From penning angst-filled poems in her adolescence to her first paid writing gig, Freya has always had a passion for communications. Raised in Hong Kong, she returned to the UK to study languages at Leeds University. Then, after a decade as an in-house writer and editor, she set up The Giles Agency in response to Asia’s growing need for quality content.
With every project Freya’s belief in the power of effective communications to transform businesses grew. Today she delights in sharing her learnings through our training courses and makes regular appearances at industry and association gatherings.
Peter is the guardian of Oxford English and can often be seen with a classic tome in his hand. Originally from Scotland, Peter’s career spans advertising agency copywriting, marketing communications, employer branding and freelance journalism. He joined The Giles Agency fresh from Hong Kong’s paper of note, the South China Morning Post. Peter holds a BA (Hons) in English and an MA in Old Norse from the University of Nottingham – as you do.
Hallie is the master of punchy, short form copy, amusing anecdotes and political quips. She has worked as a journalist and copywriter for more than 10 years, focusing on lifestyle topics such as food, fashion and travel. Hailing from Alaska in the United States, she earned a degree in Communications from Amsterdam University College before working across Europe and the Middle East.
Blogger, story teller and keen theatre-goer, Mel possesses an avid interest in Chinese culture. She spent four years in mainland China studying Mandarin, keeping a travel blog and writing for language schools. Having lived on three continents – Africa, Europe and Asia – she knows how to bridge the communication gap between cultures. Mel holds a BA (Hons) in Management Studies from the University of Nottingham and a diploma in Copywriting.
Seemingly invincible, Alvin juggles looking after the Chinese writing team, project work and client care without ever dropping a ball. Former roles include stints as a TV journalist, a financial PR writer and the manager of translation consultancy. He studied in Hong Kong and the UK, and received an MA from the University of London. He writes bilingually and is the Hong Kong office’s authority on insurance.
Only the best will do for our in-house fitness fanatic and all-round disciplinarian. From calorie counts to word counts, Iris sets high standards for herself in every area of her life. Iris comes from a solid PR background and has worked with several big-name fashion and lifestyle brands. She holds a BA (Hons) in Translation and Interpretation from City University of Hong Kong, and an MA in Intercultural Studies from the Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Alex could never be accused of resting on her laurels. She’s always looking for ways to build on her skills or learn something new. Her career began in journalism as a lifestyle editor, covering beauty and wellness, hospitality and culture. She also worked as a public relations associate at Ogilvy. Alex graduated with a BA (Hons) in English from The Chinese University of Hong Kong, then developed her flair for creative writing at The University of California, Berkeley.
The introvert with the friendliest smile, Leona loves to read as much as she loves to write. She graduated with an honours degree in Translation from Hong Kong Baptist University, and is fluent in English, Chinese and Japanese. Prior to joining Giles, she worked applied her truly exceptional writing skills at a book publisher, magazines and film company and language agency.
Multilingual Janice has a deep love of language, literature and foreign cultures. Following her passion, she majored in Linguistics with a side-order of German from the Chinese University of Hong Kong. Janice is a qualified copywriter and her mastery of colloquialism and nuance also make her a highly adept translator. She can also handle tankards of beer larger than she is.
When he’s not at work, Kelvin can be found at the movies, soaking up great animation and cinematography. At work, he heads up our Design Team, drawing on his many years of agency experience. Kelvin graduated from Simon Fraser University in Vancouver with a degree in Interaction Design. As well as strong design skills, Kelvin always brings fresh solutions and creative ideas to the table.
Angel is the resident authority on brand visuals. After completing a degree in Graphic Design at the University of the Arts London, Angel honed her art at several boutique design houses before moving to a branding agency. Her in-depth and wide-ranging experience has allowed her to develop and execute creative concepts and design solutions for many of our key clients. Angel is also the gatekeeper of our own brand style.
Ken resides in the impenetrable world of tech and speaks a language that nobody else understands. With years of experience behind him, his goal is to reduce redundancy in design and remove illogical elements to create highly effective online communications. Ken is passionate about designing and creating applications that everyone enjoys using. As well as digital, he works with interactive technology, on User Experience (UX) and User interface (UI).
Robin has the uncanny ability to cut through the noise to find the most effective solutions for our clients. Originally from the UK, he studied Politics and International Relations at the University of London before spending four fast-paced years at a London PR agency. At The Giles Agency, he works with a diverse portfolio of clients, including fashion houses, property companies and education providers, guiding them smoothly down the path to effective communications.
Whatever our clients need, Karine makes it happen. Born and raised in Hong Kong, she attended the University of California, Davis, where she studied Communications. Since graduating, Karine has worked across a range of industries, including print media, marketing solutions and digital marketing. She is a strong believer in integrity, ruthless efficiency and results that speak for themselves.
With her extensive experience in administration and stellar organisational skills, Ada provides invaluable admin support – not only to the Giles team but also to our clients. She is on hand to help in whatever way she can and usually has a more efficient way of doing things up her sleeve.
Even our PA is a creative. Queena can often be found adding a little artistic flair to office events. She holds a degree in Accounting and Finance from Monash University, Australia, and has worked across a number of industries since her graduation. She has turned organisation and attention to detail into an art form and helps keep the Giles team happy, healthy and true to our core values.
Beatrice embodies the Giles can-do spirit and is rarely seen without a smile. Educated in Brazil, England and Wales, she attained a degree in English and a postgraduate diploma in Journalism. She is a seasoned communications professional with over eight years’ experience in the Asian market. Beatrice runs our Singapore office bringing our unique brand of communications to the Lion City.
Jenny is a highly versatile writer with almost a decade of experience developing corporate and consumer copy. A native of Canada, she completed undergraduate degrees in law and psychology, in addition to post-graduate training in corporate communications. Prior to joining The Giles Agency, she worked in legal publishing and insurance, gaining on-the-ground experience has proved invaluable to our clients. Jenny is known for her impeccable attention to detail and active red pen!
Crystal takes organisation to new levels, carefully attending to every detail of a project, maintaining open communication, ensuring feedback is incorporated and timelines are always met. Crystal graduated from the City University of Hong Kong and has over five years’ project management experience within the financial translation and printing industries. Clients can rest assured they are in safe hands with Crystal!
Nicky joins us via Melbourne and London and is slowly adjusting to the Hong Kong heat. Nicky is an experienced Human Resources manager with a degree in HR and years of experience in the retail and media industries. Her key role at Giles is to recruit the very best professionals for our team and to keep them learning, smiling and positively brimming with can-do spirit.
Good communication is the precursor to great success. We’re on a mission to harness the immense power of effective communications –for our clients, for ourselves and for the world we live in.
In a noisy fast-paced world, we still believe in exquisite craftsmanship and attention to detail. We combine the age-old art of fine writing and design with the ever-evolving science of communication technology, data analysis and consumer behaviour. For us, the place where these elements meet is the apex of communications.
Our first day of business was in 2007, when we were known as Giles Publications. Back then we worked in a tiny shared office offering only English language editing and copywriting. We loved the work and our clients seemed to appreciate our commitment to quality, our reliability and our friendly customer service.
Slowly our services grew in response to our clients’ needs, and today we offer comprehensive communications support. No job is too large or too small and we work on everything from eDMs and press releases to full annual reports, branding and social media strategy.
Today, we have a portfolio that includes many of Asia’s biggest names, a talented team of over 20 communications professionals, a bigger office and more comfortable chairs. Most importantly we still love what we do and we intend to keep on growing and getting better.