Communications and government relations agency Fifty Acres has bolstered its media team with two former journalists to support business growth in the science, tech and health sectors.

The two hires – Shane McLeod and Ben Riley – are based in Sydney, complementing the Fifty Acres’ other teams in Byron Bay, Melbourne and Canberra.

McLeod brings to the Fifty Acres team over two decades of experience as a journalist at the ABC, where he reached the top of his field as a senior editor and a foreign correspondent working from Japan and Papua New Guinea.

Riley is an award-winning journalist and communications professional with years of experience working in the community sector.

He previously ran the Victorian office at national LGBTIQ newspaper Star Observer, leading the publication’s politics and health coverage, before moving into a key communications and media role at the Victorian AIDS Council.

Fifty Acres founder and managing director Jo Scard said both McLeod and Riley bring a wide range of specialist knowledge to the team, as well as a network of contacts in the media and the not-for-profit sector.

“Shane and Ben are our frontline media operatives, and we’re thrilled to be adding these two media guns to our already dedicated communications team,” she said.

“I’m so excited to be able to draw on Shane’s expertise and insight into some of Australia’s top newsrooms, and Ben’s in-depth understanding of health and community topics aligns perfectly with the needs of our for-good clients.”