2024 Speakers

  • Nia Pericles

    With over 25 years in television, Nia has established a reputation for developing and producing memorable, editorially strong, stories that move people. She has produced and directed across factual and entertainment for all Australian networks. From established formats to directing authored films, her experience is diverse. From Nine’s Getaway toTen’s Bondi Rescue and many others. In 2019 she…

  • Ashara Wills

    Ashara Wills is a trailblazing multicultural queer strategist renowned for her innovative approach to weaving LGBTIQA+ narratives into the fabric of communities and businesses. She is the mastermind behind the transformative business Let’s Queer The Air, which fosters understanding and inclusion through authentic dialogue and engagement. With a deep understanding of both community dynamics and…

  • Ken Leung

    Ken is a visionary creative leader that has led branding for the world’s largest fashion conglomerates LVMH and Fast Retailing. Most recently he was the Global Creative Director at UNIQLO driving designer collaborations with Jil Sander, Jonathan Anderson and The Louvre as well as overseeing teams in New York, Paris and Shanghai. He also previously…

  • Richard Berney

    Richard is an award-winning Executive Creative Director, hopeful environmentalist, and founding partner of Berlin. In 2015 he was crowned ‘WA’s most awarded creative of the decade’ by Campaign Brief, but a recount showed that he was actually not. He says he doesn’t care, but his wife argues that this is also when the bedwetting began….

  • Josh Taylor

    Josh Taylor is an award-winning journalist who has covered technology and politics in Australia for over a decade. His journalism has focused on holding those in power to account, transparency, security and freedom of information. Increasingly in this age this work has focused on the digital platforms. He has appeared on ABC RN, ABC News,…

  • Taleesha Elder

    Taleesha is a Senior Associate in the Litigation and Dispute Resolution. Taleesha graduated from the University of Western Australia in 2011 with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours)/Bachelor of Science. Prior to joining Bennett in 2013, Taleesha spent 18 months as the Associate to his Honour Justice Kenneth Martin in the Supreme Court of Western Australia….

  • Emma Hollins

    Heralding from the Meerkats school of purpose, Emma knew that her calling in life was to help create better experiences for customers. Having gone through life ruthlessly analysing her own major purchase, travel, vehicle and health experiences, it was fate when she walked through the door of Meerkats (subsequently known as Wunderman Thompson and now…

  • 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. Recently, she joined Idris Elba’s team, spearheading the impactful ‘Don’t Stop Your Future’ anti-knife crime campaign, which…

  • Lily Hoffmann

    Lily manages an audience of over two million people, developed an award-winning social media strategy and she’s not even a qualified marketer. Her journey began as a journalist, working across print, digital and radio for the ABC and Seven West Media. But, after six years traversing the country, scurrying across newsroom floors and reminding herself…

  • Joel Pember

    As the Brand Director & Co-Founder of Juicebox, a market leading digital agency, Joel has been on the frontline of digital transformation, media disruption and human behavioural change for nearly two decades. He is currently focussed on the strategic direction and management of the Juicebox brand, ensuring that it remains relevant and desired in chosen markets across APAC…

  • Scotty McDonald

    In the mid-2000s, Scott McDonald sat in his high school classroom listening to a teacher lecture his class on how the careers that many of his cohort would end up in don’t exist yet. Scott rolled his eyes and went back to daydreaming about the radio presenter career that was just waking up before him,…

  • Dr Georgie Carroll

    Dr Georgie Carroll graduated with her PhD in Sociology from the University of Sydney in 2023. Her research explored the intersection of fandom communities and consumption, and she used the fandoms of Taylor Swift and the television series Supernatural as case studies. Since completing her PhD, she has been widely featured as a media expert…

  • 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. She’s been tapped for her social media insights by brands such as Google, Robert Half, AT&T, Macy’s, Riot Games and more. She teaches social media and…

  • Will Bal

    For more than seven years 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, Performance Media and the vast realm of Programmatic advertising.  “After seven years working…

  • 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.  James is…

  • 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. After starting out her career in broadcast media working for Foxtel & SBS, Larah then moved into FMCG, before becoming the Community and Social Media Manager for…

  • 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. Over the past 10 years, I’ve created viral videos for corporate clients, NGOs and government agencies. I specialise in pairing great visuals with even better storytelling.

  • 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. In 2023, Dave grew a new channel with an entirely different demographic on YouTube, now with 330K subscribers and growing. Videos…