About - Philip Bateman and Bravo Charlie
About header mobile@2x

Right people, right
approach, right time

About Graphic 3 1

There are plenty of ‘impact’ funds out there – though making sense of which projects are working and why, how they are measured, and which are pure greenwash, is holding investors back from supporting them.

Being able to tell credible stories are key to unlocking the money, that will allow these players to grow the sector and transition us to a sustainable, equitable and clean world.

That’s why we leverage your ideas, intelligence and resources to create engaging moments that act as powerful anchors your investors can rally around.

We develop strategies, optimise marketing systems, produce video content and investor engagement platforms to deliver on your business objectives. And because of our skill and expertise, we do it beautifully so your communications resonate with the emotional core of your stakeholders.

Bravo Charlie

In 2009, Bravo Charlie’s founder, Philip Bateman recognised that a traditional communication agency model doesn’t work for organisations like yours who are at a specific point in your growth trajectory and need to be on the front foot with investor engagement.

You don’t have the expertise you need in-house, but the traditional options aren’t feasible: junior to mid-level staff may deliver sub-standard results, design-focused marketing agencies fall down on business acumen and industry knowledge, while business development specialists lack high-level creative ability.

Bravo Charlie was created to sit in that sweet spot in the middle.

Drawn from across the globe, Philip organises and leads a flexible team of independent experts based on the needs of each project, supported by core individuals that have worked with the business for five to ten years.

We never work at arm’s length, and there’s no delegation to juniors: you’ll talk directly to the people working with you.

Team - Bravo Charlie

Philip Bateman

Founder & Managing Director

Philip Bateman

Founder & Managing Director

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, living in England and settling in Australia, his formative years were all about the family businesses, from a SPAR Supermarket that leased space to a video store and likely launched his fascination for film, to Automotive Repair Centres and Aged Care Mobility supply.

Following his fascination with the internet, at 18 he completed an eBusiness diploma and began an IT career in technical software support, moving first into team leading and then into Business Development, specialising in websites, eCommerce, data centre and hosting, completing projects such as the redevelopment of websites for Boost Juice Bars and Macquarie Banks DEFT payment system.

Since starting Bravo Charlie in 2009, he has completed a Masters degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and been a member of several organisations including the Australia China Business Council, AMTIL, FIAL and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  In 2019 he was awarded a Victorian Government Hamer Scholarship to study Mandarin and develop his Asia capabilities.

As a life long learner, he has completed a range of short courses including Summer Film School at Melbourne University, several Masterclasses with the Australian Cinematographers Society and the Dov Simens film school, Microsoft Solution Selling, the Landmark Forum & Advanced Programs, the John DeMartini Breakthrough Method, Authentic Relating Training, Improvisation and Clowning courses, B2B-B2C Executive Training with Alibaba in Hangzhou, China, and been a member of Toastmasters International.

These skill enable him to bring out the best of business leaders on camera, and has led him to craft systems and stories that drive business outcomes for world leading Impact Investment Fund Managers, Australian Agricultural Exporters, Environmentally beneficial technologies, Advanced Manufacturers, the business and trade dealings of Government, Education, Financial Services, Community Leaders, Natural Therapies, Musicians and event holders.

Along side his work at Bravo Charlie, you can find him regularly interviewing business and community leaders, and acting as a correspondent for international trade conferences via his LinkedIn and YouTube show Smarter Impact.

Click here to find him on Linkedin.

Denise Lackner

Head of Design

Denise Lackner

Head of Design

It needs to look good, consistently, and Bravo Charlie rely on Denise to advise clients on brand updates, integrate style guides, craft supporting documents and all of the essential visual nuance, that ensures our video creations deliver on the goals of our clients.

Born with a love for ideas and raised with art and colors in Austria, she studied graphic and communication design, before moving to Italy in search of new cultural experiences and language study.

Moving to Berlin in 2011 and starting her freelancing career specializing in brand and design, she worked in cooperation with rethink for Volkswagen and Co.

Dreaming bigger, Denise started at Miami Ad School and improved her conceptional and art directional skills.  She visited Great Britain to work with AKQA and Sweden with Le Bureau. Beyond this, her freelance work includes Y&R, Saatchi & Saatchi, Buddybrand, Heimat and a string of other companies.

Always on the look out for new challenges, briefs and creative fields to conquer, she is followed by her guard and wingman – Krümel (a Beagle) and you can find more about her at http://www.dlackner.com.

Nicole Stewart

Performance and Project Specialist

Nicole Stewart

Performance and Project Specialist

Nic specialises in supporting CEO’s, medical professionals and elite athletes in their personal and commercial journeys.

She has extensive experience as both an elite-level equestrian athlete and an internationally recognised Performance Coach.

With a keen eye on stakeholder engagement, team management and performance, Nic works with Bravo Charlie to ensure project continuity for our clients through daily attention to our production environment, quality control of project delivery and regularly managing subcontractors and stakeholders.

Anne-Maree Walker

Research and Policy Analyst

Anne-Maree Walker

Research and Policy Analyst

Anne-Maree brings invaluable expertise to the team, providing Bravo Charlie with high-quality research, policy analysis and project planning guidance.  Anne-Maree honed her skills over 12 years in policy and analysis roles in the social cohesion, disability, multicultural affairs, education, employment and training and counter-terrorism areas of the Queensland Government prior to starting her own business as a research analyst.

Her recent research projects include analysing and providing advice on the future of student accommodation in the United Kingdom in relation to sustainability; issues impacting on university student wellbeing in the UK, Australia, Spain and Germany; research into issues around university student loneliness and technology and a range of competitor analysis projects across a variety of industries.

Love Hawkridge

International Makeup and Grooming Artist

Love Hawkridge

International Makeup and Grooming Artist

Since 2013, Love has been ensuring the clients of Bravo Charlie look amazing on camera, from ‘makeup for film’ so that skin tones appear natural under lights, to wardrobe and continuity, and most importantly, ensuring the clients of our clients – who are generally appearing on camera for the first time – enjoy their experience on set.

Born in South Africa, she has over twenty years experience working in the makeup industry including the UK, Ireland, USA and now residing in Melbourne.  Her work has taken her to British, Irish, NYC, and Melbourne Fashion Weeks, the BAFTAs, Venice Film Festival, the L’Oreal Color Trophy Awards, Beauty Pageants and Fashion Shows.

Clients include hundreds of well recognised names, from Hilary Clinton to Martin Sheen, Emilio Esteves, Bill Nighy, Naomi Simpson and Ricky Ponting.

Her relationships with major film studios including Walt Disney, Universal and Sony BMG also regularly take her into commercials, film premiers, music videos, short films, editorial, magazine and newspaper work.

Philip Bateman

Founder & Managing Director

Philip Bateman

Founder & Managing Director

Born in Cape Town, South Africa, living in England and settling in Australia, his formative years were all about the family businesses, from a SPAR Supermarket that leased space to a video store and likely launched his fascination for film, to Automotive Repair Centres and Aged Care Mobility supply.

Following his fascination with the internet, at 18 he completed an eBusiness diploma and began an IT career in technical software support, moving first into team leading and then into Business Development, specialising in websites, eCommerce, data centre and hosting, completing projects such as the redevelopment of websites for Boost Juice Bars and Macquarie Banks DEFT payment system.

Since starting Bravo Charlie in 2009, he has completed a Masters degree in Entrepreneurship and Innovation, and been a member of several organisations including the Australia China Business Council, AMTIL, FIAL and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.  In 2019 he was awarded a Victorian Government Hamer Scholarship to study Mandarin and develop his Asia capabilities.

As a life long learner, he has completed a range of short courses including Summer Film School at Melbourne University, several Masterclasses with the Australian Cinematographers Society and the Dov Simens film school, Microsoft Solution Selling, the Landmark Forum & Advanced Programs, the John DeMartini Breakthrough Method, Authentic Relating Training, Improvisation and Clowning courses, B2B-B2C Executive Training with Alibaba in Hangzhou, China, and been a member of Toastmasters International.

These skill enable him to bring out the best of business leaders on camera, and has led him to craft systems and stories that drive business outcomes for world leading Impact Investment Fund Managers, Australian Agricultural Exporters, Environmentally beneficial technologies, Advanced Manufacturers, the business and trade dealings of Government, Education, Financial Services, Community Leaders, Natural Therapies, Musicians and event holders.

Along side his work at Bravo Charlie, you can find him regularly interviewing business and community leaders, and acting as a correspondent for international trade conferences via his LinkedIn and YouTube show Smarter Impact.

Click here to find him on Linkedin.

Denise Lackner

Head of Design

Denise Lackner

Head of Design

It needs to look good, consistently, and Bravo Charlie rely on Denise to advise clients on brand updates, integrate style guides, craft supporting documents and all of the essential visual nuance, that ensures our video creations deliver on the goals of our clients.

Born with a love for ideas and raised with art and colors in Austria, she studied graphic and communication design, before moving to Italy in search of new cultural experiences and language study.

Moving to Berlin in 2011 and starting her freelancing career specializing in brand and design, she worked in cooperation with rethink for Volkswagen and Co.

Dreaming bigger, Denise started at Miami Ad School and improved her conceptional and art directional skills.  She visited Great Britain to work with AKQA and Sweden with Le Bureau. Beyond this, her freelance work includes Y&R, Saatchi & Saatchi, Buddybrand, Heimat and a string of other companies.

Always on the look out for new challenges, briefs and creative fields to conquer, she is followed by her guard and wingman – Krümel (a Beagle) and you can find more about her at http://www.dlackner.com.

Nicole Stewart

Performance and Project Specialist

Nicole Stewart

Performance and Project Specialist

Nic specialises in supporting CEO’s, medical professionals and elite athletes in their personal and commercial journeys.

She has extensive experience as both an elite-level equestrian athlete and an internationally recognised Performance Coach.

With a keen eye on stakeholder engagement, team management and performance, Nic works with Bravo Charlie to ensure project continuity for our clients through daily attention to our production environment, quality control of project delivery and regularly managing subcontractors and stakeholders.

Anne-Maree Walker

Research and Policy Analyst

Anne-Maree Walker

Research and Policy Analyst

Anne-Maree brings invaluable expertise to the team, providing Bravo Charlie with high-quality research, policy analysis and project planning guidance.  Anne-Maree honed her skills over 12 years in policy and analysis roles in the social cohesion, disability, multicultural affairs, education, employment and training and counter-terrorism areas of the Queensland Government prior to starting her own business as a research analyst.

Her recent research projects include analysing and providing advice on the future of student accommodation in the United Kingdom in relation to sustainability; issues impacting on university student wellbeing in the UK, Australia, Spain and Germany; research into issues around university student loneliness and technology and a range of competitor analysis projects across a variety of industries.

Love Hawkridge

International Makeup and Grooming Artist

Love Hawkridge

International Makeup and Grooming Artist

Since 2013, Love has been ensuring the clients of Bravo Charlie look amazing on camera, from ‘makeup for film’ so that skin tones appear natural under lights, to wardrobe and continuity, and most importantly, ensuring the clients of our clients – who are generally appearing on camera for the first time – enjoy their experience on set.

Born in South Africa, she has over twenty years experience working in the makeup industry including the UK, Ireland, USA and now residing in Melbourne.  Her work has taken her to British, Irish, NYC, and Melbourne Fashion Weeks, the BAFTAs, Venice Film Festival, the L’Oreal Color Trophy Awards, Beauty Pageants and Fashion Shows.

Clients include hundreds of well recognised names, from Hilary Clinton to Martin Sheen, Emilio Esteves, Bill Nighy, Naomi Simpson and Ricky Ponting.

Her relationships with major film studios including Walt Disney, Universal and Sony BMG also regularly take her into commercials, film premiers, music videos, short films, editorial, magazine and newspaper work.

A forward-thinking, investor-first perspective backed by solid experience

A forward-thinking, investor-first perspective backed by solid experience

Philip Bateman with Ryan Babbage - Philip Bateman and Bravo Charlie

Philip Bateman & Ryan Babbage, CEO of Strategy Hubb

Bravo Charlie is always evolving. We ride the waves of change, always learning, and use our experience of delivering projects like yours to shape the way things are done in the future. 

The team have commercial and entrepreneurial experience individually and collectively that places Bravo Charlie at the forefront of design, ESG, business development, marketing and video production. 

Philip actively interviews leaders in the industry to get the latest thinking on communications; economic, social and environmental policy; impact investment; investor engagement; business strategy and more. 

Philip’s close professional associations with organizations and individuals such as Andrew Hollow and Workwell, Ryan Babbage and Strategy Hubb, the AVPN and the GSGImpactAlpha, the AICD and the ACS, tie us into folks doing incredible work individually, and bring us the latest expertise in diverse areas.

Close working relationships with government

Under Bravo Charlie, Philip Bateman has been a Tailored Advisory Service provider for Australian businesses, via the Australian Government’s Entrepreneurs’ Programme for the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science; a member of the ICT Services Panel for the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development, in the areas of Enterprise, Information and Application Architecture, Web, Audio Visual and Video services; and appointed to offer Victorian Government Boost Your Business grants of up to $50,000 in matched spending, in the areas of Advanced Manufacturing, Defence, Aerospace and Security.

After three separate applications over five years, Philip was successfully chosen as a Hamer Scholar to develop his Asia capabilities through intensive language study in Suzhou, China, whilst acting as an Ambassador of Victoria. Due to COVID-19 the trip was unable to be taken, though this stands as testament to his ongoing and deepening commitment to partnerships in the Asia-Pacific region.

Bravo Charlie has recently worked with Green Industries South Australia for the concept development and launch of Circular360: The Global Centre of Excellence in Circular Economy, and created and delivered the pitch and supporting planning for a national roll out of the ‘Stronger Brains’ mental health intervention study, presented to members of the Australian Cabinet and the Prime Ministers Office.