Sound Story Expands With Kate McCabe, Nick Price Hires

The tale of expansion continues at Sound Story, the strategic communications and reputation consultancy led by managing partners Jake Challenor and Brian Lawlor.

Announced today, Aug. 28th, Kate McCabe and Nick Price join the growing business, while teammate Zanda Wilson enjoys a promotion.

Kate McCabe is appointed Strategic Communications Lead. 

Most recently, McCabe served as Senior Advisor, Strategic Communications at the Victorian Department of Premier and Cabinet, where she advised on high-stakes issues and whole-of-government strategy. McCabe’s CV includes stints with Museums Victoria, the ABC and indie label Remote Control Records.

“I’ve had my eye on Sound Story for some time – what they’re doing feels different,” she remarks. “They are providing our local creative sector with proven corporate-inspired strategic comms expertise, and that’s exciting. I’m looking forward to working with Sound Story and sharing my learnings from the issues-rich wheelhouse of government.”

At Sound Story, McCabe, who is based in Melbourne, will work across reputation and risk for Sound Story clients, with a focus on government and policy positioning, issues and crisis management, and industry advocacy.

At the same time, the business recruits Nick Price as Corporate Communications Specialist. Price boasts a decade of experience with SGC Media, The Red Republic, IVY PR and Bespoken Agency.

Based in Brisbane, Price will work closely with Zanda Wilson, who joined the business at launch in 2023 and has been promoted to Head of Corporate Communications.

McCabe and Price join the team following the recent appointments of Melbourne-based Geoff Cope-Watts as Senior Communications Specialist and Sydney-based Brooke Boland as Consumer Communications Specialist. Both Cope-Watts and Boland work closely with Jane Elliott, Communications Director, who joined from NOVA Entertainment in 2023.

“The addition of Kate, Nick, Geoff and Brooke, alongside Zanda stepping up as Head of Corporate Communications, further strengthens our capabilities with the depth and expertise needed to help our clients manage their reputation on the world stage,” comments Challenor in a statement.

Backed by Jaddan Comerford’s UNIFIED Investments, Sound Story opened for business in 2023 with a mission to help its “clients launch, grow, and manage their reputations on the world stage,” and now has offices in the big three east coast cities.