MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA – What started with a laptop on a kitchen table and a bold vision for change has, fifteen years on, become a powerhouse in the Australian communications landscape. Think HQ, the fully integrated agency built on a simple but radical idea – that purpose and profit can co-exist – is celebrating its 15th anniversary, and it’s doing so with a proven track record of impact.
Founded in 2010 by Jen Sharpe with just $5,000 and one client – the Scanlon Foundation (who is still with the agency today), Think HQ was built to challenge the status quo. At the time, few believed a values led agency could thrive in an industry obsessed with billable hours and brand glitz. Today, the agency still runs strong.
With over 100 staff, a 15% average year on year growth rate over the past five years and a client list that stretches from grassroots NGOs to government departments and global brands, Think HQ has become one of the largest independently owned and led agencies in the country.
Think HQ’s back catalogue reveals just how deep its commitment to change runs. From early work on mental health with Orygen and Professor Patrick McGorry, to nation-shaping campaigns tackling racism, disability inclusion, and LGBTQIA+ visibility, Think HQ has been on the frontlines of Australia’s social evolution.
It’s a journey marked by milestones: its 2019 acquisition of CultureVerse, the launch of a Sydney office in 2022, the debut of the Think HQ precinct with Tates Place in 2023, and a game-changing 2024 acquisition of LOUD, a cultural communications agency. By 2025, the agency has not only passed the 100-staff mark but also been crowned Large Agency of the Year (CPRA) and Best PR Employer (CommsCon).
Managing Director
Think HQ Founder and Managing Director, Jen Sharpe reflected on the journey she and the agency have been on over the past decade-and-a-half. “We have built a safe, structurally sound, ethically responsible workplace where people can thrive, all while being profitable and driving positive impact for our clients and the community. And we’re not done yet. ”
Think HQ’s secret weapon is a uniquely integrated model built to make inclusive, impactful work at scale. With 37 languages spoken across its team and a 36% LGBTQIA+ representation, Think HQ embodies the representation it offers to clients. The agency also houses its own ISO-accredited language services team and runs dedicated departments for multicultural and First Nations engagement. Add to that a full-service suite – strategy, creative, in-house production, PR, digital, and events and the agency can deliver socially conscious campaigns from end to end, under one roof.
