EMPOWERING BRANDS. SUPPORTING AGENCIES.
ABOUT US
After a combined three decades in the industry, we’ve seen it all… AI breakthroughs, the cookie crumbling, and yes, the universal pain of switching to GA4. If there's one constant in media and marketing, it's change. And we’re here for it.
But recently, we’ve noticed deeper shifts that call for something new.
Brands are building in-house capabilities to own their marketing and drive long-term growth; especially in performance and brand media. At the same time, marketers are being stretched too thin across an increasingly fragmented media landscape, leading to misaligned strategy and execution.
Agencies? They’re juggling more than ever. New business pressures, servicing existing clients, retaining talent, staying profitable – all with fewer hands on deck. The risk? Burnout, lost clients, and an erosion of quality.
That’s where Refinery Room steps in.
We built a modern consultancy to bridge the gap – empowering brands to build and strengthen their in-house teams, and supporting agencies with flexible, on-demand media expertise.
No full-time overheads. No rigid retainers. Just smart, tailored support – when and where it’s needed.
In modern style, we scrapped the fixed retainers and one-size-fits-all models. With Refinery Room, you choose your own adventure. Expertise on tap, cost-efficient, and built with your autonomy in mind.
If that sounds like your kind of thinking, meet the two people behind it.
born to do things differently.
Our Story
Back in 2020, Ashley Byers and James Deehan first crossed paths while working at an independent media agency in Sydney. Ash was Head of Social. James led Digital Media and Partnerships.
Together, they were a force. Driving agency growth, leading award-winning work, and delivering strategies that created real, measurable impact.
James went on to work closely with startups and scale-ups, bringing top-tier strategic expertise to brand building, go-to-market planning, and performance-led growth; helping launch businesses into local and global markets.
Meanwhile, now Head of Paid Media, Ash led the charge in reshaping the agency paid media offering - winning major accounts, advancing service lines, and leading award-winning campaigns.
With complementary expertise across brand and performance media - and a shared vision for doing things differently - the idea for Refinery Room took shape. After many chats (and even more glasses of wine), they decided to take the leap.
They joined forces to challenge the industry’s status quo.
Refinery Room was built to empower brands, support agencies, and redefine how marketing expertise is accessed. We're here to help you build, grow, and (one day) not need us at all.
Not something you usually hear from marketers, right?
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
Real-World Experience
We’ve built and scaled teams ourselves, so we know what works (and what doesn’t).
EMBEDDED SUPPORT
We don’t just advise; we step in to solve challenges alongside you.
TAILORED FOR GROWTH
No cookie-cutter solutions—every strategy is built around your specific business needs.
BUILT FOR LONGEVITY
We focus on sustainable structures, not just short-term fixes.
COST-EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS
Our solutions come at a fraction of the cost hiring full-time staff.
HOW WE can WORK TOGETHER
AGENCIES
Need to plug resource gaps fast with trusted, senior-level media expertise?
Looking for strategic support to help founders or leaders scale with confidence?
Want to sharpen your pitch, win more business, and optimise how your team operates?
Need support finding, hiring, and empowering top-tier marketing talent?