Snack drawer, Melbourne’s “antidote to tired content” has expanded to Sydney. The internet-first agency was founded in 2020 by Jamie Searle (ex-Thinkerbell and Brave Bison) and Hannah McElhinney (ex-Vice Media). This year has been full of growth, with new business wins including the Netflix ANZ social account giving Snack Drawer responsibility for driving conversation across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook and Twitter channels. Snack Drawer’s growing client roster includes NBCUniversal, Dr. Martens, Smiling Mind, and Swinburne University.

Three new hires accompany the opening of the Sydney office, Andrew Brentnall, head of social media and content; Steph Panecasio, editorial lead and Patrick Ilagan, creator.

Brentnall joins from NOVA Entertainment where he spent the past two years as managing producer, overseeing a team of producers and editors to create a suite of award-winning original podcast series, including Brenda, Call Me! with Courtney Act and Vanity, and The Space with Casey Donovan. His experience also includes two years as a creative director at Amplify; and as senior content manager at Universal Music where his live music video for Troye Sivan won an ARIA Award.

Panecasio is an award-winning journalist with almost a decade of digital experience spanning tech, science, entertainment, health and culture. She joins from CNET, where she worked as an editor in the Culture team, prior to which she worked across the Pedestrian Group titles as a native content writer. Steph also runs a Patreon newsletter, Tell The Bees, and has worked as a freelance presenter, copywriter and MC for the last four years.

Ilagan’s creative background includes roles as video editor and animator with Healthily and as a freelance video editor at Pause Fest and Melbourne Queer Film Festival. He graduated from Swinburne University of Technology with a diploma in film and television as well as a degree in Digital Media Design in 2020.

With executive oversight from agency co-founders, Brentnall is reporting to managing director, Jamie Searle, while Panecasio and Iagan are reporting to chief creative officer, Hannah McElhinney. 

“We’re so excited to expand our operations with a new office in Sydney on the back of new business wins. We’re equally thrilled to welcome our new talented trio who are already making an impact as key members of the team,” Searle commented.

The new Sydney office is located in The Hub Hyde Park at 223 Liverpool St, Darlinghurst NSW 2010.

Cover image l-r: Andrew Brentnall, Steph Panecasio, Patrick Ilagan