Generated by Rank Math SEO, this is an llms.txt file designed to help LLMs better understand and index this website. # State of Social ## Sitemaps - [XML Sitemap](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sitemap_index.xml): Includes all crawlable and indexable pages. ## Posts - [A first-timer’s guide to State of Social](https://stateofsocial.com.au/news/first-time/): Everything you need to know to walk in confident and get the most out of your two days. - [Come to Perth for State of Social, stay for so much more](https://stateofsocial.com.au/news/come-to-perth/): Come for the digital and social smarts. Stay for the city vibe, Indian Ocean sunsets, pristine beaches, outback adventure, world-class wine regions… Maybe book an open return flight. - [Rub Shoulders: Taking the friction out of networking ☺️](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/rub-shoulders/): Ever wished networking wasn’t so networking-y? Say hello to the Rub Shoulders breakout sessions (and all the right people) at State of Social ’26: Friction. - [Marc Fennell to appear SOS26  ](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/marc-fennell-to-appear-sos26/): The award-winning journalist takes the stage in Perth with The Australian's Jenna Clarke for a Riverside Chat, in the first public conversation about his Audible Original Podcast, Unreal: When AI Becomes Us - [What to pack for State of Social](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/what-to-pack-for-sos26/): You've sorted your ticket. Maybe your travel too. Now for the part that sounds trivial but genuinely matters: what are you actually bringing? - [Word up! Jess Zafarris is coming to SOS26](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/word-up-jess-zaffaris/): You don’t need a sesquipedalian (look it up) vocabulary to know that words have power. And Jess Zafarris is coming to SOS26 with a bunch of fun, creative ways to unlock more of it. - [CRA’s Lizzie Young has an SOS26 deep dive that sounds epic](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/cra-lizzie-young/): What if you could conjure up a strategy that combines the ubiquity of social media with the trust-building might of audio. Music to your ears, right? Well, have we got a deep dive for you. - [Overtaking in the attention economy, with F1 creative James Horne](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/overtaking-in-the-attention-economy-with-f1-creative-james-horne/): Your brand’s in a race for traction, but in a fast-moving attention economy, how do you get in front and stay there? Maybe you just need to take the handbrake off and get out of your own way. - [The power of debate: Why tension sparks ideas](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/the-power-of-debate-why-tension-sparks-ideas/): In digital marketing, we spend a lot of time chasing harmony. Aligned teams. Seamless workflows. Creative consensus. It feels good, but what if harmony is killing your best ideas? - [Grind, lube and spicy speakers 🫦](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/grind-lube-and-spicy-speakers/): Contrarian views. No-holds-barred debates. Unexpected experiences. Unpopular (but undeniably prescient) opinions. Prepare to be rubbed up the right way at SOS26! - [Why people keep coming back](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/why-people-keep-coming-back/): One look at our world-class lineup will tell you why... but let our delegates tell you too 🤩 - [Who will you meet at State of Social ’26: Friction?](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/meet-the-delegates/): The State of Social community is like family. A big, like-minded, caffeine-infused family. - [Lights. Camera. Friction! What’s in store at SOS26?](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/lights-camera-friction/): There are two types of people attending State of Social ’26: the ones who lube then grind, and the kinky souls who grind first and lube later. Which are you? And what are we talking about? - [Hot breakouts! Bonfire’s Will Bal and Adelaide University’s Geena Lamb](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/bonfire-will-bal-and-adelaide-university-geena-lamb/): Is AI-disrupted SEO grinding your gears? Are you kicking that can filled with big strategic decisions down the road? - [The Godmother of Marketing Twitter is coming to SOS26!](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/marketing-twitter-christina-garnett/): How many people can say they sparked an entire online marketing community and transformed thousands of marketers’ careers – lives, even – with a single tweet?  - [Why friction is exactly what your digital marketing strategy needs](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/you-need-friction/): When digital marketers sit down to build a 12-month marketing strategy, it’s natural to want to smooth out friction points. But your friction points hold the key to big strategic changes and success. - [SOS26: You’re going to need a bigger notebook.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/sos26-youre-going-to-need-a-bigger-notebook/): You go to a certain marketing conference (naming no names). You listen, take notes, perhaps nod off towards the end of the day. Then, you go back to the office. What do you take with you? - [How one 🎫 changed Saira Manns’ world](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/how-one-%f0%9f%8e%ab-changed-saira-manns-world/): Yes, THAT Saira Manns. The Saira Manns who became a State of Social superstar with her Maps, Memes & Meteorological Mayhem breakout, which was voted one of SOS25’s best sessions. - [Got conflict at work? That’s good, says digital media dynamo Tim Duggan](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/tim-duggan-conflict/): Successful digital media entrepreneurs know all about managing conflict. The best, like Tim Duggan, actively harness it. And he’s coming to State of Social ’26 to show you how. - [Good Friction vs Bad Friction: the questions every marketer needs to answer.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/good-vs-bad-friction/): Some marketing friction is doing exactly what it's supposed to – slowing the right people down at the right moment to maximise your marketing ROI. But how do you tell the good from the bad? - [Social media friction masterclasses at SOS26!](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/social-media-friction-masterclasses-at-sos26/): Can you use your socials to deliver big SEO wins? Can you weave creators into your existing social strategy to build trust? Can social media to turn customer friction into an even stronger community? - [Reddit: Priceless goldmine or costly rabbit hole? Find out with Quiip at SOS26.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/quiip-at-sos26/): Quiip’s Larah Kennedy and Kelly McParlane are demystifying Reddit at SOS26. - [What will you learn at SOS26? All the things.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/what-will-you-learn/): Will State of Social ’26 be different to previous years? Of course! Will it be packed with the most unexpected lessons and prescient takeaways? Too right. Only one thing’s certain: we’re going to learn A LOT. - [Why go to SOS26 when you’ve been to State of Social before?](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/why-go-to-sos26/): “Maybe I’ll give State of Social a miss this year. I mean, I’ve been before. And sure, it was a valuable learning experience, but how different can it really be this year?” Oh, you sweet, innocent child. - [Master the science of friction in marketing at SOS26.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/master-the-science-of-friction/): The force of friction is all around us. It’s in customer journeys. In sales funnels. In the comments. Oh, the comments! But it isn’t all bad. And as you’ll discover at SOS26, there’s science to prove it. - [State of Social is different in a thousand ways. And you can meet them all.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/state-of-social-is-different-in-a-thousand-ways/): What’s the most important factor in marketing in 2026? No, not AI. Humans. And State of Social ’26 is where you can share a room with over 1,000 of smartest carbon-based lifeforms on Planet Digital. - [Riding the waves of friction with Brandable’s Tess Palmyre](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/brandable-tess-palmyre/): Friction is in our feeds, budgets, politics and the algorithms shaping our worldview. It’s exhausting! But State of Social legend Tess Palmyre says you can turn that exhaustion into creative liberation. - [What does the marketing community say about State of Social?](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/what-they-say-2/): When we tell you SOS26 is the only digital marketing conference you need, can you take us at our word? Yes. But then we would say that, wouldn’t we. So, we’ll leave it to the people who know to tell you the truth: your peers. - [Colenso BBDO’s CSO Rob Campbell is back for SOS26!](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/colenso-bbdos-cso-rob-campbell-sos26/): AI. Process. Efficiency. Is there even room for creative thinking to disrupt and innovate anymore? State of Social Hall of Famer Rob Campbell says there is. And he’s back for State of Social ’26 to rattle your creative cage, then liberate you from it. - [Is your boss a friction point? 🫤](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/friction-boss/): It’s not your boss, is it? 😶 It’s OK. It happens. And we’ve got a Convince Your Boss Guide to help. 😎 - [Growth through friction at State of Social](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/growth-through-friction-at-state-of-social/): Friction has the power to destroy. But it also provides the impetus to question what you’re doing and develop the skills and resilience you need to succeed. - [What makes State of Social so special? Ask last year’s attendees.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/what-makes-us-special/): What makes State of Social so special? Why is it the marketing conference to beat? Ask last year’s attendees. - [2 days out is A LOT. But so is SOS26 😎](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/two-great-days/): A lot of big ideas. A lot of laughs. A lot of practical lessons. A lot of goodies, delish eats, barista-brewed coffee, sundowner high jinx, familiar faces, new contacts… - [Master your friction-filled world at SOS26](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/sparks-strategy/): We encounter all kinds of friction in digital marketing. Every. Frictioning. Day. And as you’ll discover at State of Social ’26, that’s a good thing. - [Friction. We love it.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/friction-we-love-it/): If you’re responsible for digital strategy, social media, brand growth or campaign performance, this is built for you. - [Practising before they preach: Look who’s back for SOS26](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/speakers-return-for-26/): Only our industry’s leading practitioners and pioneers make the cut at Australia’s smartest digital and social marketing event. And we’ve invited the best of the best back for SOS26’s friction-fest. - [Turn digital marketing tension into creativity at State of Social ’26: Friction.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/tension-creativity/): We don’t let a little thing like the crushing weight of reality stop us from finding new digital marketing solutions and ways to supercharge our creative thinking. Take it from SOS attendees… - [SOS26: Step out of your comfort zone and into an era of marketing ingenuity](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/friction-is-friend/): At SOS26, we’re not shying away from friction. We’re not looking for easy ways around it. We’re harnessing it to transform Optus Stadium into a creative melting pot of digital and social ingenuity. - [Friction is a fact of life.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/sos26-friction/): There’s no escaping friction in digital marketing. It’s everywhere. Question is: will you let it grind you down? Or use it to put a razor-sharp edge on strategies and skills that deliver better outcomes? - [The Barkout Session](https://stateofsocial.com.au/news/the-barkout-session/): Discover how the State of Social’s digital barketing community is driving pawsitive change in the community by partnering with and raising funds for the Dogs’ Refuge Home in Perth. - [SOS26 Book List](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/sos26-book-list/): A mix of team favourites, speaker recommendations, and books we genuinely think are worth your time. - [Save the Date](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos26/save-the-date/): The smartest marketers are already thinking one move ahead. - [Want to Speak?](https://stateofsocial.com.au/news/want-to-speak/): Whether you’re advocating to challenge the status quo (even if it rubs people up the wrong way) or encouraging digital marketers to embrace the path of most resistance, there’s only one place to share your genius with the world: State of Social ’26. - [Our guide to navigating your SOS26 program](https://stateofsocial.com.au/news/plan-your-program/): To help you navigate our packed schedule, we've introduced a nifty labelling system that'll help you pick the sessions that will give you the most bang for your buck. - [How we choose speakers for State of Social](https://stateofsocial.com.au/news/how-we-pick-speakers/): The State of Social speaker selection process takes months and is deliberately rigorous. Here’s how it works. - [Hard Refresh on Culture Making // ep10](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/hard-refresh-on-culture-making-ep10/): From Trump tweeting about Cracker Barrel’s logo to the backlash against DEI, the panel weighs whether marketers can authentically shape culture, or if values-driven storytelling is the only ballast in increasingly turbulent times. - [Hard Refresh on Digital Audio // ep9](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/hard-refresh-on-digital-audio-ep9/): They debate why brands obsess over their logos but not their sound, how memes like Jet2 Holidays became earworms by accident, and whether podcasts have hit their ceiling, or are only just beginning. Together, they imagine a 2040 world where audio surrounds us, from neural implants to AI-generated soundscapes. - [Hard Refresh on Agencies // ep8](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/hard-refresh-on-agencies-ep8/): From the boom in in-house teams to AI eating junior jobs, the panel debates whether agencies can still prove their value and whether the future belongs to nimble independents, fractional experts, or the holding groups . - [Hard Refresh on Advertising // ep7](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/hard-refresh-on-advertising-ep7/): They debate whether creativity and craft can survive in a world of 584 formats, how agencies redefine their value beyond “outputs,” and if advertising can still lead culture — or if entrepreneurs and communities are now setting the pace . - [Hard Refresh on Automation // ep6](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/episode-06-hard-refresh-on-automation/): From Meta’s AI gone wrong with a feral cat campaign for the Australian Wildlife Conservancy to the risks of handing brand safety over to machines, the panel dives into where humans should still hold the reins. Together they ask: when everything can be automated, what’s left for marketers to do ? - [Hard Refresh on Data // ep5](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/episode-05-hard-refresh-on-data/): From the collapse of Google’s cookie plan to the rise of first-party data, the panel digs into how brands can tell stories through numbers, when gut instinct still trumps dashboards, and whether AI is making it harder (or easier) to know who our audiences really are. - [Hard Refresh on Video // ep4](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/episode-04-hard-refresh-on-video/): From lo-fi user-generated clips to high-end brand storytelling, the panel unpacks how entertainment, education, AI, and streaming are reshaping the medium. They debate whether synthetic talent and automated workflows can ever replace human creativity, and what “television” will even mean by 2050. - [Hard Refresh on Social Media // ep3](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/episode-03-hard-refresh-on-social-media/): From video-first platforms and social commerce to the rise of AI “slop” and the decline of mainstream feeds, the panel explores whether we’re heading toward smaller niche communities, entertainment-driven platforms, or something stranger still. - [Hard Refresh on Branded Content // ep2](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/episode-02-hard-refresh-on-branded-content/): Branded content has long since blurred the line between marketing and media — but where is it heading next? - [Hard Refresh on Influence // ep1](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/episode-01-hard-refresh-on-influence/): Together, they unpack how “authenticity” is becoming performative, why influence is more about cultural moments than follower counts, and what happens when AI influencers enter the mainstream. It’s a deep dive into how communities, creators, and technology will define trust in the decades ahead. - [All aboard! Greyhound’s Saira Manns and WiredCo.’s Steph Edwards are coming to SOS25](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/saira-manns-and-steph-edwards/): If you’re wondering if your content and ads are getting lost in a never-ending shizstorm of content and ads, we’ve got two State of Social ’25 breakouts just for you. - [Don’t turn the comments off! Moderate them the SBS and Quiip way.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/dont-turn-the-comments-off-moderate-them-the-sbs-and-quiip-way/): Ever wondered: ‘Should we turn the comments off?’ Then, Quiip’s deep dive Q&A at State of Social ’25 will show you how to dial down the temperature and elevate healthy debate. - [Grab your All Access pass to a fully refreshed digital-marketing you.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/refresh-yourself-all-access/): SOS25 All Access. Like turning yourself off and on again (but with gourmet eats, treats and coffee). - [Spicy! Make your socials sexy with ABC’s Lia Walsh and ABS’s Heather Lansdowne](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/lia-walsh-heather-lansdowne/): Whether you feel your content’s a little boooring or your strategy’s bombing bigly, we’ve got two deep dives that’ll jump-start your socials. - [The best two days of the year start like…⏰](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/the-best-two-days-of-the-year/): You register, slip on your lanyard and grab your first barista-brewed Hunt & Brew coffee. ☕ - [How to connect in an era of anti-social media, with brand mastermind Eugene Healey at SOS25](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/eugene-healey-sos25/): Eugene is a brand strategy consultant on a mission to make cultural chaos comprehensible for brands. - [Take a sneak peek at (just some of) what you’ll learn at SOS25.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/sneak-peak-july/): State of Social is unique in lots of ways (puppies and Portuguese tarts, anyone?), but most notably in our line-up. - [Find the key to unlocking your digital marketing potential at SOS25](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/find-the-key/): The problem with most digital and social marketing training courses is that they only do one thing. But with State of Social ’25, your training program is perfect. Because you create it. - [SEO in an AI world: Bonfire’s Will Bal will answer your search queries at SOS25.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/bonfire-will-bal-sos25/): Forget AI Mode. Enter SEO God Mode with Bonfire’s Will Bal at SOS25. - [How do you know State of Social isn’t just another marketing conference?](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/worth-it-july/): How do you know State of Social is worth it? How do you know Australia’s most refreshing digital and social marketing event isn’t just another conference? You ask the people who know: SOS24’s State of Socialites. - [How big is Tyler O’Day’s SOS25 keynote? Think Empire-State-Building big.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/how-big-is-tyler-odays-sos25-keynote-think-empire-state-building-big/): Shrug off your legacy brand’s social media straitjacket, with the Empire State Building’s Tyler O’Day. - [New digital marketing training budget. New, exclusive lessons at SOS25.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/new-training-budget-sos25/): OK, you’ve got your 2025-26 marketing training budget. What now? - [SOS25: Essential self-care for the time-poor digital marketer](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/sos25-essential-self-care/): Your once-a-year chance to escape the noise and rediscover your focus. - [The SOS25 line-up is looking 🔥](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/sos25-lineup-update/): State of Social ’25 is getting closer (26 & 27 August). And our growing line-up, featuring the freshest thinkers in our industry, just keeps getting stronger. Take a look! 😍 - [Are you in power save mode? 🪫](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/are-you-in-power-save-mode/): Recharge your digital/social/strategic/creative batteries. - [Chapter’s Hannah and Dean are serving brand muesli at SOS25](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/chapters-hannah-and-dean-are-serving-brand-muesli-at-sos25/): Is your brand living off performance-marketing sugar hits? If your marketing plan looks more like a bowl of Skittles than a balanced meal – packed with SEM, PPC, and CTR – it might be time to rethink your diet. - [Master liveshopping and employee-generated content, with Amaury Treguer and Keshnee Kemp at SOS25](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/amaury-treguer-and-keshnee-kemp-at-sos25/): Liveshopping and employee-generated content (EGC) can be social media marketing and branding game-changers. Are they right for you? Ask Amaury Treguer and Keshnee Kemp at State of Social ’25. - [What makes State of Social the best digital marketing event?](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/what-makes-state-of-social-the-best-digital-marketing-event/): What makes SOS25 the best digital marketing event? Ask the best in the business - [Recharge your creative batteries with digital doyen Tim Duggan at SOS25.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/tim-duggan-at-sos25/): Running on empty? Perhaps you’re running in the wrong direction. Good thing Tim Duggan is back for State of Social ’25: Refresh with a factory reset for your creativity and work-life balance. - [The HUNT for the perfect BREW is over! ☕](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/hunt-and-brew/): Hunt and Brew making all your networking-over-coffee dreams come true. - [SOS25 breakouts! Creating trends and influence in a world of AI meh-diocrity.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/breakouts-ai-trends/): AI tools. Algorithmic trends. Micro-influencers. If you’re anything like us, you’ll have heaps of questions about where we are and where we’re headed. And like us, you’ll want to sit in on these three blockbuster breakout sessions at State of Social ’25. - [DoubleVerify’s Jack Smith is coming to SOS25 with an AI masterclass](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/doubleverifys-jack-smith/): Google’s and Meta’s digital marketing data and analytics are great, but they’ll only help you get – or see – so far. How do you escape these walled gardens? AI and DoubleVerify’s Jack Smith have the answers. - [Hypnosis’s creative ad-venturer, Amber Martin, is coming to SOS25!](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/hypnosis-amber-martin/): Forget that data. Cancel that brainstorm. Step out of your glass tower and away from your ego. It’s time to find your next BIG idea in the real world with advertising hypnotist Amber Martin. - [Make some noise! Aaron Matthews and Adam Johnson are back at SOS25!](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/orginal-audio-speaks/): Imagine an ad that speaks to the listener – not a demographic, an individual – altering according to their location, the time, even the weather. Sounds like the best way to cut through in a market where everyone’s shouting. - [What’s State of Social all about? Here’s a quick refresher.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/whats-state-of-social-all-about/): We’re pouring everything we learned over eight years of State of Social (and everything you’ve asked for) into making this year’s State of Social event the biggest, most refreshing yet. And that means… - [From 0 to 120,000 views in one SOS24 session](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/120000-views-in-one-session/): How do you generate 120,000 views from a single post on a fledgling Insta channel on the apparently boooring (but potentially life-saving) topic of battery recycling? - [State of Social vs That Other Conference 🥊🔔](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/state-of-social-vs-that-other-conference/): Every year is bigger and better than the one before. Every year is jam-packed with new ideas and experiences. - [So many reasons to attend SOS25. So, we made it simple for you.](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/reasons-to-attend-sos25/): With so much crammed into two fun-filled days, there are so many reasons for anyone with an online brand (which is EVERYONE!) to attend State of Social ’25. So, we made it easy for you. - [8 must-brings to State of Social](https://stateofsocial.com.au/news/what-to-bring/): So, do you need to bring much to the conference that’s thought of everything? Not really. These 8 things won't hurt tho. - [Hit F5 on your digital and social life at State of Social ’25: Refresh!](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/marketing-blues/): The digital and social marketing doldrums: we’ve all been there. And the faster things change – whether it’s fickle algorithms, new trends or AI – the more often we find ourselves all at sea. - [Your faves are back at Australia’s fave digital marketing conference](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/your-faves-are-back/): You voted. We noted. And we’ve invited three of your fave speakers back for a refreshing encore at Australia’s most refreshing digital and social marketing conference, State of Social ’25: Refresh. - [Refresh your industry contacts at SOS25: Refresh 📇](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/refresh-contacts/): No joke. Your tribe is coming to State of Social ’25: Refresh to refresh their skills, strategies and professional networks. And wherever you are in your career, you NEED to be there IRL. - [Refresh your digital marketing and work-life balance at SOS25](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/work-life-balance/): Burnout is burning through our industry’s talent pool. It’s time for a digital marketing and wellbeing reset, starting with State of Social ’25: Refresh on 26 & 27 August. - [Digital and social marketing lessons that actually work IRL? GTFO!](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/digital-and-social-marketing-lessons-that-actually-work-irl-gtfo/): Tired of marketing conferences serving up stale ideas (and pastries)? Fed of with social marketing training programs that don’t deliver actionable takeaways? We feel you. And we’ve got you. - [Hit refresh: Get out of the office (and your own head).](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/hit-refresh-get-out-of-the-office-and-your-own-head/): Consider this: State of Social ’25: Refresh is the 8th State of Social. Turn an 8 on its side and it becomes an infinity symbol denoting ongoing renewal. Refresh? Renewal? Coincidence? - [Five ways State of Social ’25 will reinvigorate your digital and social marketing strategy](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/five-ways-refresh/): Feel like you’re going through the digital and social marketing strategy motions, copying this digital strategy or that social trend? You’re 5 steps from a refreshing new strategy at State of Social ’25. - [What are your New Year’s refresholutions?](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/vision-board-goals/): Is State of Social ’25: Refresh on your 2025 vision board? Because whatever your goals, Australia’s most refreshing digital and social marketing conference makes them achievable. - [It’s not what you know in digital and social, it’s…](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/refresh-your-network/): All the digital and social education (and people). All in one place: SOS25! Network your heart out! - [State of Social ’25: Bigger, better and more refreshing than ever!](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/bigger-better-and-more-refreshing/): When did digital and social marketing get so complicated?! We say, enough! And Australia’s smartest digital marketing conference is back to equip you to KISS instead. - [State of Social ’25: Refresh](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos25/state-of-social-25-refresh/): Clear your mind of the unnecessary and your calendar for 26 & 27 August. SOS25 is coming. More details soon... - [Want more SOS24 gold? The Alchemists series is live!](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos24/want-more-sos24-gold-the-alchemists-series-is-live/): More nuggets of digital marketing gold. More 24-carat insights and ideas. The Alchemists is a mine of digital marketing education and inspiration you can tap into, anytime, anywhere. So, go on. Dig in! - [Episode 9 // Organic Content: The Hottest Takes](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos24/episode-9-organic-content-the-hottest-takes/): Join Andrés López-Varela, the ABC’s Scotty McDonald, The Social Sandwich’s Edwin Smith and social media and marketing consultant Georgia Tappy as they look at the changing role of organic content and overcoming content fatigue. - [Episode 8 // The End of Search (as We Know It)](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos24/episode-8-the-end-of-search-as-we-know-it/): Join Andrés López-Varela, Bonfire’s Will Bal and Synergy’s Emma Hollins as they nerd out about the seismic changes in Search and how brands should navigate this new environment in light of generative AI. - [Episode 7 // Building Bridges: Fandom and Brands](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos24/episode-7-building-bridges-fandom-and-brands/): Join Andrés López-Varela, fan engagement expert Dr Georgie Carroll, brand and gaming strategist James Whatley and Bennett’s Dave Stewart to discover how marketers and brands can tap into fandoms. - [Episode 6 // Mental Health and Social Media](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sos24/episode-6-mental-health-and-social-media/): Join Andrés López-Varela, Quiip’s Larah Kennedy, Happiness Co’s Julian Pace and Brandable’s Tess Palmyre as they ask how social media affects our mental wellbeing and how we can do better. ## Pages - [#StateofSocial26 Gallery](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/gallery/stateofsocial26-gallery/): #StateofSocial26 was two days at Optus Stadium that argued back. - [Past Speakers](https://stateofsocial.com.au/past-speakers/): State of Social has welcomed some of the sharpest minds in digital, marketing, creativity, and culture to its stage. Over the years, our speakers have shared ideas, challenged assumptions, and helped shape how the industry thinks about what comes next. - [Best Digital Marketing Conferences: The State of Social Story](https://stateofsocial.com.au/best-marketing-conferences-the-sos-story/): Now entering its ninth year, State of Social has grown from a grassroots gathering in Western Australia into a global case study for the industry and one of the best marketing conferences in the world. We did not set out to build just another event. We built a laboratory for the future of digital communication. - [#StateofSocial25 Gallery](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/gallery/stateofsocial25-gallery/): #StateofSocial25 was two days Perth won’t soon forget. - [#StateofSocial24 Gallery](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/gallery/stateofsocial24-gallery/): #StateofSocial24 were two days that shall not soon be forgotten. - [#StateofSocial23 Gallery](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/gallery/stateofsocial23-gallery/): Speakers included Rob Campbell, Liana Rossi, Andres Lopes Varela, Edwin Smith, Stephen Scheeler, Gavin Bain, Patrick Blacker, Mel Ho, Lucy Kough, and more... - [Online Ticket FAQs](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/questions/online-ticket-faqs/): The State of Social Online ticket is designed for people who want the thinking, without the travel. - [Who Attends?](https://stateofsocial.com.au/who-attends/): Yes, yes. We know everyone says that everyone attends, but we really mean it. Whether you're an in-house team, small business owner, agency, creators, emerging marketer or more with titles ranging from Marketing Director, Community Manager, Digital Strategist, Content Creator, Event Coordinator, PR Consultant, to Social Media Specialist, here's a sample of who you'll see in the audience: - [Gallery](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/gallery/): Check out our gallery 👇 - [#StateofSocial22 Gallery](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/gallery/stateofsocial22-gallery/): From becoming the Most Valuable Player to fast-tracking projects with a Minimum Viable Product mindset, getting your MVP on means getting maximum points on the board with minimum effort. - [Terms & Conditions](https://stateofsocial.com.au/terms-conditions/): We don’t have many rules, but the ones we do have matter. - [Accommodation](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/accommodation/): The ultimate in modern accommodation, Crown Metropol Perth promises to deliver a truly unique hotel experience. Guest rooms are a mix of clean classic lines with chic gloss black detailing and has everything you need from a roomy bed, comfy sofa and a large desk for work or play. - [#StateofSocial21 Gallery](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/gallery/stateofsocial21-gallery/): Australia’s brainiest digital marketing event was back to help you choose the right path when the apocalypse comes out of leftfield. - [My Ticket](https://stateofsocial.com.au/my-ticket/): Please make sure the details below are correct. This is what we’ll use for your lanyard and catering on the day.No need to print your ticket. Just bring yourself and your ID and we’ll take care of the rest. Share your Instagram handle and we’ll give you a sneak peek at speakers before they’re announced anywhere else. - [My account](https://stateofsocial.com.au/my-account/): A link to set a new password will be sent to your email address. - [Cart](https://stateofsocial.com.au/cart/): Your cart is currently empty. Return to shop - [#StateofSocial20 Gallery](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/gallery/stateofsocial20-gallery/): Not even a global pandemic could stop Australia’s brainiest digital and social marketing event. - [About](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/): Still have a question about State of Social? We've got most of the answers here... - [Code of Conduct](https://stateofsocial.com.au/code-of-conduct/): If you experience or witness behaviour that breaches this Code of Conduct, or if you see someone in distress, please notify a member of the State of Social team or Optus Stadium staff as soon as possible. - [Insights from State of Social](https://stateofsocial.com.au/news/): ALL | DELEGATE RESOURCES | ANNOUNCEMENTS | COMMUNITY CHECK OUT NEWS FROM SOS19 | SOS20 | SOS21 | SOS22 | SOS23 | SOS24 | SOS25 | SOS26 - [Home](https://stateofsocial.com.au/): This year, State of Social ’26 isn’t stepping away from the fire and the fight. We’re diving into it. - [#StateofSocial18 Gallery](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/gallery/stateofsocial18-gallery/): On Tuesday June 26, 2018, delegates gathered together at Optus Stadium for an engaging look at current and future trends in social media and digital marketing, making it one of the most dynamic marketing conferences in Australia. - [#StateofSocial19 Gallery](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/gallery/stateofsocial19-gallery/): #StateofSocial19 was all about answering the eternal question, "Where to From Here?". We broke things down into Fake News, Real Trends and Now What and heard presentations from the world’s top digital marketing and social media thought leaders. - [Convince the Boss](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/convince-the-boss/): Smooth the path to your boss paying for your ticket. - [Sponsors](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sponsors/): State of Social '26 would not be possible without a dedicated group of supporters. - [Testimonials](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/testimonials/): "Coming to SOS puts a pep in my step, especially as a small business owner. It’s great to hear inspiring speakers and think deeper about marketing and what we’re trying to achieve. WELL DONE to everyone involved!" - [Frequently Asked Questions](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/questions/): Please, do the right thing. If you’re not feeling well, stay at home, and everyone will say thank you for keeping your germs to yourself. If you can manage to send someone in your place, not a problem, have them head straight to our registration desk on arrival for guidance. Contact us if you have any questions or concerns. - [Travel to Perth](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/travel/): Come for the learning. Stay for the experience. - [The Venue](https://stateofsocial.com.au/about/the-venue/): The River View Room at Optus Stadium—the home of State of Social—is an environment designed to spark creativity, not fatigue. Nestled on the banks of the Swan River, the stadium was recently named the most beautiful sports facility in the world (Prix Versailles). - [Sponsorship](https://stateofsocial.com.au/sponsorship/): Finally, a sponsorship that will blow your mind, not your budget. - [Tickets](https://stateofsocial.com.au/tickets/): Category: Tickets - [Privacy Policy](https://stateofsocial.com.au/privacy-policy/): State of Social respects your privacy and is committed to protecting your personal information. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, disclose and store personal information in connection with our website, ticket sales, events, communications and related services. ## Elements - [Order complete message (top)](https://stateofsocial.com.au/?kadence_element=order-complete-message-top): We look forward to hanging out with you this August. If you have any questions, please contact hello@stateofsocial.com.au. And don't forget to add us to your safe senders list so that all the important information (including your Tax Invoice!) gets thru to the inbox. - [Speakers Layout Template](https://stateofsocial.com.au/?kadence_element=speakers-layout-template): Appearing at No Content ## Products ## Speakers - [Meg Coffey](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/meg-coffey/): Originally from Texas and now proudly Australian, Meg Coffey is a "Texstralian" known for her dedication, calculated risks, and exceptional communication skills. - [Rob Campbell](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/rob-campbell/): Rob is from Nottingham in England, where he started his career as a studio guitarist playing on an alarming number of ‘one-hit wonders’ before ending up in brand strategy.  - [Marc Fennell](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/marc-fennell/): Marc Fennell is a Walkley-winning journalist, an AACTA-nominated director and one of Australia’s most recognisable documentary storytellers. He is the creator and host of the hit television series and podcast Stuff the British Stole, which screens on ABC Australia, BBC Select and CBC Canada, and has fronted more than 500 episodes of SBS’s iconic nightly quiz show Mastermind. Marc also hosts ABC’s hit history podcast No One Saw It Coming. - [Christina Garnett](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/christina-garnett/): Christina Garnett builds the infrastructure organizations need to earn and keep customer trust. She is the author of Transforming Customer-Brand Relationships (Kogan Page, 2025), winner of the Independent Press Award and the International Impact Book Award, and creator of the Customer Trust Equation, a framework for diagnosing why trust breaks and how to fix it. - [James Horne](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/james-horne/): James is a creative director who spent seven years inside Formula 1, most of them as Aston Martin F1's first Art Director and the only one in the sport. Building the team's creative content and growing its TikTok from zero to more than 2 million followers. As Art Director he led international campaigns with brands and artists including Dom Dolla, PUMA, BOSS and Aramco, and ran content and social strategy for two-time world champion Fernando Alonso. Growing Fernando’s audience past 2.5m and earning him TikTok Spain's Public Figure of the Year. - [Clare Pickens](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/clare-pickens/): Clare Pickens is CEO of Leo Australia, where she leads one of the country's fastest-growing creative agencies with a focus on using creativity as a driver of business transformation. Clare has built and led global, multidisciplinary teams for some of the world's most recognised brands, including Nike, Netflix, Instagram, Heineken, Uber, Mondelez, P&G, Unilever and booking.com. - [Jess Zafarris](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/jess-zafarris/): Jess Zafarris is the author of several bestselling books on etymology (word origins), including Once Upon a Word: A Word-Origin Dictionary for Kids (Rockridge Press, 2020), Words from Hell: Unearthing the Darkest Secrets of English Etymology (Chambers, 2023), Useless Etymology: Offbeat Word Origins for Curious Minds (Chambers, 2025), and Into the Words: An Etymologist’s Field Guide to Plants, Animals and Nature (Chambers, 2026). She is also a video content creator who has built a devoted social media following of more than 150,000 followers on TikTok and Instagram, and she co-hosts the podcast Words Unravelled, which has more than 150,000 YouTube subscribers along with more than 30,000 daily listeners across podcast platforms. Her blog, UselessEtymology.com, has been educating curious word lovers for more than a decade. - [Will Bal](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/will-bal/): For almost a decade, Will Bal has steered Bonfire’s clients through the shifting currents of search. He joined the agency as an Account Manager and now leads the team as Account Director, bringing a blend of commercial acumen and technical depth across SEO strategy, AI Search Optimisation, Performance Media, and the vast realm of Programmatic advertising.   - [Josh Bailey](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/josh-bailey/): Josh Bailey is the Co-Founder of CoCo and spent three years at TikTok, working with hundreds of brands to develop their social media and content strategies. Today, he helps businesses build creator-led content systems that drive long-term growth. - [Ariel Bastian](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/ariel-bastian/): Ariel Bastian is a Special Counsel in Jackson McDonald's Corporate & Commercial team. With a particular focus on privacy law, Ariel is recognised as a leading practitioner and thought leader in this rapidly evolving area. - [Justin Beavis](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/justin-beavis/): Justin Beavis spent the early stages of his career working at various independent digital agencies across Perth, learning his trade and developing specialisation in performance media and digital strategy across a broad portfolio of clients.  - [Lindsay Bennett](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/lindsay-bennett/): Lindsay is a strategic storyteller and communications leader, leading Global Communications and Content at market research platform, Ideally. - [Lachlan Bradford](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/lachlan-bradford/): Lach looks after Brand, Community and Partnerships at Sked Social and created the #seen community to bring together the people behind the world’s best social accounts. - [Pete Curulli](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/pete-curulli/): Pete Curulli is one of Perth’s most recognisable radio voices, co-hosting the breakfast show Pete & Kymba on Mix 94.5 (Southern Cross Austereo), where he’s built a career since 2003 — starting on community radio at just 16 before joining SCA in 2004, reaching multiple #1’s in drive and taking Mix breakfast to record breaking audience cumes.  - [Toby Dewar](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/toby-dewar/): Director of Customer Engagement of Foxtel Media, Toby Dewar, is a passionate marketer with over 20 years’ experience in sponsorship, media strategy and buying, content development, advertising, brand strategy, retail marketing and public speaking. - [Tim Duggan](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/tim-duggan/): Tim Duggan is an author, founder and optimist. - [James Jeffs](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/james-jeffs/): James Jeffs is a Social Media and Community Management Lead who’s all about building brands people actually want to engage with. - [Larah Kennedy](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/larah-kennedy/): Larah is a seasoned community professional specialising in connecting brands with their customers through social media and online community — employing strategic thinking to develop, grow, and scale. - [Jamie Kho](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/jamie-kho/): Jamie Kho is the Social Media Marketing Manager at Bankwest, where he leads social strategy and execution, playing a key role in shaping Bankwest’s social approach during its digital transformation. - [Geena Lamb](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/geena-lamb/): Geena Lamb is an award-winning social media specialist with extensive experience in higher education marketing. - [Matt Lawton](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/matt-lawton/): Matt has led agencies in the UK, US and Australia over a 30 year career. His introduction to social media began in the early 2000's working with Panasonic and IBM in managing forums and Flickr campaigns. In leading his agency, Five by Five, Matt has developed social strategy for Lenovo, Riot Games, Voice Referendum and nbn. - [Katherine Loughnan](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/katherine-loughnan/): A proud West Australian, Kath is one of the most recognisable faces across the Cricket and AFL coverage on Fox Sports Australia. - [Saira Manns](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/saira-manns/): Saira Manns is a communications specialist who blends creativity, curiosity, and compassion to help people make sense of complex information. You may recognise Saira from her previous work at Greyhound Australia (including some seriously unserious map explainers on TikTok). Since then, she's now landed her dream role at Queensland Police Service and applies her skills in a fast-paced emergency services environment. - [Kelly McParlane](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/kelly-mcparlane/): Kelly is a seasoned community management professional. She joined Quiip with extensive experience in the media industry, serving as the steady hand behind many high-profile broadcast events like the FIFA Women's World Cup and the Commonwealth Games. Today, Kelly works across a variety of sectors, from vulnerable communities to global brands. - [Pamela Obeid](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/pamela-obeid/): Pamela Obeid is a content and social whiz, with years of experience spanning across agency, publishing, production, and in-house. She's currently the Social Lead at Amplify, a leading international creator and content agency. She's managed content and social teams, big and small, with a special interest in youth media, the creator economy, and keeping a close eye on what makes the zeitgeist tick. - [Julian Pace](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/julian-pace/): Julian Pace is the Founder and CEO of Happiness Co, a globally recognized movement dedicated to improving lives through happiness and wellbeing. - [Tess Palmyre](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/tess-palmyre/): Founder of Brandable and DEI Lead for WAMA, Tess helps businesses cut through the fluff and build brands that actually connect – with purpose, with people, and with integrity. She shows teams how to show up in a polarised world without faking it, fusing cultural knowledge, inclusive strategy, and honest storytelling to create connection that genuinely lands. - [Karen Papalia](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/karen-papalia/): Karen Papalia is a highly experienced sales leader with over 15 years in the Australian media industry. Since joining Foxtel Media (then MCN) in 2015 as Senior Sales Account Manager, Karen has played a key role in driving the company’s growth in Western Australia. In 2024, she was appointed Sales Director – Perth, leading the next phase of Foxtel Media’s expansion across both linear and digital platforms. - [Beau Pearson](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/beau-pearson/): Beau Pearson is the weather presenter for 10 News Perth, where he delivers daily broadcasts across Western Australia. - [Will Schofield](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/will-schofield/): Will Schofield is a former AFL premiership-winning footballer turned entrepreneur, media personality, and keynote speaker. Known for his resilience and leadership on and off the field, Will brings a unique blend of professionalism, creativity, and drive to every project he undertakes. - [Jes Scholz](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/jes-scholz/): Jes is an award-winning marketing consultant helping brands build sustainable growth engines. - [Renée Shaw](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/renee-shaw/): Renée runs Brand & Social at tl;dv. She's built one of the most distinctive voices in B2B by saying what everyone else is thinking (but would never post). - [Ama Silva](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/ama-silva/): Ama Silva is the Director Marketing & Operations at Creator Flow, Australia’s leading UGC marketplace, where he helps thousands of brands and agencies across Australia and the Asia-Pacific region build creator-led marketing strategies that deliver measurable business growth. - [David Stewart](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/david-stewart/): David Stewart is one of Australia’s leading intellectual property lawyers and is an Adjunct Professor at Murdoch University. - [Gabby Torres-Soler](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/gabriela-torres-soler/): Gabby spends her days talking to agencies, in-house teams and creators from around the world, so she's got a front-row seat to what's actually changing in social. Less "guru", more reality check. - [Sophie Winter](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/sophie-winter/): Sophie Winter is a strategic marketing leader who believes in the power of storytelling to drive positive change. - [Lizzie Young](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/lizzie-young/): Lizzie Young is a media executive with 25 years' experience spanning the UK, US and APAC markets. As CEO of Commercial Radio & Audio, she leads Australia's peak audio industry body, driving regulatory affairs, audience measurement, demand generation and digital transformation on behalf of 260+ commercial radio stations nationwide. - [Robbie Figg](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/robbie-figg/): Robbie Figg is a Perth-based MC & Event Host known for creating energy, connection and flow in any room he walks into. With more than 600 events across corporate conferences, gala dinners, festivals, sport presentations and large scale public events, Robbie blends professionalism with genuine warmth to keep audiences engaged from start to finish. - [Eugene Healey](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/eugene-healey/): Eugene Healey is a brand strategy consultant, educator, and Creator seeking to make cultural chaos comprehensible for brands. - [Jonathan Harley](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/jonathan-harley/): Jonathan Harley is a technology and media executive who has worked with Canva, Twitter, 60 Minutes Australia as well as ABC News and Current Affairs. On his journey from foreign correspondent to tech exec, Jonathan focusses on human-centred storytelling, combined with the best digital tools. - [Kate O’Connor](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/kate-oconnor/): A former lawyer with 15 years experience in television and media, Kate has spent the past six years running the kids television unicorn, Bluey, as the Director of Brands and Commercial. She has been the decision maker on all Bluey commercial and brand activities- delivering unprecedented and transformative growth while maintaining a steadfast commitment to creating an evergreen, global brand that Australians can be proud of. She is the winner of a CEW Scholarship, many awards for her brand collaborations on things like Hammerbarn and Bluey's World, and Highly Commended for B+T Marketing Woman of the Year.  - [Tyler O’Day](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/tyler-oday/): Tyler O'Day is the Director of Social Media at Empire State Realty Trust, where he drives innovative social campaigns for iconic properties like the Empire State Building. - [Dan de Sousa](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/dan-de-sousa/): As a Team Lead at Quiip, Dan is responsible for protecting and nurturing online communities for some of Australia’s most well-known companies. With deep expertise in customer experience, conflict resolution, community management, and social media strategy, he brings a thoughtful and values-led approach to digital engagement. - [Keshnee Kemp](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/keshnee-kemp/): Keshnee Kemp is a seasoned Australian media and content strategist with over a decade of experience in editorial leadership, digital innovation, and brand storytelling. She is the founder of August One, a consultancy specialising in employee-generated content (EGC) and data-driven social media strategies. Prior to this, she served as Head of Content at Woolworths Group, where she pioneered the company's first people-led social strategy and launched its EGC program, empowering team members to authentically represent the brand online. - [Aaron Matthews](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/aaron-matthews/): Aaron is a passionate music and sound producer who has been involved in the audio industry from a young age. At just 18 years old, he started working as an audio producer at his local radio station. Over time, he honed his skills and went on to work for some of the biggest radio stations in the UK, including BBC Radio 1, Capital Radio, Kiss 100, and Magic FM. - [Liana Rossi](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/liana-rossi/): Liana Rossi is a surprisingly professional creative consultant. - [Georgia Tappy](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/georgia-tappy/): I’m a social media consultant based in Melbourne. My work specialises in youth marketing, with a particular focus on queer and pop culture. - [Paula Bloodworth](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/paula-bloodworth/): Paula's experience is diverse, encompassing over 17 years and spanning across London, New York, Shanghai, Portland, Sydney, Tokyo, and Melbourne. She has worked across a wide range of categories and clients, with a particular emphasis on youth and sports brands. - [Michael Corcoran](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/michael-corcoran/): I guess you need to know how I got here. I have 12+ years of experience. I'm not a Forbes 30 under 30; I have not been named 'Top Marketing Influencer' by some random agency looking to PR for new business. - [Tom Goodwin](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/tom-goodwin/): Tom Goodwin holds the distinction of being the 4 time #1 Voice in Marketing on LinkedIn, and now has over 725,000 followers on the platform. A provocative but pragmatic futurist, He currently heads "All We Have Is Now," a consultancy focused on empowering businesses to embrace new technologies in marketing and advertising, with a focus on empathy and customer centricity. Goodwin works with global giants like Stellantis, Merck, Bayer, McDonald's, Netflix, and private equity firms, to empower them to understand and make sense of the changing world.  - [Lia Haberman](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/lia-haberman/): Lia Haberman is a distinguished Creator Economy expert and author of the ICYMI newsletter that goes out to over 25K subscribers — sharing weekly social media updates with marketers and creators. - [Dave Jorgenson](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/dave-jorgenson/): In May 2019, Dave launched the @WashingtonPost TikTok channel. The channel found immediate success on TikTok and in the D.C. Twittersphere. He has since hired a team that he oversees while still creating content. - [James Whatley](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/james-whatley/): With 18 years of marcomms experience working on global brand campaigns for clients such as PlayStation, OREO, Xbox, Converse, and Honda F1 Racing - to name just a few - James Whatley is a multi-Cannes-Lions winning strategist who has spent his entire career working at the forefront of brand, digital, and integrated marketing.  - [Jeremy Burge](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/jeremy-burge/): Described by the Irish Times as “patron saint of people with jobs which have permanently alienated them from their parents”, Jeremy Burge is the founder of Emojipedia, creator of World Emoji Day, and has spent the majority of the past decade with the title derided by the aforementioned publication: Chief Emoji Officer. - [Dr Georgie Carroll](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker/dr-georgie-carroll/): Dr Georgie Carroll graduated with her PhD in Sociology from the University of Sydney in 2023. ## Categories - [Insights](https://stateofsocial.com.au/category/news/) - [SOS18 News](https://stateofsocial.com.au/category/sos18/): CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO SPOKE OR CHECK OUT NEWS FROM SOS19 | SOS20 | SOS21 | SOS22 | SOS23 | SOS24 | SOS25 | SOS26 - [SOS19 News](https://stateofsocial.com.au/category/sos19/): CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO SPOKE OR CHECK OUT NEWS FROM SOS18 | SOS19 | SOS20 | SOS21 | SOS22 | SOS23 | SOS24 | SOS25 | SOS26 - [SOS20 News](https://stateofsocial.com.au/category/sos20/): CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO SPOKE OR CHECK OUT NEWS FROM SOS18 | SOS19 | SOS20 | SOS21 | SOS22 | SOS23 | SOS24 | SOS25 | SOS26 - [SOS21 News](https://stateofsocial.com.au/category/sos21/): CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO SPOKE OR CHECK OUT NEWS FROM SOS19 | SOS20 | SOS21 | SOS22 | SOS23 | SOS24 | SOS25 | SOS26 - [SOS22 News](https://stateofsocial.com.au/category/sos22/): CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO SPOKE OR CHECK OUT NEWS FROM SOS18 | SOS19 | SOS20 | SOS21 | SOS22 | SOS23 | SOS24 | SOS25 | SOS26 - [SOS23 News](https://stateofsocial.com.au/category/sos23/): CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO SPOKE OR CHECK OUT NEWS FROM SOS18 | SOS19 | SOS20 | SOS21 | SOS22 | SOS23 | SOS24 | SOS25 | SOS26 - [SOS24 News](https://stateofsocial.com.au/category/sos24/): CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO SPOKE OR CHECK OUT NEWS FROM SOS18 | SOS19 | SOS20 | SOS21 | SOS22 | SOS23 | SOS24 | SOS25 | SOS26 - [SOS25 News](https://stateofsocial.com.au/category/sos25/): CLICK HERE TO SEE WHO SPOKE OR CHECK OUT NEWS FROM SOS18 | SOS19 | SOS20 | SOS21 | SOS22 | SOS23 | SOS24 | SOS25 | SOS26 - [SOS26 News](https://stateofsocial.com.au/category/sos26/): ALL | DELEGATE RESOURCES | ANNOUNCEMENTS | COMMUNITY CHECK OUT NEWS FROM SOS18 | SOS19 | SOS20 | SOS21 | SOS22 | SOS23 | SOS24 | SOS25 | SOS26 ## Tags - [Announcements](https://stateofsocial.com.au/tag/announcements/): ALL | DELEGATE RESOURCES | ANNOUNCEMENTS | COMMUNITY CHECK OUT NEWS FROM SOS19 | SOS20 | SOS21 | SOS22 | SOS23 | SOS24 | SOS25 | SOS26 - [Delegate Resources](https://stateofsocial.com.au/tag/attendee-resources/): ALL | DELEGATE RESOURCES | ANNOUNCEMENTS | COMMUNITY CHECK OUT NEWS FROM SOS19 | SOS20 | SOS21 | SOS22 | SOS23 | SOS24 | SOS25 | SOS26 - [Our Community](https://stateofsocial.com.au/tag/community/): ALL | DELEGATE RESOURCES | ANNOUNCEMENTS | COMMUNITY CHECK OUT NEWS FROM SOS19 | SOS20 | SOS21 | SOS22 | SOS23 | SOS24 | SOS25 | SOS26 ## Product categories ## Year - [2026 Speakers](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker-year/twenty-six/): THEME: FRICTION State of Social '26 focused on the parts of marketing that can't be optimised away. Australian and international speakers shared practical thinking across digital marketing, strategy, creativity and culture, built around one question: what's left when everything else has been automated. Ninth year in, this event pushed back against the industry's rush to smooth, streamline and hand off to AI. As more of the workflow got optimised, FRICTION asked what actually breaks when the human part goes with it, and where judgement, taste and instinct still beat efficiency. Speakers explored the moments that resist automation: the messy first draft, the awkward client conversation, the campaign that only worked because someone pushed back. The takeaway was clear. You can systemise the process. You can't systemise the human. That's the friction worth keeping. Excited about our upcoming event? Check out this year’s State of Social Speakers. - [2025 Speakers](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker-year/twenty-five/): THEME: REFRESH  State of Social ’25 focused on resetting approaches that had become overcomplicated or outdated. Australian and international speakers shared practical thinking across digital marketing, strategy, creativity, and culture, with an emphasis on clarity, relevance, and momentum. Our eighth year marked a deliberate reset for the industry. REFRESH stripped away noise, shortcuts, and performative trends to refocus on what actually drives results: clear strategy, consistent execution, and genuine human connection. Speakers challenged delegates to reassess what they were doing, why they were doing it, and what needed to be rebuilt to stay relevant in a fast-changing digital landscape. Excited about our upcoming event? Check out this year's State of Social Speakers. - [2024 Speakers](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker-year/twenty-four/): THEME: ALCHEMY State of Social ’24 explored how strategy, creativity, technology, and human insight combine to create something more powerful than their individual parts. Australian and international speakers shared perspectives on turning ideas into outcomes across digital marketing and culture. This year explored the rare intersection where technical mastery meets imaginative thinking. ALCHEMY focused on how data, platforms, creativity, and intuition combine to create marketing that feels human, resonates deeply, and drives real outcomes. Rather than treating strategy and creativity as opposing forces, speakers showed how the two work best together, turning skill and insight into work that truly converts. Excited about our upcoming event? Check out this year's State of Social Speakers. - [2023 Speakers](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker-year/twenty-three/): THEME: SIGNALS  State of Social ’23 focused on identifying what mattered amid constant noise. Australian and international speakers examined the signals shaping digital marketing, strategy, creativity, and culture, and how to interpret them with clarity and intent. As the digital world grew louder, this year was about learning what to pay attention to and what to ignore. SIGNALS focused on developing sharper instincts. The ability to spot red flags early, recognise green lights before they reach the mainstream, and understand which shifts were meaningful rather than noisy. Speakers explored how trends form, how platforms evolve, and how cultural signals emerge, equipping marketers with the judgement needed to move with confidence instead of chasing everything at once. Excited about our upcoming event? Check out this year's State of Social Speakers. - [2022 Speakers](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker-year/twenty-two/): THEME: MVP State of Social ’22 focused on what genuinely delivered value. Australian and international speakers shared practical thinking across digital marketing, strategy, creativity, and culture, cutting through noise to highlight what mattered most. This year centred on value. Both how it is created and how it is measured. MVP explored the dual meaning of being the Most Valuable Player inside an organisation, while also embracing a Minimum Viable Product mindset to move faster, test ideas earlier, and learn in real time. Speakers shared how focusing on progress over perfection leads to smarter launches, better decision-making, and more resilient marketing teams. The takeaway was clear. Impact does not come from doing more, but from doing what matters most. Excited about our upcoming event? Check out this year's State of Social Speakers. - [2018 Speakers](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker-year/eighteen/): THEME: Influence. Innovation. Behaviour. In 2018, State of Social explored the forces shaping modern marketing, from the mechanics of influence to the realities of innovation and human behaviour. The program brought together Australian practitioners pushing the boundaries of strategy, creativity, and digital culture. Our first year focused on the three forces we saw shaping modern marketing. The influence of creators and communities. The innovation of platforms and emerging technology. And the behaviour of audiences navigating an increasingly digital world. This foundational program explored how these elements interact in practice, not theory. Speakers shared real-world insight into how attention is earned, how platforms evolve, and how human behaviour ultimately determines what succeeds. That focus on influence, innovation, and behaviour set the tone for every State of Social event that followed. Excited about our upcoming event? Check out this year's State of Social Speakers. - [2019 Speakers](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker-year/nineteen/): THEME: WHERE TO FROM HERE?  In 2019, State of Social brought together Australian and international voices to interrogate what comes next for digital and social, as the industry moved beyond experimentation and into maturity. As major platforms reached saturation, the industry faced a pivotal moment. Growth was no longer guaranteed by simply showing up in the feed. This year asked a bigger, more uncomfortable question: where do marketers go next? Speakers explored what lay beyond the immediate present, from the rise of voice technology and emerging interfaces to new models of content distribution and audience connection. The focus was not on chasing trends, but on preparing marketers for the next phase of digital communication before it arrived. Excited about our upcoming event? Check out this year's State of Social Speakers. - [2020 Speakers](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker-year/twenty/): THEME: THINK. IMAGINE. CREATE  State of Social '20 featured leading Australian and international speakers across social media, digital marketing, strategy, creativity, and culture, proving that even a global pandemic could not pause meaningful industry conversation. In a year defined by disruption and uncertainty, the focus returned to the fundamentals. Rather than chasing tools or tactics, this program centred on the core capabilities that matter most when everything changes. Speakers challenged delegates to think strategically, imagine new possibilities, and create work that genuinely resonated with audiences living through unprecedented circumstances. The result was a reminder that creativity, clarity, and human connection remain the most powerful assets a marketer can have, regardless of the environment. Excited about our upcoming event? Check out this year's State of Social Speakers. - [2021 Speakers](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker-year/twenty-one/): THEME: CHAOS  State of Social ’21 reflected an industry navigating uncertainty and constant change. Australian and international speakers shared perspectives on strategy, creativity, culture, and digital marketing in a world where the rules were anything but stable. This was the year we stopped trying to control the noise and instead learned how to work within it. As platforms fractured, attention spans shortened, and change accelerated, CHAOS explored what it really takes to operate in a volatile digital environment. Speakers unpacked how uncertainty, speed, and disruption can become strategic advantages rather than obstacles. The program showed that for brands willing to adapt quickly and think clearly, chaos is not something to fear. It is often where the strongest ideas, sharpest strategies, and most resilient businesses are formed. Excited about our upcoming event? Check out this year's State of Social Speakers. - [Socialite](https://stateofsocial.com.au/speaker-year/socialite/)