Chrissy Crust

Chrissy Crust is the General Manager of Proof Communications. A seasoned business leader and mentor with more than 35 years’ experience, Chrissy’s career spans professional services, SME business development, social enterprise, retail and hospitality senior management. She is recognised for her operational clarity, people-centred leadership and ability to build strong, high-performing teams, consistently delivering sales growth and setting a benchmark for exceptional client service.

Since joining Proof Communications in 2022, she has led operations, financial management, workflow, client satisfaction and strategic development, delivering consistent sales growth and strengthening the company’s systems, processes and reporting frameworks. Her leadership ensures clients experience the responsiveness, reliability and meticulous attention to detail that define Proof Communications’ reputation.

As General Manager, Chrissy has played a central role in integrating Proof Communications into the IMA group following its acquisition in 2025. Her focus has been on ensuring the business retains its trusted standard of quality, accuracy and personal service while benefiting from the scale, systems and strategic direction of a national agency.

IMA is one of Australia’s most established B2B marketing agencies, and its acquisition of Proof Communications strengthened the company’s market position and expanded its reach. IMA works with major national and international brands across technology, industrials, manufacturing, engineering, logistics, utilities, infrastructure, professional services and government.

Through this integration, Proof Communications now supports a broader range of organisations requiring high-stakes written content. From global technology providers and engineering firms to large government departments, national service businesses and enterprise-level organisations with sophisticated marketing and communications needs, Proof Communications continues to support business growth through the power of expertly crafted written words.

Before joining Proof Communications, Chrissy held senior roles across corporate, retail, hospitality, property, employment, training, not-for-profit and community programs. As Front Office Manager at R&W North Sydney, she provided high-level support across all departments, including during COVID-19 lockdowns, managed 1,000 sets of property keys, chaired Administrators Meetings, and introduced systems and processes that improved internal operations, enhanced accountability and delivered lasting improvements. Her contribution was recognised with the ‘Employee of the Year’ award in 2021.

Chrissy’s leadership foundations were shaped during her long tenure with The Body Shop, where she progressed from managing major flagship stores to her promotion to Retail Business Manager. She led large teams, delivered strong commercial results, and championed excellence in customer service. Her achievements included being named Retail Business Manager of the Year and contributing to initiatives such as the First Australians Business Mentoring Program, the Walk for Reconciliation Campaign and Walk Against Want.

She was invited by the Wise Foundation, an initiative of The Body Shop, to establish and lead the Bizness Babes Program, equipping women with the skills and mentoring to start their own small businesses. She sourced supporters, coordinated the logistics of a three-month, 12-workshop program, selected participants and continued to mentor them long after graduation. Her achievements include launching more than 80 new businesses through Bizness Babes, securing funding to support Aboriginal participants, and recognition in both the City of Sydney Business Awards and the Telstra Businesswomen’s Awards.

As she concluded her corporate career, Chrissy founded her own consultancy — Chrissy Crust Consulting, and spent more than a decade growing it into a respected and influential business within Sydney’s SME community. As Director and Small Business and Social Enterprise Mentor, she coached business owners in growth strategies, structure and systems, and created and facilitated the Mid Morning Mentor group supporting women in business. She delivered workshops in business planning, marketing, financial planning and operational planning, and was engaged by organisations, including Fishburners Startup Hub, City of Ryde Council Women in Business Group, Women Entrepreneurship in Action, and the Community Migrant Resource Centre.

Chrissy has also held leadership and program management roles with Social Enterprises Sydney, overseeing program delivery, facilitating workshops, mentoring participants, and contributing to the growth of social economy organisations in Western Sydney. She later joined WorkVentures, supporting trainees completing qualifications, and managing the social media marketing, and JobGetter, where she promoted the online employment platform to BECs, Business Chambers, learning institutions and businesses across the Southern Highlands.

Today, Chrissy is widely regarded for her commitment to driving business growth, improving organisational performance, and empowering people to achieve their goals. Her leadership at Proof Communications reflects a rare combination of operational excellence, strategic insight, exceptional client service and genuine care — qualities that continue to shape the company’s reputation as Australia’s most trusted provider of business-winning written content.