Nichola Clark 

In my formative years, I spent lots of time at University and art college in the UK and Australia studying art, photography and journalism. Although I learnt many of the skills I use today at Manchester University, I also learnt how to drink too many pints, throw shapes at the Hacienda with tight leather trousers on, and live on pot noodles. To warm the bleak northern city back drop, my flatmates and I were partial to watching Neighbours and Home and Away on loop. My first Aussie calling.

During my University years, I worked in a curator role for one of Manchester’s main galleries and as a writer for a Fine Art publisher. After graduating I was lucky to land my first proper job (I was never very good at making the coffee) in London at a photographic art agency which supplied photographic images to the London press and publishers. A combination I loved. I then had a spell working in international events based in Notting Hill on behalf of the British Government. Here I pretended to be Miss Moneypenny, on occasions wearing sparkly dresses and clutching diplomatic invitations to the palace. Without a James Bond in sight, I packed up my Bridget Jones big-pants London lifestyle to seek out the sun, sand and sea and landed in Sydney Harbour. Here I continued in communications, editing and writing and met my Mr Darcy (although I'm sure he'd rather be James Bond) – I never looked back.

Over the past 15 years I have been crazy enough to run Ara Communications and Ara Imagery and forever love forging the best combination of words, design and photographic images I can – producing magazines, feature articles, photographs, newsletters, websites, brochures, press releases, brochures, brands and social media. Whatever the message and whatever the need! At the same time I've been lucky enough to meet and interview a host of inspiring leaders, politicians, entrepreneurs, celebrity chefs, sports people, authors, fashion designers and more. If there's a great story I'll be there!