About Gawk | Outdoor Advertising Victoria

Gawk Outdoor was founded in January 2018 by James & Luke Course (originally called Regional Billboard Co). We saw a huge gap in the market in Regional Victoria.

There were very few billboards, and those that existed were sold almost exclusively to large national brands. We set about changing that, building high-quality sites and giving local businesses equal opportunity to advertise with us.

We are hugely passionate about Regional Victoria. Almost every supplier we use is located regionally, and we inject over $300,000 into the economy each year in Regional Victoria. This includes rent payments to our landlords and payments tosuppliers based in Regional VIC.

At Gawk we are bold, and love fighting above our weight division. We have a single minded focus on developing the best quality billboards in Regional Victoria – and have spent over $1.3 million doing so.

We are incredibly lucky to spend a lot of time on the road in Regional Victoria, which is such a great place. Even luckier is the fact we deal with so many brilliant people – our customers, landlords, agencies and suppliers.

Gawk Outdoor is a family owned and operated business which was founded by Luke and James Course. We are brothers who love working together and have spent more hours than most on the highways of Victoria.

If you are ever looking for a Top 10 Country Bakeries we are your guys!

MEET THE TEAM

Luke Course

Director

Luke was previously Head of Australia for Landmark Dividend – an American investment firm. Under Luke’s guidance Landmark invested over $50m in outdoor advertising, telecommunications and renewable energy. Luke loves playing cricket, horse racing and travelling.

Peter Upton

General Manager

Peter holds 40+ years experience within the radio industry. Starting his career as an Announcer in 1982, Pete moved into his true calling of leadership in the 90’s, undertaking various General Manager and Regional Manager roles. With his wealth of knowledge of the media world including radio, tv, magazines and ooh, Pete will guide the team to help clients achieve great results. Peter loves to indulge in some potato chips – specifically Tyrrells Crinkle Cut plain. (Just incase you need a gift idea)

Matt Tyler

Director of Sales (Victoria)

Matt holds nearly 10 years of experience within the Sales industry, including 6 years of sales experience in Broadcast Radio, the most recent role being Sales Manager in Echuca. Growing up in country Victoria on a dairy farm, Matt has a genuine interest and affection for regional Victoria. When he’s not injured, Matt enjoys playing footy, spending time with family and getting back to Echuca to visit the family farm. He also loves watching Jezza Cameron kick some snags.

Nathan Quick

Senior Advertising Executive

With 18 years in Outdoor, Real Estate, and Radio sales, Nathan knows the industry inside out. Growing up on a farm in Wimmera/Mallee, he brings an authentic approach that clients love. Nathan excels at meeting people, building relationships, and driving business growth, making him an energetic asset to our team. Married to his wife Kirsty for 20 years, they share a love of travel and adventure. A passionate Bombers fan, Nathan brings that same energy to work. Off-duty, he’s on the golf course or tennis court, still hoping for an Essendon win and reminiscing about his (slightly slower) Berlin marathon run!

Rebecca Ragheb

Sales Executive

Rebecca has over 20 years of experience in customer service roles, including 10+ years of building and maintaining relationships within the Real Estate industry. Rebecca recently expanded her knowledge of human behaviour through her completion of a Psychological Science degree (Honours). Rebecca’s interests include travel, fishing, anything water, sporting events and spending time with friends and family

Dan McCann

Sales Executive

Dan has a wealth of sales knowledge and a deep connection to Regional Victoria, with over ten years of experience in technology sales. His approach is to first understand before being understood, which has allowed him to build strong relationships and connections with people, earning him a reputation as someone others can rely on (if you do say so yourself, Dan ;)). Dan holds a degree in Business Marketing, and has a keen interest in how businesses can tell their unique stories. Growing up in Warrnambool and living in Geelong for the past ten years, Dan has a deep love for regional Victoria and its people. Outside of work, Dan loves travelling the world with his partner, boxing, and competing in the ring. He supports the Hawthorn Football Club, which wasn’t great in early 2024 but is becoming a great life choice in late 2024. Dan enjoys listening to the Beatles and sharing good yarns with his mates.

Steve Walker

Sales Executive

Steve’s experience and passion for regional Australia make him an invaluable asset to our team. Born and raised in Tasmania, Steve has also worked in regional NSW, SA, and Victoria. A sparky by trade, Steve operated his own fuel and automotive service business before amassing over 45 years of experience in sales, marketing, and management. His diverse career includes 17 years in broadcast radio and 18 years in the automotive sector, and roles in real estate, home electrical, furniture, and bedding. Steve finds partnering with businesses—hearing their stories, understanding their history and challenges, and being part of their journey one of the most rewarding things about his job. Married to the most patient, amazing, and supportive woman in the world for over 30 years (promise she didn’t write this!), Steve is inspired daily by their three adult children, incredible daughter-in-law, and newly welcomed grandson. Steve may be a poor golfer with a wicked slice (okay, surely his wife wrote this), but he enjoys lake and open-water fishing and loves watching F1 and Supercars. A long-time Hawthorn supporter, he is now a foundation member of the Tasmania Devils.

Ash Tuck

Sales Coordinator

Ash has been riding the waves of the surf industry for over a decade with the finesse of a pro, seamlessly blending work and play. Her get-sh*t-done attitude and infectious personality make her a perfect fit for our team. Her previous roles saw her jet-setting across continents for work and hitting the slopes during snow trips. Ash’s strong work ethic and never-say-never attitude serve her well as our sales coordinator, where she helps the team manage clients and collate reports and proposals (she does a lot more than that too, but word count ya know!?). No matter how far she roams, she’s always pulled back to the tranquil shores of Victoria. Nestled in the seaside, Ash finds solace in the dance of the waves, enjoying winter swims and beach strolls with her trusty sidekick, Egg.

Jessie Lang

Sales Coordinator

With five years of experience in radio, in both admin and sales, Jessie knows how to keep things running smoothly and ensure clients are always looked after. Now, in the world of billboards, she’s one of the go-tos for keeping the sales team organised and making sure every campaign is set up for success. Originally from Colac and now based in Geelong, Jessie is a sports lover through and through - and when she’s not working, you’ll likely find her on the court playing netball or basketball. Unfortunately, she barracks for Carlton, but since she’s so good at her job, we’ve decided to keep her anyway. With a background in media, a love for teamwork, and sharp attention to detail, Jessie is all about making things happen and keeping the wheels turning behind the scenes.

Ashlee Carey

Business Administration Manager

Ash holds extensive management experience; including 6 years in the marketing industry as a project manager, and 6 years in the car repair industry as a production manager. Prior to this, Ash travelled the USA working in summer camps as a lifeguard. Ash loves making everyone’s life easier, client and colleagues, through great communication, streamlined processes and a bit of humour. Ash also loves fishing, sport, travelling, anyone’s dog and going out for brunch.

Lisa Domingo

Operations Manager

Lisa has a wealth of client and agency management expertise and 15 years administration experience. Well versed in client campaigns and customer relations, she is an exceptional communicator and super organised. Lisa enjoys horse riding, craft activities and spending time with her family with 2 young boys keeping her on her toes!

Gemma Martin

Operations Assistant

Gemma is the queen of organisation, using to-do lists and sticky notes like they’re going out of fashion. Her superpower is bringing order to chaos, making her a perfect fit for our ops team, where she’ll be helping keep things running smoothly as our business grows. Before joining us, Gemma worked in the insurance building industry and just returned from an exciting gap year as a liftie and lifeguard. Gemma loves nothing more than hitting the open road for a camping trip, with country music playing through the speakers, which is a match made in heaven working for a regional billboard company. She has a weird but delightful obsession with sour lollies and salt and vinegar chips. As a dedicated dog mum to her golden retriever, Bailey, and border collie, Arlo, she’s always ready for an adventure.

Joel Woolhouse

Billboard Development Manager

Joel, our dedicated Billboard Development Manager, is always ready to hit the road and explore regional towns (and their pubs and bakeries). Working closely with our director, Luke, Joel is instrumental in scouting billboard locations and ensuring we continue to grow, creating opportunities for more regional communities. With a background in electrical work, construction, and sales, Joel is well-equipped to connect with locals and ensure all runs smoothly with our developments. Joel loves working on the road, embracing the freedom and adventure it brings—he never misses a chance to explore new places. When he’s not on the move, Joel enjoys unwinding with a good parmi and a glass of beer or wine at the local. On weekends, you can find him playing golf (much better than Nath), riding his motorbike on road and dirt tracks, or hitting the slopes to snowboard every winter.

Anna Le

Accountant

Meet Anna Le, our resident numbers wizard and all-around powerhouse. As a Chartered Accountant and former Partner of an award-winning accounting firm, Anna brings a wealth of expertise to our team. But her talents don’t stop at crunching numbers; she’s also the co-founder of Beehives Japanese Cheesecake™ and a published author of the book Empowered Women Empowering The World.Anna has a soft spot for regional Victoria, with Geelong holding a special place in her heart. And if you ask her, there’s no better pie on Earth than the Parker pie from Rutherglen – especially when paired with their chutney. When Anna isn’t busy shaping financial strategies or baking up a storm with her famous Japanese cheesecake, you can find her taking care of her indoor plants and garden of 17 bamboo, walking on the beach, shopping online, or enjoying a live sporting event.

James Course

Director

James has extensive experience in architecture and building design having worked with a full-service architecture firm in Melbourne. He led projects in residential, commercial and government. He enjoys surfing, playing footy and getting away along the coast or the Murray.

Tim Stevenson

Agency Sales Director

Tim holds a wealth of knowledge within the advertising industry. With over 10 years of experience in Outdoor Media and Agency & Direct Sales, with past roles at QMS and Absolute Media. Being a lover of all things chilli; he’s keen to spice things up here at Gawk! As a Father of two youngins, most of his free time is spent running around after the kids. When he has time to indulge, he enjoys fishing, surfing and of course, watching the footy with a beer!

Sam Brown

Director of Sales (New South Wales)

Sam’s career in media and sales began at a Newcastle ad agency, followed by 10 years at SCA in various radio and TV roles, all while earning his MBA at Newcastle Business School. He then held key positions as NSW Regional Sales Manager at Metricon Homes, Head of Digital Sales for the Newcastle Knights, and gained Out of Home experience at JCDecaux and Nine. A former pro baseball player in Belgium, Sam now plays for Belmont Baseball Club, where he’s won nine 1st-grade titles. He even spent his 30th birthday at Yankee Stadium, where he had a memorable (and painful!) baseball encounter! Sam enjoys family time with his wife, Amy, a teacher and photographer, and their two kids: Chloe, who loves surfing and dancing, and Luke, his baseball-loving mini-me who’s also the team’s bat boy.

Phil Zumbo

Sales Executive

Phil has 10 years’ experience in customer service-driven industries such as banking and hospitality, as well as for sporting bodies, community groups and clubs. He’s pretty handy at footy and cricket also and hopes to one day watch Australia play the West Indies in the Caribbean

Will Hamilton

Sales Executive

Will loves long walks on the beach with his partner (a bag of hot chips), spending time with loved ones and attending every Geelong Cats home game. Will’s passion lies with providing positive customer experience and creating meaningful relationships. If Will could have his own billboard, it would be a photo of him surfing while also taking a specky on an angry Luke Hodge.

Rod Lakey

Sales Executive

Rod has over 16 years of media sales experience in Regional Vic. Born and raised on a farm in Dingee, country Victoria, Rod’s roots in regional Australia run deep. His enthusiasm for building strong relationships and understanding businesses’ unique stories has been a driving force in his career. His genuine interest in business is evident in his love for Shark Tank, where he draws inspiration and insights. Rod and his partner, Mel, and daughter Latika live in Heathcote, VIC, along with their dog Tyson and dwarf pony Tinkerbell (it’s true – we’ve seen pics). He also has three step-kids—Hayden, Jake, and Tyler—who have all left home. His interests range from Formula 1 and horse racing (he’s an ex-harness racer and trainer) to boxing, cricket, golf and his beloved Western Bulldogs. Rod enjoys a good comedy TV show, movie, or stand-up performance, especially anything featuring Jerry Seinfeld and Will Ferrell.

Kyle Sanders

Marketing Manager

As a results-driven marketing pro with 12+ years in the game, Kyle has delivered knockout campaigns across B2B and B2C. From promising start-ups to global e-commerce giants, he’s built and executed marketing strategies that seamlessly blend traditional and digital tactics, driving real, measurable impact. Billboard campaigns? Crushed them. SEO? Nailed it. SEM? Mastered. Brand Activations? He pushes the envelope. Social media, Content Marketing, Web Design, Brand Management, Data & Analytics? You bet, he’s a super nerd. If it drives results, he’s on it. When not busy breaking the internet (in a good way), you’ll find him plotting the next big thing, probably with a coffee in hand. On weekends, you can catch Kyle training for his next 70.3 Ironman. Word on the street is that this is where his next campaign inspo comes from.

Cody Mann

Sales Coordinator

Cody previously studied Geological Sciences at LaTrobe University, before working at an outback geology company searching for minerals in Australian deserts. Growing up in Melbourne, many weekends were spent in Geelong and the Mornington Peninsula; explaining his loyalty to Geelong Cats and the tears shed when Joel Selwood kicked that goal in the ’22 grand final. His favourite thing to do is walk his dog with his soon-to-be fiancé. As well as competing in ProAm pool tournaments (regularly losing in quarter-finals). Fun Fact: Cody can name every world flag.

Phoebe Grant

Head Of Design

As our Head of Design, Phoebe is the creative powerhouse behind Gawk's vibrant brand identity. She ensures everything we produce—whether for clients or our own campaigns—looks fresh, engaging, and on point. Phoebs keeps the office buzzing, and there is no doubt you will hear her before you see her. When she's not bringing her creative ideas to life or putting on a performance for the office, you will find her performing in local community musical theatre productions. A talented all-rounder, she's also passionate about sports, playing both netball and cricket, including competing in the women’s league for Geelong West Cricket Club. In her downtime, Phoebe loves nothing more than unwinding with a sitcom, playing games, or indulging her inner child with creative colouring.

Anna Validas

Operations Director

With 18 years of experience in media sales and business management, Anna brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the team. Born and raised in Melbourne, her love for travel has taken her to favourite destinations like Hawaii, where she got married, New York, and Greece. However, she firmly believes that Australia is the best country in the world, with a deep respect for the regions that keep it thriving. Passionate about supporting SMEs in regional areas, Anna loves how Gawk Outdoor offers affordable and attractive advertising solutions to local businesses. At home, she lives with her husband, Harry, and their 8-year-old son, John, whom she adores more than life itself. A die-hard Carlton Blues supporter, she also finds time to indulge in her love for history, often tuning to “The Rest is History” podcast. Her competitive nature and strong organisational skills keep her motivated, and she’s proud of her clean, tidy desk – like Gemma, she’s a chronic list maker. In her downtime, Anna enjoys reading non-fiction and business books, cooking, and going on long walks with music. Recently, she’s been rediscovering new wave music from the ’80s and is getting her son John into it too.

Aimee Trew

Town Planning Coordinator

Aimee heads up our town planning applications, playing a crucial role in our billboard developments, writing reports, liaising with councils, and ensuring we put our best foot forward for successful applications in regional Australia. She joined the Gawk team in operations before moving into town planning, where her organisational and written skills are invaluable. A Bachelor of Sustainability and Fashion graduate, Aimee keeps our offices in check with our recycling and is always best dressed. Not one to sit still, she also holds a position as Sponsorship Manager at her sporting club. Like 80% of the staff at Gawk, Aimee is an avid Geelong supporter, and she enjoys watching all forms of car racing and playing footy on the weekends (Go Ivanhoe!).

Ruby Vu

Accountant

Ruby graduated from Swinburne University with a Master of Practising Accounting and holds nearly 5 years of experience within the Accounting & Finance industry. Ruby is currently studying towards the Certified Practising Accountant and expects to complete it by mid-2024. Ruby loves going out with her little daughter, An Nguyen. Enjoying her weekends and the sunshine at local parks.

Tara Dwayne Kurniawan

Graphic Designer

Tara joined Gawk through an internship from Deakin University, where she’s in the final stretch of completing her Bachelor of Design. Impressed by her talent and creativity, we quickly snatched Tara up and offered her part-time employment while she finishes her studies. Alongside her incredible eye for design, Tara brings animation skills to the team, adding an extra layer of creativity to our business. Whether it’s crafting bold visuals or bringing ideas to life through animation, Tara’s fresh perspective makes her an exciting part of the Gawk team. When Tara’s not working or studying, she loves catching up with friends, exploring Melbourne’s cafés and restaurants (she swears 70% of her money goes to food), and soaking up the serenity of parks and beaches. Whether she’s sightseeing or listening to music, Tara knows how to balance her hustle with some much-needed downtime.