Our People | The Taboo Group

Andrew MacKinnon

Founder / Managing Director

Andrew MacKinnon

Founder / Managing Director

Andrew “Macca” Mackinnon gave birth to Taboo at the tender age of 20 and has spent the last 18 years pushing and pulling it into the burgeoning creative beast it is today.

An entrepreneur at heart, he opened the iconic Ponyfish Island Bar on the Yarra River, which then led to the birth of another baby – the Melbourne City Brewing Company. He also established Assembly House, a hub for creative entrepreneurs and freelancers, and his latest venture, ‘Skymorials,’ is the fastest growing online memorial site in the world.

He is also a dedicated member of the Entrepreneur’s Organisation Australia – Victoria Chapter, and was President in 2016.

James Mackinnon

Partner/Strategy Director

James Mackinnon

Partner/Strategy Director

James joined Taboo in 2015 after spending four years abroad as a Planning Director at Strawberryfrog, New York. Prior to that, he was at Clemenger BBDO and George Patterson Y&R, Melbourne.

James is a strong believer in the power of brands to influence culture via what they do – not what they say. This has seen him create globally impactful campaigns for the likes of Corona, Reebok, Jim Beam, PepsiCo, Barbie the Transport Accident Commission.

Outside Taboo, James is the co-founder of a small but growing kombucha business based in Byron Bay. He is also the co-founder of two small but growing daughters.

Matilda Hobba

General Manager

Matilda Hobba

General Manager

Tilly grew up to hippy parents who banned television and sugar, and so it was only natural that she found herself in a career that celebrated both.

Like a true ad thoroughbred, she spent years over 15 years slogging her heart out at Melbourne’s most iconic agencies including Clemenger BBDO, GPY&R and Cummins&Partners. During this time she ran a number of high profile clients including Schweppes, HBA, Mercedes-Benz, CUB and Tourism WA, and was named in the “Top 50 Account Directors in the World” list by global creative bible, The Directory. She joined Taboo in 2016 and quickly made herself part of the designer furniture.

Tilly is a respected industry mentor, a champion of equality in the workforce and the mother of two sons, one of whom changed his name to Motorbike.

Reece Hobbins

Director of Brand Development and Innovation

Reece Hobbins

Director of Brand Development and Innovation

Reece is like a neo-lit bullet train from the future who has come back in time to spearhead Taboo’s creative department. With nearly 20 years industry experience in Canada and Australia, Reece specialises in digital, design, experiential and product development – and is responsible for driving the agency’s cutting-edge culture and innovation capabilities.

Having unsurpassed experience working in youth markets, Reece is on Nike’s innovation panel and was a guest speaker at Nike’s Asia Pacific Marketing Summit. He has developed exciting and ground-breaking campaigns for Nike, CUB, NAB, Cadbury, NHLPA, YAHOO! and Schnitz.

Reece is also an artist, a photographer and a founder of Diemen’s Hot Sauce.

Kate Prowse

Group Account Director

Kate Prowse

Group Account Director

Kate is the pounding heart of the agency and a gal who defines what it means to be a suit; She’s fast, furious, dangerously efficient – and does it all with a bloody smile on her face.

With a double degree in Economics and Commerce majoring in marketing – she manages projects like a ninja. She is fiercely competitive, loves a challenge and can do everything except for one thing at a time.

In her previous life she was a world champion Irish dancer, but these days, limits herself to a more cruisy routine of hardcore CrossFit.

In her spare time, she is a Director of ‘SheSays’ Melbourne, a not-for-profit organisation that provides support and mentoring opportunities for women in the creative industry.

Nick Jamieson

Executive Creative Director

Nick Jamieson

Executive Creative Director

Raised a nomad, Nick spent his childhood in lots of really hot, faraway places where freckly pale kids live like vampires.

This gypsy-like existence manifested itself into his career where, like a toddler easily distracted by shiny things, his limited attention span helped him amass a widely diverse creative career.

From making a rogue TV show in the ad breaks during David Letterman and running Lifelounge.com, Australia’s original youth culture publication, to making ads and brand activations for agencies both big and small, he’s very happy to call Taboo home. Nick brings a wealth of experience from Clemenger BBDO Melbourne where he was Creative Director of Activation, working on clients including MARS Chocolate, Petcare, CUB, Nike and Fonterra.

He also shaved his beard off once and everyone at work made fun of him.

Matt Heays

Creative Director

Matt Heays

Creative Director

Matt is a multi-disciplinary creative with more than 15 years’ experience working in both design houses and creative agencies in both Melbourne and New Zealand

Matt began his career as a motion designer making TV commercials and low-budget music videos. From there, he began to refine his craft as a designer and director, trying his hand at everything from animation, packaging design, brand identities and even a little spatial design. for many of Australasia’s most respected brands including Air New Zealand, A J Hackett Bungy NZ, API, ASB, Fonterra and Frucor.

Mat joined Taboo in 2019 from New Zealand’s top design house, True, and he continues to live up to his impeccable reputation as a gun and a ridiculously nice guy.

Outside work, Matt has a studio arts practise that focuses on painting and installations, and he exhibits his work every now and then. He also has kids – but because he’s from New Zealand, he calls them kuds. He loves his kuds heaps.

Melanie O'Rourke

Creative Services Director

Melanie O'Rourke

Creative Services Director

MelO is a part-time Creative Services Manager, part-time Agency Producer and full-time Cosmic Energy Healer.

A 20+ years creative industry veteran, MelO has been swimming (with her floaties on) in the deep pools of advertising and design studios in Australia, USA and London – and brings a unique style to everything that she touches.

Mel’s combo-noodle skill base allows her to intuit any creative, produce any medium and project an energy that enhances the creative spirit that turns good work into really great work.

Just please don’t refer to her as Traffic Manager, or she’ll Mercury Retrograde your ass.

Gloria Aiken

Financial Controller

Gloria Aiken

Financial Controller

Well-travelled, occasional model, undisputed Queen of the Dancefloor – meet “G-Money”, Taboo’s revered Controller of the Finances.

Gloria’s breadth of experience has seen her crunch numbers at some of the smallest and biggest shops in the country. But spreadsheets and keeping agencies afloat aside, it’s the industry’s unique characters she loves most about the job. And luckily for her, there’s more than a few here.

Henry Harms

Account Executive

Henry Harms

Account Executive

If you’re wondering why Henry looks familiar, it’s probably because you either saw him staring in an AFL Auskick ad in 2005… or because he looks like Kel Knight’s lovechild.

Studying advertising at Swinburne University of Technology, he got his break at Tiger Pistol where he developed his deep love of social advertising. He then joined Taboo in 2019 as an Account Executive, where he’s continued to develop and fine-tune his creative problem solving.

When he’s not going OCD on his emails, or charming clients with his relaxed demeanour, you’ll probably see him partaking in a range of unpredictable hobbies. From writing rap songs, painting whilst listening to the soothing notes of heavy metal, or unintentionally acting as a homing beacon in the mosh at a music gig for his friends, this well rounded 6 ft 4 human is excited to continue to grow his skill set in the industry.

Tatum Ambler

Senior Strategist

Tatum Ambler

Senior Strategist

Tatum is proof that one can never have too many career paths. Originating in property development, she seamlessly transitioned into the world of communications at Publicis Group, where she honed in on delivering data-driven media solutions with a KPI of >15 acronyms per slide.

Now at home as a strategist inside the gritty walls of Taboo’s, she enjoys blending strategy, digital, brand and data with an agile and open-minded approach.

Outside work, you’ll find her hiding under a doona recording her footy podcast or down the coast pretending she’s a pro surfer.

Kevin Dutton

Partner

Kevin Dutton

Partner

Kevin “KD” Dutton started his career as a Junior Production Assistant at FCB and went on to become one of the industry’s most experienced and respected leaders. He has been many things, including Regional Chair and CEO of FCB, a founding partner of both BADJAR and Spinach and Chairman of Monash University’s Department of Marketing Advisory Board.

He’s now our Chief – where he supplies the agency with valuable advice, expertise and most importantly, his home-made salami.

Steph Kitchin

Art Director

Steph Kitchin

Art Director

Steph brews her own beer and can solve a Rubik’s Cube in 60 seconds. With seven years of design experience and five in art direction, Steph was previously held hostage at BWM Dentsu where she chugged the Kmart Kool-Aid and tailor made campaigns for the faaaaaaaashion capital, Chadstone.

Steph’s favourite thing about working at Taboo is the work. 9 times out of 10 it involves making roads safer, reducing family violence, saving the planet or some other inspiring cause.

If you ever want to win a game of table tennis, definitely play against Steph.

Max Kennedy

Art Director

Max Kennedy

Art Director

We’ve asked Max to send us his bio 17 times. Max, if you’re reading this, send us your goddamn bio.

Suzi Williamson

Account Director

Suzi Williamson

Account Director

Like many of the greats of the industry, Suzi fell into advertising after initially planning to do something much more noble (if you can say that about journalism). But making the best of an unfortunate situation, Suzi set about dominating advertising, starting at Leo Burnetts where she worked on iconic brands including Bonds, Jay Jays and Peters.

Suzi is best known around the office for her amazing baking and even better puns. She also eats her breakfast out of a mug and we can’t make her stop. Stop it, Suzi. It’s no longer a-meuseli-ing.

Diva Gattani

Strategist

Diva Gattani

Strategist

Out of the frying pan and into the fire, Diva moved from New York City to Melbourne to join the Taboo family in 2019. Diva was born to an Indian father, an Italian mother, raised by a Jamaican, and went to an all Jewish school in The Bronx – so there’s a high chance she’s more interesting than you. And us. And maybe everybody.

Diva focuses on finding creative ways to help businesses solve their challenges, establish their place in the world and bring their unique stories to life. She has a special enthusiasm for brand positioning, qualitative and quantitative research and testing fresh strategic approaches.

Prior to joining Taboo, Diva worked at Untitled Worldwide based in NYC. During her career she has built brands from inception and worked on projects for a large array of clients, such as Glossier, LG, American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons, TytoCare, Baby+Co., Talkspace and Bravely.

Outside of work, you can catch her running laps around Yarra Park or throwing jabs in a boxing ring.

Jacob Moeschinger

Social Media Executive

Jacob Moeschinger

Social Media Executive

Straight out of University at the ripe age of 21, Jacob commenced his advertising career as a Taboo intern. After a few short weeks, while quickly earning himself the unofficial title of Padawan, he found himself within Taboo’s growing strategy department.

2.5 years on, Jacob has worked on campaigns and always on activity for the likes of Nike, Carlton United Breweries, General Mills, Telstra, Schnitz, Respect Victoria, and the Transport Accident Commission. Despite his luscious long hair, easy going attitude and sunny coast mannerisms (has been advised strictly against using ‘sick’ as a positive adjective), Jacob’s a pertinacious and indispensable addition to the Taboo team.

Hannah Cleary

Producer

Hannah Cleary

Producer

Hannah has a Bachelor of Film and Television and is an AWARD School graduate, allowing her to fuse her creativity, perfectionism and expert styling skills together to produce Taboo’s events and brand experiences like a goddamn pro.

When she’s not chasing up supplier payments or Pinterest-hunting for 90’s bedroom styling, she’s bent over a sewing machine, designing and making futuristic clothing, or photographing sweet parties.

Dane Falkström

Designer

Dane Falkström

Designer

Dane prides himself on being good at most things he puts his mind to. Call it what you will – naivety, recklessness, the fact that he’s from the Sunshine Coast – the man just seems to find himself entwined in fashionable and obscure projects that see him creating super cool stuff and collaborating with like-minded artists and designers nationwide.

Before joining Taboo as resident design guru, Dane ran an independent creative studio in Queensland working with clients such as MMVAF, Entourage Tours, Total Fitouts and more. Now he spends his spare time making music videos, building out his record collection or playing drums whilst skateboarding.

Dominica Lipinski

Producer

Dominica Lipinski

Producer

Dominica joined Taboo after spending years in Los Angeles managing brand launches and VIP events at high profile West Hollywood venues. It was here, in the home of show biz, that Dom honed her craft for styling and making the ordinary look anything but.

She has worked alongside clients including Peroni, Telstra, Mecca, Stella Artois, NewsCorp, Mattel, Pause Fest, People Magazine and LMFF.

Dominica she spends her weekends foraging in the wild for foodstuffs and exploring hidden swimming spots near…well, she’ll never tell you where.

Daniel Glasner

Junior Creative

Daniel Glasner

Junior Creative

Daniel is an American-bred diplobrat with a history in art, who came to Taboo looking to broaden his horizons. He told us he was interested in advertising because it was the most common form of art on a day-to-day basis, but we reckon he just discovered the free beer fridge.

He’s since solidified himself a special place in the creative department of Taboo, delighting everyone with his photography, film, content, animation and barista skills.

Outside of Taboo he likes long walks on the beach and writing clichés.

Claudia Sarosiek

Copywriter

Claudia Sarosiek

Copywriter

Claudia commenced her career as a bright-eyed and bushy-tailed suit at McCann, where she was besotted by glamorous clients L’Oréal Paris, Maybelline New York and the Melbourne International Film Festival. She soon realised however, that suit life consisted of everything Excel. Yearning instead for that sweet Adobe Suite, Claudia graduated AWARD School and joined Taboo’s creative department as a copywriter. Here she enjoys utilising her suit skills to judge the quality of briefs and banning puns. She finally feels at home amongst the freaks.

Outside of agency life, she moonlights as a marketer for the not-for-profit TEDxMelbourne, produces music videos for her more talented friends and is on a mission to bleach as many heads in Melbourne as humanly possible. Hit her up if you want a new do, seriously.

Chloe Herbert

Account Manager

Chloe Herbert

Account Manager

Hailing from the Queen’s country and with a degree in art history majoring in fashion photography, Chloe began her career working for a designer in London. It was only a natural progression for her to swap stitches for spreadsheets, move to the other side of the world and start a career in the dark arts of account management at a creative agency.

Chloe possesses many superpowers, including patience longer than her limbs, smarts smarter than a smartie and the ability to morph herself into Kiera Knightly at the drop of a beret.

Tristan Goddard

Junior Creative

Tristan Goddard

Junior Creative

Whilst we’re uncertain exactly which dark ceremony summoned Tristan to Taboo – we know that he first appeared on the darkest of nights, having crawled straight out of a sweaty mosh pit.

Tristan’s a punk with a healthy disregard for the impossible. With a bachelor’s degree in Game Design and Interactive Media and a Postgraduate Degree in Communication Design, he carries a Mary Poppins sized bag of tricks and skills in design, editing, animation and VR.

Lily Anderson

Account Executive

Lily Anderson

Account Executive

Venturing from a branding agency in Sydney, Lily uses her quick wit and whip-smart intellect to dominate account service and agency life. Like a duck paddling on the water, she has the ability to run like the wind while maintaining composure and grace – which is not really like a duck at all.

Lily loves anything outdoors, spending her weekends either shredding at the snow or sea. Fascinated by equestrian, she could back a horse trailer down a hallway. And if you’ve got a joke, chances are she’ll find it funny.

Christina Meunier

Producer

Christina Meunier

Producer

French but not from France, Christina came to Taboo from iconic agency Sid Lee in Montreal, bringing with her with over seven years of production experience in video, radio, photography, 3D and motion design. Driven by creativity and a love of fashion and design, Christina has worked alongside many high profile and international clients including Cirque Du Soleil, Make Up For Ever and L’Oréal Paris.

Christina is a high-performance hybrid producer, allowing her to produce any project of any shape and size with a large dollop of je ne sais quoi. And when the going gets tough, the tough gathers herself a glass of Beaujolais and a pain au chocolat – and gets going.

Sarah MacKay

Senior Account Manager

Sarah MacKay

Senior Account Manager

With childhood dreams of becoming a dolphin trainer, it was a cruel twist of fate that led Sarah into advertising; the cruel twist of fate being that it is much harder to get a job as a dolphin trainer than it is to get one in advertising.

With her dolphin dreams in tatters, she commenced a corporate career in media, embarking on a quick (5 year) stint at Nova in Adelaide. Tired of being in the beating heart of radio culture in Australia, Sarah returned to the Windy City where she was warmly welcomed into Taboo’s account management team and also, our hearts.

Sarah enjoys making people run on a treadmill and ALWAYS putting her right shoe on before her left (some may call this superstitious, Sarah says that’s a very unlucky thing to say).

Alex Roslaniec

Business Development Executive

Alex Roslaniec

Business Development Executive

When he’s not tinkering with superfood coffees or hemp clay masks, Alex is busy executing all things business development at Taboo. Previously a consultant at Ernst & Young, Alex uses his strong business, analytical & strategic skills to drive Taboo’s Special Projects Division.

Alex fits the perfect description of a Gemini: he’s two-sided. Some days, you’ll find him in isolated locations, pondering self-improvement or world domination. Alternatively, he’ll be cheering politely at a pub, watching the UFC with the gents.

Nicole Skilbeck

Director of First Impressions

Nicole Skilbeck

Director of First Impressions

As Director of First Impressions and Manager of Taboo’s Keyparty Photography Studios, Nicole holds the important job of being the face and soul of the agency – greeting, wrangling and gate-keeping like Ganesha.

A previous London bar General Manager and Sydney fashion store owner, Nicole brings with her a wealth of customer service experience, not to mention an impressive collection of how-did-you-find-that-vintage-denim-boiler-suit suits. She also has a knack for finding the coolest happenings around town, so much so that her weekly ‘what’s on this weekend’ emails spun off into their very own series known as Cultural Tip-Offs. Maybe you’ve even gone to one.

When she’s not running around organising everyone’s everything, you can find her loitering in underground galleries, “researching” new bars and restaurants and making parties.