Dixie Marshall appointed chair of GRA Partners

Former news presenter and experienced communications chief Dixie Marshall has been appointed chair of strategic advisory firm GRA Partners.

Government relations and communications firm GRA Partners today announced that Ms Marshall had been appointed chair to spearhead the growth of the firm’s strategic communications practice.

Ms Marshall is best known as a former television news reader and head of strategic communications for former premier Colin Barnett.

She will continue her current role at advertising agency Marketforce as chief growth officer and look to create more opportunities between the two companies, according to GRA Partners.

Ms Marshall is set to steer the firm from January 1, and will not engage in any lobbying activity for GRA Partners or its clients.

She will replace outgoing chair Eric Ripper who served in the role for 10 years and will instead take on a special adviser role alongside being a board director.

Ms Marshall said the appointment was a wonderful opportunity to lead WA’s most outstanding government relations and strategic communications firm.

“I will continue to retain my clients at Marketforce while seeking to expand the strategic communications service at GRA Partners,” she said.

“Modern day communications is a diverse, technical and evolving discipline, stretching across all parts of a business, right up to the boardroom.

“I cannot wait to work with the GRA Partners team to deliver value and a first-class communications offering to clients.”

GRA Partners Managing Partner Jason Marocchi said Ms Marshall’s appointment was an important step in the evolution of the firm.

“Dixie is a force of nature – she is not only a highly successful communications professional, but a business builder and an experienced company director,” he said.

“I’m looking forward to working with Dixie to enhance our growing strategic communications practice to complement the firm’s market-leading government relations offering.”