I’m a Creative Director, Brand Design Director and Brand Strategist who works from the initial strategic thinking through to ideas, identity, design and activation. My background spans branding, advertising, integrated campaigns and digital, working across agencies, consultancy and directly with clients. I’m equally comfortable leading the room, working with senior stakeholders, directing creative teams or getting hands-on with the work. As Founder and Creative Director of Be you not them™, I’ve led brand strategy, identity and activation projects across sectors including financial services, FMCG, hospitality, technology, healthcare, education, community and not-for-profit. My work spans brand strategy and positioning, visual identity, design systems, campaigns, digital, UX, packaging, motion and branded environments. Increasingly, I’m also integrating AI into creative workflows, concept development, production and brand systems. Selected experience includes work with organisations and brands including Moët Hennessy, Marriott, BaptistCare, Rest Super and a broad mix of established organisations, challenger brands and start-ups. I’m now particularly interested in Creative Director, Design Director, Brand Design Director and Head of Brand opportunities where I can combine strategic thinking, creative leadership and hands-on design. Based in Newcastle/Lake Macquarie with easy access to Sydney, and experienced working remotely with clients and teams across Australia, the UK and Europe. Available for permanent, contract, fractional or hybrid opportunities across Australia.…

David Gollop

I’m a Creative Director, Brand Design Director and Brand Strategist who works from the initial strategic thinking through to ideas, identity, design and activation. My background spans branding, advertising, integrated campaigns and digital, working across agencies, consultancy and directly with clients. I’m equally comfortable leading the room, working with senior stakeholders, directing creative teams or getting hands-on with the work. As Founder and Creative Director of Be you not them™, I’ve led brand strategy, identity and activation projects across sectors including financial services, FMCG, hospitality, technology, healthcare, education, community and not-for-profit. My work spans brand strategy and positioning, visual identity, design systems, campaigns, digital, UX, packaging, motion and branded environments. Increasingly, I’m also integrating AI into creative workflows, concept development, production and brand systems. Selected experience includes work with organisations and brands including Moët Hennessy, Marriott, BaptistCare, Rest Super and a broad mix of established organisations, challenger brands and start-ups. I’m now particularly interested in Creative Director, Design Director, Brand Design Director and Head of Brand opportunities where I can combine strategic thinking, creative leadership and hands-on design. Based in Newcastle/Lake Macquarie with easy access to Sydney, and experienced working remotely with clients and teams across Australia, the UK and Europe. Available for permanent, contract, fractional or hybrid opportunities across Australia.…

Available to hire

I’m a Creative Director, Brand Design Director and Brand Strategist who works from the initial strategic thinking through to ideas, identity, design and activation.

My background spans branding, advertising, integrated campaigns and digital, working across agencies, consultancy and directly with clients. I’m equally comfortable leading the room, working with senior stakeholders, directing creative teams or getting hands-on with the work.

As Founder and Creative Director of Be you not them™, I’ve led brand strategy, identity and activation projects across sectors including financial services, FMCG, hospitality, technology, healthcare, education, community and not-for-profit.

My work spans brand strategy and positioning, visual identity, design systems, campaigns, digital, UX, packaging, motion and branded environments. Increasingly, I’m also integrating AI into creative workflows, concept development, production and brand systems.

Selected experience includes work with organisations and brands including Moët Hennessy, Marriott, BaptistCare, Rest Super and a broad mix of established organisations, challenger brands and start-ups.

I’m now particularly interested in Creative Director, Design Director, Brand Design Director and Head of Brand opportunities where I can combine strategic thinking, creative leadership and hands-on design.

Based in Newcastle/Lake Macquarie with easy access to Sydney, and experienced working remotely with clients and teams across Australia, the UK and Europe. Available for permanent, contract, fractional or hybrid opportunities across Australia.

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Language

English
Fluent

Work Experience

Chief Marketing Officer / Head of Brand & UX at Grocerize
November 1, 2023 - July 1, 2026
Part of the leadership team behind an Australian grocery technology platform designed to make shopping easier, smarter and more affordable. Led brand, marketing and creative direction including AI integration, corporate partnerships and customer experience. Aligned the brand proposition across product UX, digital marketing, content, social, campaigns, PR and customer acquisition, advising executive leadership on digital transformation and AI adoption by connecting brand, product, technology and customer experience while introducing AI-assisted creative and marketing workflows. Worked closely with founders, product, technology and commercial teams to translate customer needs into brand and product development. Selected impact: users saved an average of 28% on their weekly shop.
Sessional Creative Lecturer at University of Technology Sydney
July 1, 2015 - August 1, 2018
Lectured and ran workshops in branding and integrated communications, combining strategic principles with practical industry experience.
Creative Director & Founder at Be you not them ™
July 1, 2013 - Present
Founded and lead an independent brand consultancy creating, repositioning and evolving brands from strategy through implementation. Lead brand strategy, positioning and creative direction with founders, CEOs, boards and marketing teams, facilitate discovery and alignment workshops, and develop visual identity systems, brand architecture, campaigns, digital experiences, packaging, motion, presentations, brand guidelines and built environments. Built and led multidisciplinary creative teams up to 30 across design, writing, development, photography, animation and production partners, while staying hands-on. Manage projects end-to-end from pitch and concept through production and rollout, integrating AI into research, ideation, design exploration, motion and production workflows. Created YouChoose for BaptistCare, a consumer-directed care proposition and digital experience that achieved a 16,400% increase in private users.
Creative Group Head at Momentum Worldwide Creative Group
January 1, 2009 - July 1, 2013
Led creative development across integrated brand experiences, activations, promotions and campaigns. Directed multidisciplinary creative teams from brief through concept, senior client presentations and production across experiential, retail, digital, social and promotional channels. Partnered with strategy, account management and production teams to translate commercial objectives into creative platforms and won more than a dozen competitive pitches. Balanced ambitious ideas with budgets and timelines while maintaining creative standards. Selected brands/projects include American Express, Coca-Cola, Coke Zero, Telstra, Motorola, Panasonic, Hahn Super Dry, Tooheys and XXXX.
Award School Tutor and Mentor at Award School
December 31, 2008 - December 31, 2008
Delivered a 12-week creative development program for emerging writers and designers, blending real-world industry insight with hands-on mentoring. Fostered collaboration and stronger idea development through critical thinking.
Tutor & Creative Mentor at AWARD School
August 1, 2007 - August 1, 2008
Lectured and ran workshops supporting emerging creative talent through practical industry mentoring.
Senior Art Director / Designer at Evocatif
January 1, 2007 - December 1, 2008
Led senior design and art direction across brand, advertising and integrated communications while remaining hands-on and guiding teams. Presented directly to clients. Selected brands/projects include Optus, St George Bank, Toshiba, Kimberly-Clark, Sanitarium, Sara Lee, Boral and Lindemans.
Senior Brand Designer at ideaworks
December 31, 2006 - December 31, 2006
Led brand design projects from concept to delivery, developing distinctive branding strategies and ensuring cohesive brand presence across multiple platforms. Partnered with strategy, marketing, and digital teams to ensure seamless brand integration and audience engagement.
Creative Director at The Kin Group
January 1, 2006 - January 1, 2006
Partnered with agency leadership to define creative vision, aligning business growth with bold, effective ideas. Directed teams to deliver innovative, high-quality work across diverse channels. Built and led a full-service creative department, strengthening the agency’s capabilities and competitive edge. Fostered enduring client relationships that drove retention and growth.
Senior Brand Designer at PDC Creative
March 1, 2005 - September 1, 2006
Led identities, campaigns, packaging, promotional communications and brand activation for premium and luxury clients, translating global brand positioning into locally relevant Australian creative. Selected brands/projects include Moët & Chandon, Veuve Clicquot, Hennessy, Belvedere and Chandon.
Senior Designer - Art Director at Ogilvy Australia, Principals, George Patterson Partners, M&C Saatchi Group AUNZ
December 31, 2004 - December 31, 2004
Led senior design and art direction across campaigns, collaborating with strategy, production, and client teams to craft cohesive, purpose-driven experiences.
Senior Designer - Art Director at Various London Agencies
December 31, 2003 - December 31, 2003
Working with some of the most talented people in London @ 4:2:2, Asylum, Comfy Sofa, The Creative Consortium, DDA, Freespirit, Finisterre, Indigo Creative, JFD, Jory&Co, Leathems, Marsteller Giant, MRM London, M&C Saatchi London, Revolution, Pentagram, Purple Patch, The Team, Tidal Wave, Turnbull Ripley, Write Image, Whereforeart. For: Acuvue, Alibi pictures, Alterian, Amicus, Ballantines Whiskey, Ballenger Wandsworth, Bayer, Boehringer Ingelheim, Brandeux Group, British Films, Cable & Wireless, Cantor Fitzgerald , Carters Coupworths, Cannons Health Clubs, Campaign Paintball, Chancery Estates , Chandon, Cinram UK, Coca-Cola, CO-OP, Corporate Defence Solutions, Corporate Resource Centre, Cornwall County Council, Colemans, Coutts, Crest Packaging, Cybersource, Darwins Deli, Defacto, Delta Airlines, Durex, Eden Brown, Edge Guard, English Tourist Board, Esso, Fonerange, Forest Sercurites, Free Spirit Communications, Great Fosters Hotel, Ground Rent Portfolio, Hextall Meakin, Historic Sussex Hotels, Homes Associates, ICL, Interplay, IKEA, Leathams Foods, Legal & General, Lego, Leukaemia Foundation, Lime Bar, London&Paris, LORÉAL, Marriott, Microsoft, National Charity Matchplay, National County Councils, Neptune Software Corp, NHS, NTL, OAG, Orange, One2One, Pacy Games, Paintball Planet, Papa Tango, Parisfal, P&O Ferries, Primary Care Cardovascular Society, PricewaterhouseCoopers, Prime Selection, Professional Cricketers Association, Proslide Snowboarding, Randstad, Royal Hospital Trust, SAS, Service-Tec, Serving Sport, Sainsburys, SilverMoon Café, Smart Connection Company, Technical Asset Management, Tesco, Telegate, The Rolling Stones, TotalJourney.com, ToyotaGreen, Turais, United International Pictures, Virgin Interactive, Yellow Pages, YooMedia,
Senior Art Director / Designer at Pilgrim International
August 1, 2003 - August 1, 2004
Developed integrated creative campaigns and brand communications across print, broadcast, digital and activation from concept and art direction through production and final delivery. Selected brands/projects include Qantas, Greenpeace Australia, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, the Red Cross, Care Flight Australia and The Salvation Army.

Education

at Falmouth University
January 1, 1995 - January 1, 1997
at University Centre Somerset
January 1, 1993 - January 1, 1995

Qualifications

ITAC Awards - Best Consumer-Friendly Product or System
January 1, 2016 - November 13, 2025

Industry Experience

Consumer Goods, Financial Services, Healthcare, Education, Professional Services, Energy & Utilities, Agriculture & Mining, Government, Media & Entertainment, Real Estate & Construction, Non-Profit Organization, Telecommunications, Transportation & Logistics, Software & Internet, Manufacturing, Travel & Hospitality, Wholesale & Distribution, Retail, Other