Kirsty Danby, CEO at Platform Communications
With more than two decades in the energy and resources sector, Kirsty Danby has built a career defined by connection, communication and community.
As CEO of Platform Communications, the Perth-based strategic communications and design agency she founded in 2006, Kirsty leads a team of communications specialists that help organisations tell their stories, manage complex issues and engage effectively with stakeholders across Australia.
“I love working with people who are passionate about what they do,” said Kirsty. “For me, it’s about understanding their challenges and helping them communicate in ways that make a real difference, to their business and to the wider community.”
A member of the Energy Club WA for 12 years, Kirsty first joined what was then the Petroleum Club of WA in 2013 and later served on its Board of Governors from 2016 to 2019.
“What I value most about the Energy Club WA is the friendships and relationships it’s helped me build,” she says. “It’s a place where you can learn from others, share ideas, deepen your understanding of the energy and resources sector… and have a lot of fun along the way.”
Over her career, Kirsty has held senior corporate affairs roles at Woodside Energy, Alcoa and BHP Billiton, before moving into leadership positions across the industry.
She served as CEO of the Port Hedland Industries Council for six years, as well as on boards and committees including President of the WA Mining Club,
advisory council member to Curtin University’s Faculty of Humanities, and Board Member for Solaris Cancer Care.
A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion, Kirsty has been instrumental in initiatives that open doors for women and young professionals in the industry.
“Encouraging new voices, especially women and young professionals, into the energy and mining sectors is something I’m deeply passionate about,”
said Kirsty. “The more diverse our industry becomes, the stronger and more innovative it will be.”
Under her leadership, Platform Communications has also built a culture that supports balance and wellbeing. Flexible work arrangements, generous leave
policies and a focus on health and personal development, all reflect Kirsty’s belief that success comes from looking after people first.
Kirsty’s approach to work is underpinned by authenticity, a quality she traces back to her country upbringing. Growing up in regional Australia, she developed a
strong work ethic from an early age. Her father encouraged her to take on tough jobs, and she did: grape packing alongside backpackers while living in a
caravan (he thought she’d last until morning tea, but she proved him wrong sticking it out for a whole summer), working on a kill floor in an abattoir, and even
pulling clay targets for shooters, a job that has long since been automated.
Often the only Australian woman in those workplaces, Kirsty gained a lasting respect for hard work, resilience and diversity, a grounding that still sets her apart today.
However, it wasn’t unusual in her family to see women succeeding in male-dominated industries. Her grandmother ran a successful interstate trucking business,
setting an early example that gender was no barrier to success.
“Having a role model who didn’t see gender as an issue set me up to see the world, and business, the same way,” said Kirsty. “I’ve always believed the
key to success is being the best at your job. That’s it.”
This foundation has also shaped Kirsty’s approach to stakeholder engagement. Having lived and worked in regional communities, she brings an instinctive
understanding of their needs and perspectives.
“I understand regional communities because I’ve lived in them, worked alongside them and listened to them,” said Kirsty. “I just get where they’re coming from
and what matters to them.”
It is this experience that makes her so effective at stakeholder engagement. She knows how to hear people, empathise and build trust.
Outside of work, Kirsty enjoys travelling, photography, spending time in Mandurah with her family and her dog Jemima and volunteering support for causes
close to her heart, including dolphin conservation and community campaigns.
“At the end of the day, it’s about using whatever skills you have to make a difference,” said Kirsty. “For your industry, your community and the people around you.”