The Lab expands executive team with three senior staff promotions

Cultural insights and strategy company The Lab has announced the promotion of three senior staff members to executive positions in its Melbourne and Sydney offices.

The promotions follow strong growth for The Lab, with the addition of new clients and the launch of its innovative new artificial intelligence and machine learning division, Lab AI, earlier this year. 

In Sydney, Elaine Dubost has been promoted to executive director. Elaine works across key projects in the finance, FMCG, travel and media sectors, with clients including Sanitarium Health Food Company, News Corp Australia and Henkel Australia. As part of her new role, Elaine will lead The Lab’s reconciliation initiative and the development of its Reconciliation Action Plan.

Also in Sydney, Katie Lucas has been promoted to head of futures. In addition to working with Samsung, IAG and the Alcohol & Drug Foundation, the new role will see Katie lead a multi-disciplinary team to create proprietary foresight tools that will enable The Lab to predict cultural futures for its clients.

In Melbourne, Rebecca Brody – who in addition to leading key clients including Cricket Australia, Nine Entertainment Co and Simplot has driven the agency’s analysis into the Forces of Good and sustainability reports – assumes the leadership of The Lab’s Australia Project, an always-on cultural insight program that illuminates the emerging socio-cultural forces shaping Australia. Launched in 2010, Australia Project is the centrepiece of The Lab’s cultural insight program.

The Lab Co-Founder and CEO, Neale Cotton, said: “Our people are the heart and soul of our business, and I couldn’t be prouder to promote Elaine, Katie and Rebecca. They are exceptional leaders, remarkably talented, creative and curious. Their new roles signal the start of an exciting new chapter for The Lab.

“The promotions build on our commitment to integrate data science into our strategic and cultural work, with the Futures unit working hand-in-hand with Lab AI, our commitment to Australia Project and our commitment to a reconciled, just and equitable Australia.”