Melissa Vella set to depart ACA role to join Talent Run and lead SouthWest expansion

After more than seven years leading Advertising Council Australia’s presence in Western Australia, and more recently South Australia, Melissa Vella will leave ACA to join Talent Run, leading the specialist talent business across the SouthWest.

Vella (pictured right) will join Talent Run founder and former ACA colleague Amy Lee, expanding the business across WA and SA and specialising in all-of-agency talent across creative, account service, strategy, media, digital, production and marketing, spanning both agency and in-house teams.

The move reunites Vella and Lee, who previously held State Manager roles at ACA and share a relationship-first approach to the industry.

Vella said: “I’ve always wanted to be known as a ‘people person’. The part of my ACA role I’ve loved most has been connecting people – helping emerging talent get a foot in the door, introducing people who should know each other and, occasionally, doing a little unofficial matchmaking between people and businesses.

“So when Amy approached me about Talent Run, it just made sense.

“I know this industry incredibly well, I know a lot of the people in it, and more importantly, I genuinely care about both. I’m excited to take the relationships and networks I’ve built over the past seven years and use them in a different way.”

Vella joined ACA in 2019 and has since become a familiar face across the WA advertising community, delivering and growing initiatives including AWARD School, JumpStart, AdSchool, Effies Work Behind the Work, industry events and professional development programs. More recently, her remit expanded to South Australia as part of ACA’s SouthWest model.

Vella said the move was an opportunity to take a different approach to recruitment locally.

“I don’t see this as simply recruitment. It’s about talent sourcing, headhunting and connecting great people with great businesses.

“There are extraordinary people across WA and SA, and brilliant businesses that don’t always have the time, networks or resources to find them. I want to know who’s out there, who might be ready for their next move and where there could be a great fit – sometimes before either side even knows they’re looking,” she added.

Talent Run founder Amy Lee said: “Melissa and I have a very similar philosophy – relationships first. She knows the WA and SA markets, understands agencies and the broader marketing ecosystem, and has spent years genuinely investing in the people within them.

“I couldn’t think of anyone better to build Talent Run in the SouthWest. And yes, the band is officially back together.”

Vella will finish with ACA on 24 September before joining Talent Run in October.

“I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built at ACA SouthWest and enormously grateful to the people who have supported me along the way – particularly Callum Mackenzie, who stepped up to represent WA on the ACA Board 18 months ago, and Gavin Bain, who has mentored and supported me from my very first day,” said Vella.

“The best part is I’m not really leaving the industry. I’ll still be at the events, still connecting people, still championing WA and SA talent – and probably still talking to far too many people in every room.

“I’m just wearing a different hat.”

With Vella preparing to hand over the reins, ACA is now recruiting for its next SouthWest State Manager (WA & SA).

“If you’re a people person, love connecting others and genuinely care about our industry, it’s an incredibly rewarding role. I’d encourage anyone looking for a change and the opportunity to do something a little different to consider it. I’m excited to see who takes it on, brings their own ideas and puts their own stamp on what comes next.”

Applications for the ACA SouthWest State Manager (WA & SA) role are now open via LinkedIn.