About Davina
It’s lovely to meet you.
I’m Davina, a Melbourne-based brand and marketing strategist who has spent two decades shaping some of Australia’s most recognised brands across wellness, food, beverage, and service-based industries.
In that time, I worked in large organisations, partnering with senior leaders and creative teams to launch new brands, invigorate established ones, and even re-invent brands to restore their relevance and deliver commercial results.
Through this work, I saw how easily brands can lose their way, and how applying modern evidence‑based principles drives brand growth in a highly competitive market. It taught me where to focus for genuine commercial impact and how that focus brings direction and momentum back to the business.
I created Dahlia Collective to translate that big‑brand experience into practical guidance for business owners who wouldn’t normally have access to it. My approach is considered and holistic, looking beyond the obvious to understand what’s really happening across your business, brand and marketing.
Founder & Director, Dahlia Collective
My experience & evidence-based approach
My work is grounded in evidence-based marketing principles, that is, the same commercial foundations I used by working for large, established brands.
These principles help business owners understand:
✅ what drives brand growth
✅ how customers make buying decisions
✅ which marketing efforts create real commercial impact
✅ where budgets are being stretched too thin
✅ why some brand messages land and others don’t
I pair this commercial evidence with a deep understanding of human behaviour — the patterns, beliefs, and decision-making styles that quietly shape a brand’s direction.
This combination allows me to look beyond what’s immediately visible. It’s about understanding why your brand and business are behaving the way they do, and what needs to shift for them to move forward.
The Brand & Business Review is where this thinking begins. It takes a considered look at your business, brand and marketing to understand what’s really happening and identify what needs to be addressed before moving into solutions.
Why I Started Dahlia Collective
After nearly 20 years in brand and marketing strategy, I wanted to create a practice that felt deeply human; one that supports business owners with senior-level thinking, thoughtful guidance, and a collaborative working style.
Dahlia Collective is built around a few things I believe good strategy should do:
✅ Look beyond the symptoms to their underlying causes
✅ Bring the business, brand and marketing into alignment
✅ Ground decisions in evidence
✅ Make space for the human behind the business
When you understand what’s actually driving the situation, you can make better decisions about where to focus, what to change and what to leave behind.
This way of thinking underpins all of my work and how I support business owners through strategic projects.
What it’s like to work with me
Working with me means you gain:
✅ A strategic partner who can translate evidence-based marketing into practical guidance
✅ Clarity about what’s working, what isn’t, and why
✅ A brand narrative that feels aligned and commercially grounded
✅ Confidence in your next steps
✅ A calmer, more intentional way of making decisions
The meaning behind the name
Dahlias
With their layered petals and unapologetic presence, dahlias embody individuality, depth and intention. I believe a strong brand should reflect the same.
Collective
Collective reflects the way I bring together creative partners to bring strategy to life and create meaningful work for the businesses I support.
The name
Dahlia Collective was chosen purposefully to carry my initials. It’s a reminder that this work is personal, intentional, and shaped by the values I bring to every client.
Let’s start the conversation
If you’re ready to explore what your business needs next, let’s connect.