplinary content creators and producers, while handling revenue, strategic planning, quality control, and agency culture.
Now, Nic brings all that big thinking and global experience to her role as General Manager, working with a more agile and dedicated team. Nic says, “Block lives their values every day. So many agencies talk about who they are and what they stand for, but their actions don’t align. Block walks the talk, day in and day out.”
Nic is still very much a creative producer at heart, and what she loves most is working with talented people who deliver—mentoring talent, building the right team for each project, and helping that creativity put us and our clients in a league of our own.
Her passion for artistic souls also extends outside the office, where she actively advocates for more sustainable careers for screen and arts practitioners in Western Australia, aiming to help their work reach a wider audience.
Melissa Mailey
Director of Client Service
Melissa, aka ‘The Wrangler,’ grew up rounding up sheep and growing wheat on a farm in Ballidu—perfect credentials for our Director of Client Services. She knows how to steer everyone in the right direction with a few empathetic prods, a sharp eye for navigating obstacles, and a calm yet fierce determination to get the job done on time and ready for market. These qualities also drove Melissa’s career across continents and industries, from pharmaceuticals, medical, education, and government to finance, engineering, property, and naturally, agriculture. But the achievements she’s proudest of are what she calls “high-involvement brands” that really move people’s hearts and minds.
Melissa loves working with behavioural change organisations and purpose-led brands that shift people’s thinking and actions. She’s brilliant at reading the room, understanding the problem, thinking laterally, and negotiating a win for everyone. Her wrangling skills benefit almost every client, team member, and project at Block.
Not one for the spotlight, Melissa takes pride in having a hand in all the good that comes out of Block. As she says, whenever she mentions she works at Block, people are instantly impressed.
Adam Poole
Director of Business Development
Adam loves it when the stakes are high, the deadlines are tight, and the stakeholder dynamics are complex, which makes him perfect for our Director of Business Development. He just thrives on the pressure, turning challenges into solutions, new clients into long-term partners, and tumultuous times into opportunities for success. How does he do it? Decades of experience in brand strategy and client relationship management across almost every industry sector in both the UK and Australia, coupled with a real-world understanding of both business and people through his unique global perspective.
From leading the rebrand of London’s iconic Albert Hall to managing the intricate refresh of Al Jazeera during the Arab Spring and shaping global narratives for EY and Qatar 2022, Adam’s cool head and warm heart have always brought the best out of both his client and agency teams.
As Adam points out, “I’ve learned that success in branding and marketing is deeply rooted in understanding people. Connecting with clients, leading teams, and resonating with audiences all hinge on the human element.”
He is well qualified to understand diverse perspectives. With a degree in commerce from the University of Western Australia, a globe-trotting career, and a passion for acting, Adam can see things from many different points of view and align them with calm precision, putting all the players and pieces in place to achieve the best result. As Adam simply concludes, “Whatever you want to create, you can build it at Block.”
Katie Hauth
Account Manager
Think of Katie as a creative spirit wrapped in a dynamo, and you’ll have a good idea of how she goes about things. There’s no mistaking that Katie “gives a shi*t”, and she confesses it’s both a blessing and a curse to care so much about her work, team, and clients.
Her past experience includes roles as a brand ambassador for Toyota, Subaru, Ocean Spray, and Crocs, as well as brand strategist for content and digital marketing across a swathe of industry sectors, including sports and lifestyle, craft beer, real estate, education, government, and mining. Today, we are lucky to have her passion, drive, and smarts as part of our client service team, ensuring both our work and client relationships are of the highest standard.
Born on the East Coast in Massachusetts, Katie was raised on the West Coast in Washington and Oregon. And now here she is on our west coast in Perth. Her father was in the Coast Guard, which might explain her roving ways. But it taught her to see the world from very different perspectives, and shifting trajectories for brands and clients is exactly what Katie does best.
Georgia Sharman
Account Manager
Georgia has always been a creative person, but one who prefers to improve the way creativity gets done. Thankfully, we now have her considerable skills to upgrade our processes and push our high standards as an Account Manager at Block. With a degree in Contemporary Fashion and Textiles, Georgia knows the creative process can be anything but straightforward. However, her unique mix of left- and right-brain thinking and artistic background make her brilliant at creative problem-solving, no matter what the project involves.
While working in natural history television production in Bristol, where she moved in 2017, Georgia became a seasoned Production Coordinator, collaborating with big names like National Geographic, Sky Nature, and Discovery Channel. We saw immediately how her skill set would enhance ours, and within just a few months of joining Block, she’s already made a big impact across the board. Her can-do attitude and quick banter make even tough challenges feel a lot less daunting.
Though there’s a Bristol-sized hole in Georgia’s heart, she is very happy to be back on the Perth shores, and we’re thrilled she chose to join Block, where we’re continuously pushing our creativity in radically new ways.
PADC Skull Awards
18
AGDA Awards
15
AWARD Awards
3
Campaign Brief Awards
1