Congratulations Penny Burke

It’s with great pleasure that we recognise and congratulate, Penny Burke, a non-executive director of Kennards Hire, for an incredible 20 years with our business.

Penny joined the board in 2000. Back then, she was the director of strategic planning at Clemenger BBDO, one of Australia’s leading advertising agencies, and on the verge of moving back to Melbourne from Sydney with her husband Trevor to become a director of Clemenger Melbourne.

Over the past 20 years, Penny has had an instrumental role in the enormous change and substantial growth of Kennards Hire. Her business and marketing acumen and transformational foresight has helped guide the direction of the business.

Outside of Kennards Hire, Penny has had a diverse and interesting career, including founding her own research, marketing and strategy consultancy, Essence Communications, and is extremely well respected in her industry as a customer and brand expert. Throughout her career, Penny has contributed her wisdom and experience to a number of Australian boards including industries such as construction, retail, real estate, training, medical research, B2B businesses and the not-for-profit sector.

Penny’s enthusiasm doesn’t stop in the board room, she is also a keen adventurer. In 2015, along with a few of the Kennard family, Penny took part in the ‘Hands Across the Water’ charity bike ride in Thailand. In fact, she should be half way along the Kokoda Track today with a few of her Kennards colleagues but COVID-19 has delayed that adventure for now.

Penny is one of those people who like to do lots of things just once. She has run one marathon, bungy jumped once, jumped out of a plane at 10,000 feet once, sung the Hallelujah Chorus at Carols by Candlelight at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl once, and has written one book. And so far, she has been married just once (though she does have two children).

We’re extremely glad she has stayed on with Kennards Hire for more than just one year.