Sharon Lanyon

Sharon is a dynamic executive leader who designs communication and engagement pathways to influence more equitable outcomes and enhance organisations’ impact on their people, partners and communities.

As the Group Head of Strategic Communications and Engagement at the national non-profit SSI, Sharon has been instrumental in creating the brand vision, including leading a national brand refresh and cementing the final step in SSI’s merger with Queensland-based Access Community Services. She is responsible for protecting and enhancing the organisation’s professional image and aims to promote a greater understanding amongst the Australian public, politicians, media and opinion leaders on SSI’s impact and the strengths and needs of the communities it serves.

Sharon has an MBA (Social Impact) from UNSW’s AGSM and a BA in Management Communication. She is committed to collaborative practice that enables communities to co-design innovative solutions to achieve positive social impact. In 2019, she was awarded the UNSW Anton Mischewski Design for Social Innovation Prize.

Before joining SSI, Sharon held executive marketing and strategy roles with national and international brands, including WestTrac Caterpillar, Bluescope Steel, Unilever, Leo Burnett USA and BBC London. She also spent eight years as a director of design thinking consultancy, iSEE Impact.