Essence of Life

AUCKLAND, Today: CBD-based healthcare advertising & marketing agency Essence – the Health Agency, which rebranded in August, has boosted the level of its specialist communication offering.

To grow its specialist communication offering, Essence has appointed Dr Lucy Barry – formerly at TBWA\WorldHealth in London – to the role of medical writer, building on the agency’s expertise in medical content.

Barry, who works across a suite of accounts, including Novartis, Merz Aesthetics, Astra Zeneca, and Janssen, holds a Bachelor of Science in Neuroscience from the University of Cork and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Neuropathology from Lincoln University.

Essence director Ben Hart said: “The industry and healthcare consumers are calling for clear, informative and culturally-intelligent communication. We use insightful communication to close the gap between complex health information and relatable consumer content and creative.”

“I feel privileged to be able to use my love for science to help educate professionals and consumers about their healthcare choices.”

Barry said: “I feel really privileged to be able to use my love for science to help educate professionals and consumers about their healthcare choices. It’s all about supporting our clients to take the most complex data and translate it into relatable, relevant and engaging communication,

She joins Ryan Chandler, who assumed the role of medical content manager at Essence in 2019, following an eight-year stint at Cure Kids.

During his time at the non-profit, he worked in Research Grants, writing about paediatric research across a range of conditions, including child cancers, mental health, and respiratory conditions including Cystic Fibrosis.

Now at Essence, he leads the agency’s largest client, MSD (NZ/AU), ensuring medical information is simplified and communicated effectively.

“With the addition of Lucy and Ryan, we are able to help healthcare professionals and consumers achieve better health outcomes, thanks to more coherent and well-researched messaging,” said Hart.

• www.essencehealthagency.co.nz