The Team

She has held the positions of Senior Newsreader, Managing Director, Executive Producer, Director of Strategic Communications, Non-Executive Director and Deputy Chair.

Dixie is a Non-Executive Director of green energy company, Frontier Energy, and Non-Executive Director of Lotus Resources. She chairs the ESG Committee of Lotus.

She is Deputy Chair of the WA Football Commission, and a Commissioner of the Australian Sports Commission.

Her storytelling and leadership has flexed to media, advertising, marketing, policy, advocacy, and communications; and across a range of platforms, including television, radio, newspapers, and digital.

She has won awards for journalism and advertising.

Dixie is a former journalist and Channel 9 weekday news anchor. She was the first woman AFL boundary rider on Australian TV. She has covered Olympic and Commonwealth Games.

She was the Director of Strategic Communications for the WA Government, before establishing a content agency and driving the commercial turnaround of Marketforce, where she is also still the agency’s Chief Growth Officer.

0412 420 127

Jason Marocchi was appointed Managing Partner of GRA Partners in February 2016 after playing an integral role in the growth of the business since joining in 2008. He is responsible for the management and strategic direction of the firm.

Jason advises clients across a range of industry sectors on policy and regulatory issues at a State and Federal level, working with both Coalition and Labor governments. He also provides specialist advice and support to clients on complex, controversial and high-profile matters.

Prior to joining the firm, Jason was a journalist, public relations consultant and senior political adviser. He worked as a senior media adviser for several State Liberal leaders in Western Australia and played key communications roles for the WA Liberal Party at numerous Federal and State elections.

Jason has a Master of Business Administration and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Curtin University in Perth. He is a board member of GRACosway, GRAPartners’ national partner and President of Perth Soccer Club – WA’s most successful football club.

[email protected]

0421 005 765

Having worked as a Senior Adviser in the Gillard and Rudd Federal Labor Governments, Patrick Fagan provides significant political and strategic experience to the GRA Partners team.

Patrick has provided advice to government across a number of key portfolios, including energy, resources, ICT, the public sector, electoral policy and Northern Australia; and was an adviser to the Minister for Resources and Energy.

Patrick also worked as a government relations adviser to South32 and previously advised the Kimberley Development Commission on the Miriuwung Gajerrong Ord Enhancement Scheme. He was also a founding member of Timor Leste Vision, a NFP promoting rural education projects in Timor Leste.

Patrick holds a Master of Community Development from Curtin University, and a Master of Business Administration and Bachelor of Arts (majoring in political science and history) from the University of WA.

[email protected]

0439 568 402

Eric Ripper provides a valuable insight into government, politics and public policy in Western Australia.

Eric had a long and distinguished career in the WA Parliament over 25 years as a member of the Australian Labor Party, including time as Deputy Premier; Treasurer; Minister for Energy; and Minister for State Development, as well as Leader of the Opposition.

From 2001 to 2008 Eric was Deputy Premier and Treasurer of WA, engaging in the reform of State taxes and government procurement, the implementation of competition policy; as well as overseeing the development and management of eight State budgets. Eric was also responsible for WA’s participation in recognising the native title rights of Aboriginal people.

As Energy Minister, he implemented a major electricity reform program, including a competitive electricity market, and in the State Development portfolio, Eric negotiated on large LNG and iron ore projects.

Eric was recognised in the 2017 Australia Day Honours as a Member of the Order of Australia, for his service to the people and Parliament of WA, particularly for his work on budgetary reform, native title policy and energy sector developments.

He regularly presents to the business and community sectors on WA and Australian public policy issues.

[email protected]

0417 987 550

Priya Brown brings more than a decade of experience at the highest level of public policy development, political campaigns and strategic communications for State and Federal Government.

Priya most recently served as a Chief of Staff and Special Adviser in the Western Australian Government and has also served as a Principal Adviser to both the Western Australian and Victorian Treasurers.

A treasury and infrastructure expert, Priya played critical roles in commercial decision-making in the Victorian and Western Australian Governments, including the development of four state budgets.

Throughout her career she has also advised Governments in a range of policy areas including Energy, Environment, Climate Change, Finance, Education, Sports, Lands and Multicultural Interests.

Priya is a skilled communicator and stakeholder engagement practitioner, who provides clear analysis to clients on a range of policy areas and government processes, while continuing to foster strong relationships at senior levels in the Federal Government and multiple State Governments.

She understands how to help clients navigate their operating environment and successfully build support for their ideas and projects.

Priya holds a Bachelor of Science/Arts (Psychology) from the University of Western Australia.

[email protected]

0408 670 902

Luke Forrestal is an accomplished and well-connected financial communications professional with a proven reputation for providing expert media and investor relations advice for the benefit of clients.

Prior to joining GRA Partners, he was responsible for establishing a successful Western Australian business for a leading eastern states-based investor relations agency and served as primary media adviser to ASX50 company Fortescue Metals Group.

Luke has extensive experience in planning and implementing comprehensive communication and investor relations strategies for listed and private companies, including advising on major M&A transactions and IPOs. He is also well versed in effective crisis communications and issues management practices.

With a Bachelor of Arts majoring in journalism from Curtin University, Luke spent seven years with Fairfax Media writing for the Australian Financial Review and Business Review Weekly mastheads before moving into financial communications.

[email protected]

0411 479 144

Brendan McGrath has more than a decade’s experience working at the Western Australian Department of Treasury across a range of disciplines including asset sales and commercialisations, economic analysis and state tax policy.

He also held the position of Senior Policy Advisor to the Western Australian Treasurer from mid‑2019 to the end of 2020 where he provided advice on a range of economic and financial matters, and played a central role in delivering a number of state budgets and updates.

Brendan has detailed first-hand knowledge of the State Government’s decision-making and Parliamentary processes which offers valuable insight to clients.

He holds a Bachelor of Arts (majoring in political science and history) from Edith Cowan University and completed his Honours dissertation in political science at the University of Western Australia.

[email protected]

0404 200 210

Alex Hamilton is a skilled communications professional, with experience spanning political campaign management, policy development and the provision of media advice to Government.

Prior to joining GRA Partners, Alex was a Senior Media Adviser in the Western Australian Government. In this role, her responsibilities included crisis response and contentious issues management, developing strategic communication plans, and building media presence. She is also skilled at drafting key messaging, generating digital content, and speechwriting.

She also held the position of Senior Policy Adviser in the Western Australian Government, where she provided advice on a range of policy matters and all associated Parliamentary strategy.

Alex’s comprehensive understanding of the media landscape and the inner workings of the Western Australian Government is instrumental in developing effective communication and engagement strategies for clients.

Alex holds a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Western Australia and is completing her postgraduate Juris Doctor at the same institution.

[email protected]

0439 597 802

Kareece Broadway has led the office administrative team within GRA Partners since 2011.

Kareece has extensive senior experience working within professional service firms, providing high quality office management, client support and assistance to executive staff.

Prior to working with GRA Partners, Kareece was an Executive Assistant to multiple senior partners at a global service firm, with a focus on several sectors including government. She has studied European languages and Human Resource Management.

[email protected]

0408 928 075